external bow or stern thrusters

i am considering using a product from a company called Sideshift at www.sideshift.com for my steel Rhodes 65 foot motorsailer instead of using normal internal bow thrusters for the following reasons:
1-easier maintenance
2-less maintenance
3-better effect of thrust given much closer to either end of boat

but aside from the fact that they are not the best looking, i am worried that they will slow down the boat too much as they hang in the water at either end of the boat (off the bow and just aft of the rudder under the hull.

i think the stern thruster is the best choice, since i am told the drag will be 50% of the drag from the bow version and it will not be as noticeable.

has anyone got any thoughts or experience with:
1-this product to know it works well?
2-the effect of drag on the boat when either sailing or motoring?

thank you very much
JVG-Temeraire

 

Here I've been trying to get the fairness of my hull and turbulence down to a gnat and others are hanging stuff like this down there. Let me just say this; I can SEE a boat running next to me slow down as his bow thruster dips below the surface.

 

Funny that stuff. What they don't invent to make docking easier.
It seams they think we spend 99% of the time docking. Perhaps they are right afterall

 

There is a hard word describing a soft, brown matter which usually stinks, in your language it starts with "c" and ends with "rap"...............................
I would use that as a brief description of the system shown (and I install about 120 thrusters every year).

Richard

 

the first obstacle in the water you hit wouldn't do it much good

 

I wonder how many crab trap warps can dangle off that thing before it tears it's fasteners out.

 

Assuming this is one of the old "Phil Rhodes" designs from the 60ies (build in Holland?), she probably has two engines right? So, you should be fine with a bow thruster only. If you go for a proven system like "Vetus" and "Side power" you must not fear to have maintenance issues.

Regards
Richard

 

Use a bow Thruster

You`ve seen the comments. better take a bow thruster. While your at it, have a look at the company dutchthrustergroup.com. This is a company specialised is thrusters.

 

Just to pile on

Those things are more likely to get ripped off than be much help.

Controlling the stern with two engines is a relatively easy proposition since you have two large engines already for controlling it, the bow on the other hand when caught by the wind can be a problem. If you want a bow thruster then stick with tunnel versions, they really aren't that hard to install.

 

Bow thruster

I've just installed a tunnel bow thruster....anyone trying to turn around and back into a narrow berth in a confined space with a 7.5t timber displacement single screw launch will know exactly what i'm talking about.... these things are not called marriage savers for nothing.
get one and you will recall sayings about sliced bread etc....