a few minutes to integrate. The best part is that it restarts
the two-year warranty on the motor itself.”
Sentz agrees with repairing. “We can turn a rebuilt motor
around in less than a week including shipping, and it costs
about half of replacement depending on the model,” he
says. “And you can do this without ever hauling the boat
out of the water.”
According to Nolet, the biggest issue is with thrusters
that were undersized for the vessel and work too hard.
“Other than that, it’s only sheer neglect that will require a
replacement including a corroded motor, a failure of the
armature or damage to the gear leg.”
Boatyard basics
Per Sentz, boatyards are pretty savvy when it comes to
installation and servicing of thrusters. Talk to your yard project
manager to ensure they can integrate thrusters and engines
with the new joystick drives and do regular maintenance
including checking hydraulic oil reserves and operating
temperatures (normally 90-140 degrees Fahrenheit), and
inspecting mounting bolts, zincs, rubber seals, electrical
connections, and hydraulic pumps if present.
“The main thing about any thruster is to keep the props
clean on both sides because that can cause vibration,” says
Eric Folkestad, product development manager at ABT-TRAC.
“Also, the shaft seals should be replaced every three to five
years and have the yard check for corrosion and pitting on
the shafts.”
If the boat is hauled, have the yard inspect the props and
tunnel. Depending on your cruising grounds, hard growth
such as barnacles can damage the props or make the motor
work harder.
If you do decide to size up in horsepower or add a DC
proportional thruster, remember that you’ll most likely need
to add to your battery bank whether 12, 24 or 48 volts. With
that may come the need for a larger or different charger, so
beware of mission and budget creep. Then, enjoy your new
maneuverability, regardless of who’s watching.
— By Zuzana ProchazkaINFORMATION:
ABT-TRAC: abttrac.com
Imtra Corporation: imtra.com
Wesmar: wesmar.comMARCH 2016 • SOUTHERNBOATING.COM • 692016 ANNUAL HAUL OUT GUIDE