Can anyone figure out this thruster?

[tobnpr]

Had too much time on the computer today (blowing 40 knots - not a great day for boating) and came across this:
http://www.imtra.com/downloadTypes/SR80_185T_spec.pdf

Can someone explain to me how you mount a flat box into the center of a V-hull? At first I thought it might be a stern thruster, but it says it's for use where a tunnel cannot be installed- and you don't install tunnels for stern thrusters. No info on how/where this thing gets mounted.

?????????

 

[Carver370]

Thats a good one, looks very interesting though.

 

[Henry Boyd]

Looking at the schematic of the thing I think it is mounted in the bow high enough in the vee so that it fits. My guess is that a section of the vee is cut out and mounted to the bottom of the drop down. Kind of like the retractable headlights on many of the Corvettes.

 

[Boatingfool]

Would hate for it to get stuck in the down position...

 

[skibum]

I envisioned it the same way that Henry did.

Cutting out a big chunk of the vee like that seems like it would mess with the structural integrity of the hull.

Uhhh, I think I'll pass on that mod...

 

[Four Suns]

What's the point of a retractable bow thruster on a planing hull? What problem is this solving? Seems like more to break...

 

[Skuza]

For a flat bottom boat???

 

[fc3]

Second page of the PDF shows a head-on view with the mounting area cut to conform to a V and the thruster in the deployed position.

 

[chollyjohn]

I agree with FoursSuns...I would want to thrust side to side as I am on plane. Just for the fun of it. Seriously, I have delt with the reps several times at Imtra and they are very helpful particularly Phil Whittaker who will walk you thru an installation if you can do it on yoru own.

 

[Henry Boyd]

I've got to believe this is for some special kind of application, be it hull design limitations, or fanatical desire to have minimal resistance at all speed levels.

Henry

 

[Four Suns]

I agree with FoursSuns...I would want to thrust side to side as I am on plane. Just for the fun of it. Seriously, I have delt with the reps several times at Imtra and they are very helpful particularly Phil Whittaker who will walk you thru an installation if you can do it on yoru own.

I wasn't being a smart ass on thrusting side to side while on plane. Many planing boats with bow thrusters have the thruster hole out of the water while the boat is on plane so it sure ain't about drag reduction. I can't imagine at displacement hull speeds the drag is all that big of a deal... Seems like a complicated mess that would break.

My 2 cents.

 

[tobnpr]

If it is installed by creating a big flat spot at the hull's entry as was suggested above (I couldn't find the drawing referred to) it just doesn't make sense to me.
It would completely destroy the hydrodynamics of the hull, and the thought of coming off waves and continually slamming that big "box" head on into the next one doesn't seem like a practical design.