Bow thrusters using PTO water pump?

Discussion in 'Surface Drives' started by parkland, Oct 29, 2012.

  1. parkland
    Joined: Jul 2012
    Posts: 700
    Likes: 6, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 40
    Location: canada

    parkland Senior Member

    I have been doing some reading about bow thrusters, and also noticed some designs where people used electric trolling motors and such as bow thrusters on pontoon boats or houseboats.
    What about using a water pump, and piping to direct the flow of water?

    Some pumps can be PTO or belt driven, or run on a seperate engine. OR electric motor.
    It seems like a really good idea.

    Has this been done before?
    It seems like it would be so easy to do, and cheap.
    It could also act as a backup propulsion system in an emergency.

    Why not a bow and stern thruster?
     

    Attached Files:

  2. dougfrolich
    Joined: Nov 2002
    Posts: 661
    Likes: 21, Points: 28, Legacy Rep: 225
    Location: San Francisco

    dougfrolich Senior Member

  3. parkland
    Joined: Jul 2012
    Posts: 700
    Likes: 6, Points: 18, Legacy Rep: 40
    Location: canada

    parkland Senior Member


    I did run across that,
    I was thinking more along the lines of houseboat and pontoon boat use.

    A system could be made with an inexpensive water pump, and the plumbing could be PVC pipe, and the nozzles could be made to turn, very cheap and easily.
     
  4. keysdisease
    Joined: Mar 2006
    Posts: 794
    Likes: 43, Points: 28, Legacy Rep: 324
    Location: South Florida USA

    keysdisease Senior Member

    Egret Boats made a 29 with PTO driven water jet thrusters. It was a short lived production run and I never had any first hand knowledge of how well it worked. I did think it was a great idea.

    I would think one of the drawbacks would be that the PTO driven pump would operate at low volume (thrust) at idle speeds typically used in docking. Mixing up forward at low RPM, neutral with throttle for thrusters, and reverse at low RPM would be a handful during docking.

    :cool:
     
  5. michael pierzga
    Joined: Dec 2008
    Posts: 4,862
    Likes: 116, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 1180
    Location: spain

    michael pierzga Senior Member

    I sailed a boat...90 footer...with a waterjet bow thruster. Not. good.

    Very large and complex plumbing, huge pump, gigantic sea strainer and frequentl clogging, modest thrust power.

    On a small boat go electric. On a large boat go hydraulic PTO.
     

  6. FAST FRED
    Joined: Oct 2002
    Posts: 4,519
    Likes: 111, Points: 63, Legacy Rep: 1009
    Location: Conn in summers , Ortona FL in winter , with big d

    FAST FRED Senior Member

    Mount a 20-50 hp outboard on the bow , facing sideways , use the biggest prop you can find.

    Thrust takes power , big thrust takes big power.

    Consider it a get home engine too.
     
Loading...
Similar Threads
  1. rfleet1066
    Replies:
    10
    Views:
    5,531
Forum posts represent the experience, opinion, and view of individual users. Boat Design Net does not necessarily endorse nor share the view of each individual post.
When making potentially dangerous or financial decisions, always employ and consult appropriate professionals. Your circumstances or experience may be different.