bow thrusters

You know, after looking at what other 25-25' boats offer and the associated cost, I begin to appreciate the simplicity of the C-Dory. Without trying to offend anyone ( I guess I can do that without trying?) I would recommend learning how to handle the !@#$ boat and put the money in cruising.

The C-Dory is a very sturdy, simple, seaworthy, sharp-looking, sweet handling boat, and I for one am going to keep it that way.

It's also trailerable, and it doesn't seem to me an external thruster would help that feature.

Boris
 
agreed, thrusters are interesting in that for decades commercial boats and tugs didn't use thrusters and had heavy slow hulls to push around. It's pretty trendy these days to have a thruster fore and aft and show to me at least where some folks priorities are. This is fine it puts one in the category of marina hopper instead of anchor dropper. Being shallow these C Dory's can be a challenge to land but with some practise they are very well behaved.
I crabbed into 25 knots on the beam last summer (in my 19 pointed up into the wind about 40 degrees) to dock at the dinghy dock in Nanaimo and my flying buddy said " just like landing crosswind in an airplane!"
After I kicked it strait and reversed hard in the slip. It was a thing of beauty and the crowd at the pub loved it. George
 
I don't feel a need for one on my boat but I like the design. after looking at others, because I like toys, I think this is the best looking one. I would be worried about drag regardless of the shape. and on a flat bottom boat like the c-dory I don't know if it would make it track better or just cause bow steer??? let me know after you try it.
 
There are bow thrusters that use a high pressure jet of water instead of a prop to work. This style might fit the C-Dory hull, as it takes very little space to install the through hulls.
 
I like Bow Thrusters.... I used to pilot a navy LCU up to the dock using just the mains...and it was just a #@$% in the wind... especially if the wind was not constant.... very embarrassing when you bash the dock..

I have twins on my boat now for just that reason..

I love the idea of water jets on a 25'

Joel
SEA3PO
 
I have spent most of my life owning single screw boats. With a little practice almost any boat can be put where you want it. I have owned one boat with a bow thruster--a 30 foot tri cabin, with huge freeboard and little under the water--single diesel tawler type. It was nice, but the thruster I fitted was made for a boat 3x the size. Where it was helpful was getting off a dock with a beam wind. There are other ways to do this--including with a kedge anchor off the beam, backing out, against a bow fender, and doubled back spring line etc.

I would not want some thruster hanging down from the bottom of a C Dory--would keep you from trailering, putting the bow aground, and might also be a "kelp catcher" etc.

I once delivered a Morgan 62 with the jet thrusters. I was not perticularly impressed with them. They would work on the C Dory--but as pointed out, it addes a whole other level of complexity and problems on a boat where simplicity is a virtue.
 
Those wacky Canadians. :D

I don't think there's enough bow rise on a C-Dory to get the unit out of the water at speeds. Remember the draft of the C-Dory is measured in inches.
 
I put bow thrusts in the category of curb feelers on small boats.

The last commercial fishing vessel I engineered on was a 66 footer with single screw; Skipper would turn her on a dime in the Kodiak harbor channel to make it look like she had twins. We pulled into some tight spots with howling winds and strong currents; of course having experienced crew on deck even it its one makes a big difference.
 
What's the name of this thread ......? oh, :roll:

here's mine

IMGP1255.sized.jpg

Oh Joel already said a mouthful
"I have twins on my boat now for just that reason...."

Joel
SEA3PO

Turns in it's own length, crabs, and can get you home in more than a pinch. :thup :thup

Harvey (I love my twins)(I love my twins)
SleepyC :moon
 
Not to doubt anyone's driving ability but I don't think most boaters spend enough time practicing docking. traveling to Friday harbor for the night is not practice. Practice is going to the local ramp and docking over and over until you get it right. then turn around and dock on the other side repeatedly until you get it right.

I know that its a pain to waste a day of boating just going around a dock for two hours but it has been well worth it for us. Susan has really benefited from it in the 22 and we will be really hitting it in the 27 this spring.

I had the 22 down to where I could turn a circle in with in my own lenght with the single. The one best tool for docking your dory is steering knob. would hate to dock without it. if you dont have one go get one.
 
just thought i chime in on this bow truster question. a bow truster doesn't make a poor operator better, but it sure does make a good operator better! if your boat can accommodate a truster and your pocket book has money falling out of it, then buy one, you won't be disappointed.
a bow truster is like a radar system, gps, dingy, marine head, heat and air, don't need any of them but if you can afford them, sure does make boating life more enjoyable.
last month linda and i were visiting friends in florida, while there, i was a guest aboard a 110' vessel. including myself, there were 3 captains, all 100 ton masters, in the pilot house of this boat and we were departing the slip for a 2 hour cruise. the wind was blowing hard on starboard and without the hydraulic bow truster we would have had much trouble pulling out of the slip and negotiating the narrow harbor channel.
pat
 
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