THRUSTER SIZING
In principle, any thruster give a certain effect on board, but for optimum maneuverability is important that the thruster is designed to provide sufficient thrust under all conditions boat used.
Today, most boats come with thrusters fitted standard from the factory. Mostly the factory mounted thrusters meet the requirements of most customers under normal conditions, but for some skippers, it may be wise to consider a more powerful thruster if you use the boat under more severe conditions than the average user. Most builders offer therefore thruster upgrade on customer request.
If you want to use the boat alone, a DC Speed Control system in combination with bow and stern thruster, and the unique Hold function, will provide a valuable assistance with the mooring.
Thruster power is determined mainly by boat porch and not by its weight, which is a general perception. When we know the boat’s total wind area, the boat’s pivot point and the location of the tunnel, we can calculate the wind force on the boat area and center point. Hence, we can calculate the amount of force needed to push the bow into the wind at a given wind speed.
Example
With a 45 foot boat, there are four thrusters to choose from within what we designate as standard thrusters. If your boat has a small porch and just being used under good conditions, with little wind, you can choose SE80. If you need more thrust, without having to increase the tunnel diameter, are SE100 that option. If the boat can accommodate larger tunnel diameter can be increased tunnel diameter of 215mm or 250mm to find those best suited for your boat.
Conclusion
The two main factors to dimension one thruster is:
- Boaters requirements for thrust
- Boat size and hull type
Important: By increasing tunnel diameter, the thruster is more efficient and generates less noise.
