Bow Thruster

​

April 7, 2022

Submitted by: Annie Time (Perry)

Hi all.
Thought I would share my issue with my bow thruster. About a month ago coming into the dock I hit the bow thruster and it made a gear grinding sound with no help to move the bow. Not knowing what the issue was, I got on the forum here and with a short search, found a few threads describing what the possible cause could be. There were basically three options: 

1) the shear pin, which I checked right away. It was fine and intact. 
2) the prop 
3) the gear box 

I got a new gear box and prop on order which were next to impossible to find. MAURIPRO SAILING on the east coast somewhere, was the only vendor I could find that listed the parts and the only one I found that said they could deliver parts. I called at least a dozen others claiming they were parts distributors for Lewmar and sold parts. Not one of them had parts on hand. not even the prop. 

After a few weeks, I received the gear box but no prop. I still haven't gotten a prop from MAURIPRO SAILING. I reached out to the Factory at Range Tugs and they where able to help with a prop. 

With parts in hand, I pulled the boat out of the water not knowing what to expect. After a quick inspection, it was clear the prop was fine. After removing the gear box, it was clear what the issue was. Like in the other post I read, the cap on the gear box had fallen out. Salt water had gotten into the gear box and trashed the bearings, causing the gear to disengage. 

​

 That hole should have bearing in the end of that shaft and a plug in it. I was told it’s not a bad idea to put some 3m 4200 over the cap next time you have the boat out of the water.