Bow thruster suddenly stopped working

dcwjd

Active Member
Oct 17, 2006
257
Lindenhurst, NY
Boat Info
2007 48 Sundancer
Engines
Cummins QSC 540
I went to use my bowthruster last weekend and it didn't work at all even though it worked a few days prior. It lights up green but nothing happens when I hit it left or right and it actually goes from green to a blinking red for a few seconds. Does anyone know what this means? My mechanic is saying solenoid needs to be replaced.
 
I went to use my bowthruster last weekend and it didn't work at all even though it worked a few days prior. It lights up green but nothing happens when I hit it left or right and it actually goes from green to a blinking red for a few seconds. Does anyone know what this means? My mechanic is saying solenoid needs to be replaced.
Walter, I’ve never seen the green light go from green to blinking red so I’m not sure what it could be, however, there are a couple of things to check besides batteries. If you hear a clicking sound when you turn on the thruster switch that is the solenoid latching. If you don’t hear it your mechanic might be right. There are also two fuses to check, a really big one (yours is likely 250 or 300 Amps) and probably a smaller ATC 7.5-20A adjacent to the bigger fuse in a holder. You may also have one at the thruster motor itself. Lastly, check the harness going into the thruster controller located under the dash on the backside of the controller to make sure all the pins are making contact. Good luck
 
Check the Fusible Link
20170602_155549.jpg
 
On mine, one of the wires that goes into the Molex plug (from the joystick) separated from the pin in the Molex plug when I was messing around with the fresh water tank pump. Took a while to figure this one out. solved the mystery by checking continuity btwn the two ends of each of the 4 wires leading from the joystick to the thruster.
 
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Well problem solved. I got brand new batteries at the beginning of the season and the thruster charger wasn't hooked up properly. Charged up the battery and viola!! Thruster is more powerful and responsive then it's been all year.
 
So how long are people getting life from the thruster batteries? I have 2 8D it's been 4 years and they seem to be going strong.
 
2 agm's, had this boat since spring of 2013 and haven't had to replace them yet.
 
My first 2 AGM's lasted 9 years. Very little BT use though so I don't know how much that helped. Just replaced them.
 
My Bow Thruster also quit and I was told it was the Motor. Bought a new motor...ugh.
I now have an extra Vetus 24V Bow Thruster Motor completely refurbished, for sale.
 

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