Vetus Bow Thruster Replacement

[Splanch]

Hello - I am new to this forum. Nice to meet you all. My 2001 Albin 28 bow thruster just went kaput. I am having trouble knowing which Vetus bow thruster to replace it with. I have attached photos. If anyone has any suggestions. I am al ears. Thanks in advance. John

[Nancy]

Hi John -- welcome aboard!
Your best is is probably to call Vetus. 410-712-0740. Talk to Dave.

[jmfernan]

John, you can also take it in to an electric motor repair shop. When mine started acting up it just needed to be cleaned up and the brushes replaced. Trouble free in the years since. Vetus should be able to source the brushes.
Joe
1999 32+2

[Splanch]

Thank you Nancy and Joe! Really Appreciate the quick feedback.
John

[MadMoney]

X 2 on the electric motor repair show - I too had my brushes replaced. Keep us posted...

Anthony Warren
1999 28' Albin MadMoney

[REBMystic]

Hi John. I have the same model thruster on my 2001 31 TE & it did not work when I got the boat a few years ago. Ended up being the relay. I sought out some thruster repair places and was just too expensive, so took the think apart. It's very very simple. I also have a spare relay I accidentally bought if you wanna see if that's the problem and swap them out. Vetus support is great and they have some good youtube videos. You can DM me if you want to mess with your thruster yourself & try out my extra relay.

[Maye Marie]

Hi John You will not be able to just replace that motor. Vetus will not match up with that coupling and will tell you to put a hole new unit from the prop up. You might find a used one some were.

But i would say yours is repairable no problem. The motor is so durable I would not think that it would be dead. Brushes or a relay would be your problem. If making noise bearings. My 2002 had a scuffed wire mid way in the wiring harnes that was done when the boat was built. Last year a stering fluid leake made the connection and the bow thruster came on when I was not on the boat. Got so hot melted feed wiring and brushes. Replace relay, bearings and new brushes. Been working like a charm. So I know that motor will take a beating. There is also a electricale places close by, Peila Electric in Preston. They know the motor.

[Mike Monte]

I have an '01 28TE.
A couple of years ago my Vetus (Bow50) thruster became intermittent.
I called Vetus and all that they wanted to do for me was sell me a new unit.......
After much research I brought the motor to Hub Automotive in Ipswich, MA (they have rebuilt many Vetus motors).
The tech (Joe?) disassembled the unit, replaced some bearings, fixed a burn mark on the armature (that was the main issue), and reassembled.
It has been working flawlessly since.

btw: Coincidentally: I brought the unit to Hub on the Monday before Thanksgiving...and it was fixed (repainted and all) in ten days.....I reinstalled it & fired it up. (I wanted to make sure that it worked before I put the boat away for the winter.)

Get the motor rebuilt and you should be good to go.

[Pete]

I have a 23kgf Vetus that needs the lower leg replaced so I’m switching it out this spring,
The motor works fine

[Pete]

I emailed Vetus and they gave me the correct size for replacement