Thrusters on a C-Dory

theflyscot · Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2023 5:14 pm Post subject: Thrusters on a C-Dory

I’ve moved up from my 22 Cruiser (single Yamaha 90) to a 25 Cruiser (single Suzuki 200) which - surprising to me - I’m finding more difficult to “control”. I’m thinking of installing a thruster of some kind to help with slips/fuel docks/lock walls, etc.
Has anyone had a thruster installed (bow and/or stern) and, if so, is there a make or type that you recommend (or don’t recommend!)?
Thank you - Michael

rogerbum · Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2023 5:38 pm Post subject: Re: Thrusters on a C-Dory

C-Wolfe · Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2023 5:50 pm Post subject:

I remember someone mentioning on this site that (I think he went from twin to single but not sure of this part but...) he got himself a kicker with remote control and could use it at low speed to maneuver the boat into tight spot like a twin setup. I can see that working pretty good.
I'm not very good at search on this site or I would link the conversation.

ssobol · Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2023 6:45 pm Post subject:

Thruster would be great for crosswind situations. On a 22 I think a deployable electric trolling motor mounted on the bow would be a decent solution. Lock the motor perpendicular to the boat axis and have remote control for the motor. Deploy the motor when entering a marina (slow speed use only). Having a trolling motor battery up front could help with trim as well.

robhwa · Posted: Tue Mar 07, 2023 8:05 pm Post subject:

krc · Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2023 12:02 pm Post subject: I will be following...

My boat is in the sf delta near pittsburg - right next to a wind farm.
So, yeah, the 25 is very unruly in winds and cross winds especially suck - as the bow falls off very fast.

Go in fast and firm. LOL

I think sideshift.com makes an external thruster that would work but not sure if that would prevent easy towing, handle accidental hits against dockside, etc...
No room to install a traditional tube thruster imo.

Frankly, I used to have an Albin trawler express single diesel with a bow thruster and after learning to back and fill, that with the thruster was great. The keel prevented the bow falling off, etc... So even though the 25 is much smaller etc.. it just isn't great in windy situations when going slow.

T.R. Bauer · Posted: Wed Mar 08, 2023 12:24 pm Post subject:

What everyone else said.....a thruster sounds expensive and a ton of work on a CD 25 - if even really possible. I guess with enough money anything is.

theflyscot · Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 2:53 pm Post subject:

Keep it coming; I really appreciate everyone’s comments so far. Thank you!

bridma · Posted: Thu Mar 09, 2023 5:16 pm Post subject:

Do you have a 'spinner knob' on the steering wheel? If not, think about installing one. With practise you will find manouvering easier. Don't buy one from a Chandlers, much cheaper at a Farm equipment shop.

Martin.

rogerbum · Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2023 10:26 am Post subject:

I was a bit terse in my previous comment due to available time at the time. I've had a 22 and currently have a Tomcat. The Tomcat doesn't get blown around quite as much as the 22 but in both cases, the large amount of vertical surface area above the water line makes it easy for the boat to get pushed around. Here's what I do to handle/mitigate/etc. that issue.

First, in places where I have/have had long term moorage, I request slips such that the most common prevailing wind will blow me onto the dock. This makes life MUCH easier.

Second, when the wind will be blowing me off the dock, I usually approach the dock at a bit higher speed and at a slight angle. A slight, quick turn away from the dock plus a little reverse will put me tight to the dock and moving slowly at the end but this maneuver must be practiced and depending on the amount of wind, my current practice levels and my calmness on any given day, it may take a few attempts to get safely on the dock.

Third, FENDER UP appropriately. If you have permanent or long term moorage, tie a string of fenders directly to the dock and leave them there. Fender the whole damn thing up. This allows for slightly less than perfect landings and that side of the boat requires no advance preparation. If you can't fender the dock, put plenty of fenders on the boat. If you're in tight quarters, fender up the side of the boat that is away from dock also. It's hard to be perfect, it's easy to lessen/eliminate the problems that come from being less than perfect (this is true on other aspects of life also). Smile

Fourth, prepare your lines appropriately. One of the biggest things I did (but it took me a few years to figure this out with no training) is to have a bow line down both sides of the boat and into the cockpit. The bow line is just short enough that it will not reach the prop. So if I drop it, it can't cause a problem. I also have a stern line at each corner that is long enough to allow me to tie off the bow line while retaining control of the stern. So if the wind is blowing me backwards, I can tie off the bow first. Having the bow and stern lines both terminating in the cockpit, allows me to step off of the boat with both lines in hand at the same time. This eases single handed docking considerably.

Fith, IF you have help, realize that "help" is not helpful unless properly instructed in advance. When the wind is blowing, one of the biggest problems is that someone hops off with only a stern line in hand. The stern is the only part of the boat that you control from the helm and by jumping off with a tight grip on the stern line, they just took the only control you have away. Now the bow swings out, maybe your anchor scrapes down the side of the boat in the adjacent slip and words are spoken. Very Happy

Make sure your crew knows what to do and DOESN'T jump off the boat prematurely (long jumps are dangerous) and that they know how to handle the lines and don't exit the boat with only the stern line in hand.

Sixth - spring lines are your friend. Having a line on the midship cleat on the dockside can make docking way easier. Again, it's best if this line is set up to be just short of the prop but readily accessible from the cockpit. Then as you approach the dock, it can be tied to or slipped over a dock cleat near the cockpit. Forward motion will pull you to the dock and leaving the boat in forward idle will hold you tight to the dock. With a spring line, you only need one line attached to the dock to remain tight to the dock as long as you are in forward idle. This provides time to get off the boat calmly and tie up both the bow and stern and then return to the helm to take it out of gear. Of course, make sure that spring line is secure at both ends prior to getting off and if your quick enough, you can get off and manage the boat with the engine out of gear - especially if the bow and stern lines are set up so you can grab both as you exit.

Seventh - remain calm. This can be hard to do on a really windy day and sometimes it may be necessary to back out of the slip quickly and try again. If things aren't going well. Take a little cruise down the fairway and maybe around the marine to regain calm before the next attempt (especially if you're on attempt #>3).

So to me, practice matters a lot but thinking through the various scenarios and line and fender prep matters a lot more. Often life can be made WAY easier by buying a few extra lines and fenders and thinking carefully about how to place them.