Bow thruster not fully closing
Printed From: myHanse.com
Category: Hints & Tips
Forum Name: 505/508
Forum Description: 505/508 Hints, Tips and News
URL: https://www.myhanse.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=13411
Printed Date: 27 March 2026 at 03:41
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Bow thruster not fully closing
Posted By: FalParsi
Subject: Bow thruster not fully closing
Date Posted: 28 May 2022 at 18:35
|
Hi everyone, My Quick bow thruster door is not closing fully. Apart from that it works fine. I went through the setup as described in the manual but at point 8 I could not extend the arm far enough for the red error light to flash. Also, with the arm disconnected it is very difficult to move the lever to the fully up or down position by hand. Has anyone come across this issue? I really don’t want to have to lift the boat again… Thanks. ------------- 2016 Hanse 505 #120 |
Replies:
Posted By: Arcadia
Date Posted: 28 May 2022 at 21:24
|
Have you tried adjusting the limit switches inside of the actuator arm ? There is one each for up and down. However, you should check that the door can freely close without interference. This can only be done with the actuator arm disconnected. If the boat is in the water it may be difficult to check. Someone would need to get under the bow to check it, maybe with the assistance of a man on deck with a line under the door to pull up with. ------------- Leon / ARCADIA 2018 Hanse 588 Sag Harbor, NY |
Posted By: FalParsi
Date Posted: 29 May 2022 at 09:40
|
The limit switch for retraction is in its max position. The door closes easily and freely from under the bow, but trying to operate the door with the lever by hand is extremely heavy. ------------- 2016 Hanse 505 #120 |
Posted By: Arcadia
Date Posted: 29 May 2022 at 13:40
  Ok, I see. I had a problem a few years ago where my thruster did not fully close. It was because the lever that pivots the thruster had come loose from the tunnel bracket. The bracket actually broke where the lever attaches. As a result, even though the lever was fully pushed, the bracket would slip and hang down below the hull. See photos.------------- Leon / ARCADIA 2018 Hanse 588 Sag Harbor, NY |
Posted By: Arcadia
Date Posted: 29 May 2022 at 13:42
|
The repair needed a new bracket from SVB Germany, and a haul out and dismantling of the thruster assembly. Several hours of labor. Also, a readjustment of both limit switches. ------------- Leon / ARCADIA 2018 Hanse 588 Sag Harbor, NY |
Posted By: Arcadia
Date Posted: 29 May 2022 at 13:47
 Here is a diagram of the assembly. ------------- Leon / ARCADIA 2018 Hanse 588 Sag Harbor, NY |
Posted By: Ian Coverdale
Date Posted: 31 May 2022 at 12:34
|
Are you sure the door is not fouling against hull and closing fully flush? Might be worth a look underneath or lift the boat. Previous owner of our boat lost the bow thruster door and we found the second door starting to detach from the operating mechanism during haul-out. Suggest you need to be absolutely sure everything is well with door and in-water mechanism before suspecting/adjusting the ram or its limit switches. Not a great fan of these units! Cheers. ------------- Ian & Andrea SV Gabrielle (H445) Liveaboards - currently Montenegro. www.facebook.com/sailinggabrielle |
Posted By: Tranquillity
Date Posted: 31 May 2022 at 13:02
| We had Poly bag caught in ours that caused similar symptoms.... As soon as bag retrieved worked fine again! |
Posted By: FalParsi
Date Posted: 05 June 2022 at 11:40
|
Thanks all for your answers. We dove one the bow thruster and there is no visible damage (or poly bags). Door closes easily from below, and closes flush. I fear a haul out is the only way to find answers in my case... ------------- 2016 Hanse 505 #120 |
Posted By: Arcadia
Date Posted: 05 June 2022 at 14:33
|
Hi Lawrence. I’m wondering, when you were pushing the door closed from below, was the steel lever arm also moving with it inside the bow. If not, then it seems that the bracket and arm have come loose from each other. The other possibility is that the door itself has come loose from the thruster tunnel. It is held by springs and wires. The door normally is held tightly to the tunnel all the time whether UP or DOWN. By the way, how much does the door hang down when fully up? ------------- Leon / ARCADIA 2018 Hanse 588 Sag Harbor, NY |
Posted By: FalParsi
Date Posted: 06 June 2022 at 13:16
|
Hi Leon, my mechanic dove and could close the door easily. I was in the bow locker and made sure the lever moved correctly which it did. The door is open by about 15-20 cm, so not much. ------------- 2016 Hanse 505 #120 |
Posted By: James.C
Date Posted: 13 February 2024 at 21:47
| Many thanks |
Posted By: Black Diamond
Date Posted: 15 February 2024 at 21:59
|
I actually have a "boat-oscopy" camera that I use for situations like this. I need it for tight spaces inside the boat as well as looking at things like the thruster doors underwater without actually going underwater. It displays on my cell phone and has a 25' waterproof fiber-optic cable that I extend under to see the prop, the thruster doors, the cleanliness of the hull, etc. Works great. Many times I'll just tape it to an extendible boat hook and use that to get it close. I don't know if this is what I have (mine is a few years old) but here is something similar on AMAZON. https://www.amazon.com/Endoscope-Teslong-Borescope-Inspection-Waterproof/dp/B0CL4MJ6NK/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3Q6I86E15YBU3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.h8uNNSQ4tmyWmdsqKZV1q7YdppYWCGLQE7_iT5uPG_XYlTnbDQt906QLgzLf_jty02dmZY65i1L-901_XNBR2JYQIwxQGsCVCeiO_RifYB6hnHWLlyyXmglegrEGIYgjifZjg7OwXU8ZWK_g7UwUPiQUOG30AANYmx7Ru-5g3b_wNb_xnDvB96LT66FwQzhqkb6UDMFfvljZs3NZuNUU1nnDGEjtjCvlVuVcu2GXOWs.ALLoEKA1tSrO3svXulUENG5Li4UUhi2pF0_gmzrYL2c&dib_tag=se&keywords=waterproof+fiber+optic+cable+camera&qid=1708034264&sprefix=waterproof+fiber+optic+cable+camera%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-2" rel="nofollow - https://www.amazon.com/Endoscope-Teslong-Borescope-Inspection-Waterproof/dp/B0CL4MJ6NK/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3Q6I86E15YBU3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.h8uNNSQ4tmyWmdsqKZV1q7YdppYWCGLQE7_iT5uPG_XYlTnbDQt906QLgzLf_jty02dmZY65i1L-901_XNBR2JYQIwxQGsCVCeiO_RifYB6hnHWLlyyXmglegrEGIYgjifZjg7OwXU8ZWK_g7UwUPiQUOG30AANYmx7Ru-5g3b_wNb_xnDvB96LT66FwQzhqkb6UDMFfvljZs3NZuNUU1nnDGEjtjCvlVuVcu2GXOWs.ALLoEKA1tSrO3svXulUENG5Li4UUhi2pF0_gmzrYL2c&dib_tag=se&keywords=waterproof+fiber+optic+cable+camera&qid=1708034264&sprefix=waterproof+fiber+optic+cable+camera%2Caps%2C114&sr=8-2
------------- Rick S/V Black Diamond Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161 Newport, RI |