Just bought 2007 40DA Hardtop -misc topics

[ChrisS]

Hey all,
Just bought this boat. I got some training for docking the thing but I was told by the instructor I should not use the Bow thruster unless I am in deep Sh_t. Has anyone else heard that these thrusters break alot and aren't reliable?

 

[Four Suns]

That's BS...

You don't want to be running the thruster for 20 seconds docking but a couple of 1 second bursts to keep you off pilings and being able to back into tight spots without touching ANYTHING is great.

Now saying that, my bow thruster was broken the first season I had my boat so you do need to be able to dock it without one... but these thruster arguments are like natural child birth arguments. My wife did our first child "drug free" and then she realized that you don't get any metals for not taking drugs and the following three children were born with enough drugs to keep her just this side of death. 11+ years later, no one gives a poop. Once you are docked, people are not going to walk by your boat pointing at you going "Yeah... but he used a couple bursts of the thruster so they can't be having a good time."

 

[Converse48]

Agree with all of Gary's points and will raise another concept to be aware of: INERTIA. It is much easier to contain the motion of the bow before it gets out of hand. If you wait until you are in deep $hit, the bow will probably be too far offline and moving too fast (and probably accelerating) for the thruster to do anything.

In fact, I would argue that once you're in deep $hit (defined in this case as the bow being way off line), it's possible then that the thruster can no longer help you, and it may be time for the "do-over".

Where a thruster is "unreliable" is when you try to use it for more than a few seconds. They draw a ton of DC power and can overheat and/or blow fuses if you run them too long (unless you have a hydraulic thruster).

And yes, you should definitely get comfortable in docking the boat without the thruster, but you should also not hesitate to use it when you need it. It's there for a reason.

Good luck!

 

[Big Al]

I also agree with the above comments. I use the bow t only when needed but it provides a sense of confidence knowing it is there.

Once you get use to dock your boat using only the engines/trannies , it becomes part of the fun of boating.

 

[fwebster]

Use the thruster as a tool, not a crutch............Get too dependant on one (like every time you dock the boat) and you lose your boat handling skills. Lose your handling skills, or never learn to handle the boat in the first place, due to over dependence on the thurster (crutch mode) and you will get to know the local fiberglass guy on a first name basis....sooner or later.

The bow thruster Sea Ray uses is very dependable if you maintain them properly.......but they are an unnecessary option on a 40DA.

 

[Chris R]

That's BS...

You don't want to be running the thruster for 20 seconds docking but a couple of 1 second bursts to keep you off pilings and being able to back into tight spots without touching ANYTHING is great.

Now saying that, my bow thruster was broken the first season I had my boat so you do need to be able to dock it without one... but these thruster arguments are like natural child birth arguments. My wife did our first child "drug free" and then she realized that you don't get any metals for not taking drugs and the following three children were born with enough drugs to keep her just this side of death. 11+ years later, no one gives a poop. Once you are docked, people are not going to walk by your boat pointing at you going "Yeah... but he used a couple bursts of the thruster so they can't be having a good time."

Great analogy! I guess some enterprising soul could make a couple of extra bucks by selling T-Shirts that say, "I dock without a thruster!".

Someone put it this way in another thread sometime in the recent past, "whether you use it each time you dock or not, it's a great insurance policy against scratched gel coat, or paying to repair someone else's boat."

 

[Vince_nj1]

The bow thruster Sea Ray uses is very dependable if you maintain them properly.......but they are an unnecessary option on a 40DA.

Frank (or anyone else that wants to chime in)

Can you elaborate on the maintenance needed for an electric thruster? I changed the zinc over the winter, the battery is full of water and the terminals are clean. Is their something else that should be done?

 

[sbw1]

Great analogy! I guess some enterprising soul could make a couple of extra bucks by selling T-Shirts that say, "I dock without a thruster!".

Or, "My thruster is bigger than your thruster."

 

[The Bill Collector]

Frank (or anyone else that wants to chime in)

Can you elaborate on the maintenance needed for an electric thruster? I changed the zinc over the winter, the battery is full of water and the terminals are clean. Is their something else that should be done?

Keep up on zincs and make sure all of your connections(electrical) are tight and my batteries are AGM (no maintenance). I give a burst on it before every docking situation just make sure it is functioning.....(whether it is needed or not)

 

[Chris R]

Or, "My thruster is bigger than your thruster."

I like that one!