bow thruster on CD 27

karonoko · Post by **karonoko** » May 17th, '11, 20:20

Does anyone have some perspective on how a CD 27 will sail if a previous owner had installed bow thrusters?

bottomscraper · Post by **bottomscraper** » May 17th, '11, 21:11

karonoko wrote:bow thrusters?

Thrusters with and "S", like more than one? On a 27? Really? Now that's funny!

Oswego John · Post by **Oswego John** » May 17th, '11, 21:24

bottomscraper wrote:
karonoko wrote:bow thrusters?
Thrusters with and "S", like more than one? On a 27? Really? Now that's funny!

I can picture that on a catamaran.

The idea that I got was he was talking about two directions of thrust, port and stb'd, from one drive.

Whatever,

O J

PS: What we need is a stern thruster(s) when moving in reverse.

jerryaxler · Post by **jerryaxler** » May 17th, '11, 21:28

My bow thruster has minimal affect on sailing. She is on the foredeck with a boathook only when docking.

Duncan · Post by **Duncan** » May 17th, '11, 21:38

karonoko wrote:Does anyone have some perspective on how a CD 27 will sail if a previous owner had installed bow thrusters?

Are we speaking of twin tunnel port and starboard thrusters?

mike ritenour · Post by **mike ritenour** » May 17th, '11, 21:44

If its a known model and not home made, it should not impair your performance.

We put one in our 44'er and it really made a difference in docking but otherwise you didn't know it was there.

rit

Wingaersheek II · Post by **Wingaersheek II** » May 17th, '11, 23:08

Is this the boat?

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1981/Ca ... ted-States

Neil Gordon · Post by **Neil Gordon** » May 18th, '11, 05:47

Oswego John wrote:PS: What we need is a stern thruster(s) when moving in reverse.

A good kick in the stern will keep most anyone moving in the right direction.

Warren S · Post by **Warren S** » May 18th, '11, 06:55

"Wow" is all I can say. But honest confession: If I had it, I'd use it!

karonoko · Post by **karonoko** » May 18th, '11, 08:25

It is a single thruster through the hull (apparently had to remove the water tank), baterry powered.

Steve Laume · Post by **Steve Laume** » May 18th, '11, 08:48

You could always glass the holes back over. Seems like overkill for a 27' boat. Then again if it is there you might find it useful in docking situations. Or just fun to play with in an annoying noisy sort of way.

Most things in life are a compromise. Losing water tankage does not seem like a good trade for the thruster. I have always question how much those holes in the leading edge effect performance. It has to make a difference and especially on a relatively small boat.

A lot of the decision might depend on how you intend to use the boat. If you will be keeping it on a mooring and cruising then the thruster would be of little use. Loss of water, sailing preformance and something else to go wrong would not be good.

If the boat is to be day sailed most of the time and you had to back into a tight slip in a windy location that thruster might seem like a very good thing.

Someone definitely thought it would be a good idea for their situation but yours might not be the same, Steve.

karonoko · Post by **karonoko** » May 18th, '11, 12:50

i will be cruising, and this is overkill for me - i can handle a boat! i need the water so will need to put a tank back in - with or without the thruster. i do like toys, so in a tight spot it could be useful, but not without water. Any thoughts on how now to install a water tank?
Or, what would it take to soundly remove the thruster and return her to original?

bottomscraper · Post by **bottomscraper** » May 18th, '11, 13:08

I'm sure the holes can be glassed over by a competent
fiberglass person. It's not trivial but nothing money can't fix

Ronco Plastics has a decent selection of V shaped tanks, they
had a perfect replacement for the tank on our CD36. They will
customize so you can put the fittings and clean out ports any
place you want.

Ronco Plastics Web Site: http://www.ronco-plastics.com/newRonco/index.php

Ronco Catalog PDF: http://www.ronco-plastics.com/pdfs/MarineTanks2009.pdf

karonoko · Post by **karonoko** » May 19th, '11, 10:14

Great catalogue - thanks for that.
i wonder if the through-tunnel for the thruster compromised the structural integirty of the hull at all? Anyone have ideas on that? it is a Vesta thruster - looks like around 8" diameter+

M. R. Bober · Post by **M. R. Bober** » May 19th, '11, 10:48

karonoko wrote:i will be cruising, and this is overkill for me - i can handle a boat! i need the water so will need to put a tank back in - with or without the thruster. i do like toys, so in a tight spot it could be useful, but not without water. Any thoughts on how now to install a water tank?
Or, what would it take to soundly remove the thruster and return her to original?

Unless you feel compelled to purchase this boat, I would find another CD27. There is--IMHO--too much work involved to undo the thruster installation.

Mitchell Bober
Sunny Lancaster, (Where we thrust, but verify.) VA

The Cape Dory Board

bow thruster on CD 27

bow thruster on CD 27

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bow thruster

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bow thruster

Is this the boat?

Re: bow thruster on CD 27

At least she'll back straight...