Bow thruster in an F33/35, F40 or F44?

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1

Posted by michel.capel (michel.capel@…>)

Has anyone tried or succeeded to install a bow thruster in a Freedom
catketch F33/35, F40 or F44?

To save my marriage, I’m considering installing one to get rid of the
nerve wrecking marina manoeuvres.

I think in the F44 there’s plenty of room below the main mast and
chain locker, but how do you access that space? And how do you ensure
the structural stiffness of the area is not compromised by the tunnel
and it’s holes?

Michel Capel

2

Posted by George Huffman (thatboatguy2@…>)

Michel,

I’ll be home this weekend and I’ll take pictures of the installed bow
thruster on Marquesa. Not something I would have spent the money on
but… it was there and all I had to do was repair the motor and
selinoids so we are keeping it. We have to grease the pilings in our
slip to get our boat in and out but with the bow thruster I can single
hand her into and out of the slip without loosing paint! :slight_smile: Come
this fall we will be avoiding docks as much as possible but we will
have to come in for fuel some time eh?

George


— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, “michel.capel”
<michel.capel@…> wrote:

Has anyone tried or succeeded to install a bow thruster in a Freedom
catketch F33/35, F40 or F44?

To save my marriage, I’m considering installing one to get rid of the
nerve wrecking marina manoeuvres.

I think in the F44 there’s plenty of room below the main mast and
chain locker, but how do you access that space? And how do you ensure
the structural stiffness of the area is not compromised by the tunnel
and it’s holes?

Michel Capel

3

Posted by michel.capel (michel.capel@…>)

George,

Many thanks already! Your slip manoeuvres sound like I would like
them to be. I’m really very interested in how they got the unit down
there.

thanks,
michel


— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, “George Huffman”
<thatboatguy2@…> wrote:

Michel,

I’ll be home this weekend and I’ll take pictures of the installed
bow
thruster on Marquesa. Not something I would have spent the money on
but… it was there and all I had to do was repair the motor and
selinoids so we are keeping it. We have to grease the pilings in
our
slip to get our boat in and out but with the bow thruster I can
single
hand her into and out of the slip without loosing paint! :slight_smile: Come
this fall we will be avoiding docks as much as possible but we will
have to come in for fuel some time eh?

George

— In FreedomOwnersGroup@yahoogroups.com, “michel.capel”
<michel.capel@> wrote:

Has anyone tried or succeeded to install a bow thruster in a
Freedom
catketch F33/35, F40 or F44?

To save my marriage, I’m considering installing one to get rid of
the
nerve wrecking marina manoeuvres.

I think in the F44 there’s plenty of room below the main mast and
chain locker, but how do you access that space? And how do you
ensure
the structural stiffness of the area is not compromised by the
tunnel
and it’s holes?

Michel Capel