The Vetus Bow Thruster

[Pitou]

Hello all / new to the board.

Jack
Perfect explanation, nice job!

One last tip / I used the same lock nut again 3 seasons in a row after changing out the zinc. After a short time the nut backed off and ooops /off went the thruster prop I suspect the plastic in the lock nut had worn from being reused, so much for the lock part. I now replace the nut as well each season for about 50 cents. Sure beats the 65 bucks (+) shipping for a new prop.

[JackK]

If you buy a replacement zinc (recommended annual), it comes with the locking nut and nylon washer for replacing.

Jack
______________________
2003 28 TE Dogonit

[Pitou]

My local prop shop has always just sold me the zinc / loose stock / no nut
I've learned to ask. That's how they also sell my prop nut zinc / no screw It's ridiculous having to ask / a-la-carte!

[Froggy]

I contacted Albin about a zinc and they sent me a zinc that looks like a truncated U but I can't figure out how it installs. It doesn't llok like it would fit int he oil plug like some have suggested. Any thoughts?

Also, where is the oil fil for the 23kg bow thruster? I see a drain screw and there is also a screw above the prop but I don't see how you could possibly get oil into there due to the tunne/

THoughts?

[Denis]

Froggy, it sounds like you have the same thruster that I have. I went round and round for two years but could not find where the zinc went. I finally contacted Vetus and spoke to a real person. He was very knowledgeable about the several different 23 kgf thrusters out there. He e-mailed me the parts layout and numbers for the several thrusters manufactured during that time period. My thruster does not have a zinc mounted to it. The drawings he sent me do show a zinc mounted inside the tunnel with a wire inside going to the housing. I do not have a zinc mounted inside the tunner though, my ground wire attached to the housing runs to the back of the boat to a block zinc. I also purchased the zinc that you describe from Defender, I will be returning it. A different 23kgf thruster manufactured a few months later than mine uses that type of zinc and the drawing shows ity being mounted on the very bottom of the housing using a bolt. Hope this helps. Denis

[Mariner]

Hi Denis,

Ah, that helps. I studied the housing as best I could and couldn't find any place to attach the U-shaped zinc so I'll send it back to Vetus.

My thruster is also groudned to the boat system but I don't have any block zinc on the stern. I have the two buttons on the trim tabs, a prop zinc over the prop nut and the zincs on the rudder.

None of this was a big concern when I had the boat in Annapolis becasue the water is brackish and it was on a lift. Up here though it is in the water all the time. THe guy I bought her from used her for about 8 years before I purchased her and, apaprently, had no zinc onthe thruster nor in the tunnel from what I could determine. The guy at Vetus said you could use a tunnel zinc but I'm loathe to put any holes below the water line.

So,a s I understand it, you have a block zinc on the stern grounded to the system. If that's correct, I'll try that approach in the fall when I haul her as I'm only a day or so from launch.

Thanks again for your input.

Carl

[Russell]

Here is a picture of the zinc on the bottom of my 23kgf thruster. You can see the head of the bolt on the very bottom.
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t256 ... ruster.gif

[davidbriggs]

Russ (new owner) and I got to communicating locally, and the subject of Bow Thrusters came up. Has anyone had any problems with the Vetus? Is there a need for regular maintenance? Personally, I change the shear pin whenever I pull it, but haven't done any real "service" to it. Recommendations?
AlMar

I have a 93 with a Vetus Bow Thruster. I have been noticing lately that seems to overload quite easily. It overloads, resets automatially, then will run again before it overloads again. This seems to happen mostly to the Starboard side.
Any idea?

[Pete]

Did you ever resolve this ?

[ladyT]

I have a 1998 Side Power 4hp bow thruster. My control push button switch went bad and was told those 3-wire switches were no longer available. I would have to switch to a 4-wire switch and would need an upgrade kit and harness. Can anyone shed any light on this for me ? Any tips
On how to remove white plastic cover to get to the solenoid. Thanks for any help that you may render

[Jeremyvmd]

Lady t. I would reccomend starting a new thread on the topic. More likely to get views than an old thread! Unfortunately I have a vetus and can't help you:/

[kowal_53]

The have added a link to another Vetus string. Carl points out a source for getting the zincs, which is probably cheaper than Vetus. (TE 28 - 35)

I actually lost my propeller last year too. The zone was gone. I replace both and things are good again.

My bow thruster does not have a shear pin, but the older model do have them.


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