Bow thruster module and related methods
A watercraft comprises a fiberglass hull and a bow thruster module. The fiberglass hull has a keel and a bow, a recess being formed in the hull extending into the keel proximate to the bow. The bow thruster module is mounted in the recess and includes a housing at least partially defining an athwartships tunnel and a propeller mounted in the tunnel, the housing including a fairing generally continuing a profile of the keel and surrounding hull around the recess.
1 . A watercraft comprising:
a fiberglass hull having a keel and a bow, a recess being formed in the hull extending into the keel proximate to the bow; and
a bow thruster module mounted in the recess and including a housing at least partially defining an athwartships tunnel extending across the keel and a propeller mounted in the tunnel, the housing including
a fairing generally continuing a profile of the keel and surrounding hull around the recess,
a housing neck extending upwardly from the fairing, and
a propeller driveshaft extending through the housing neck and coupled to the propeller.
2 . The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the recess includes an upper surface co-molded with the surrounding hull.
3 . The watercraft of claim 2 , wherein the upper surface partially defines the athwartships tunnel.
4 . The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the housing completely defines the athwartships tunnel.
5 . The watercraft of claim 4 , wherein the recess is open and the housing includes a first section mounted to the hull and at least partially defining the athwartships tunnel and closing the recess, and a second section removably mounted to the first section below the tunnel.
6 . The watercraft of claim 5 , wherein the first section and the second section both include portions of the fairing.
7 . The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the housing is made of metal.
8 . The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the housing further contains an electric drive operable to rotate the propeller.
9 . The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein a step is inset from the surrounding hull around a periphery of the recess, outer edges of the fairing overlying the step.
10 . The watercraft of claim 9 , wherein the step is co-molded with the surrounding hull.
11 . The watercraft of claim 1 , wherein the housing neck extends upwardly from the tunnel.
12 . A method of mounting a bow thruster to a watercraft, the method comprising:
forming a fiberglass hull with a recess extending into the keel proximate to the bow; and
connecting a bow thruster module to the hull within the recess including a housing at least partially defining an athwartships tunnel and a propeller mounted in the tunnel comprising, the housing including a fairing continuing a profile of the keel and surrounding hull around the recess, a housing neck extending upwardly from the fairing, and a propeller driveshaft extending through the housing neck and coupled to the propeller.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein forming the fiberglass hull with the recess includes co-molding an upper surface of the recess with the surrounding hull.
14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein connecting the bow thruster module to the hull includes:
connecting a first section of a housing of the bow thruster module to the hull to close the recess; and connecting a second section of the housing to the first section below the athwartships tunnel.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the fairing is formed from portions of the first and second sections.
16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein connecting the bow thruster module to the hull further includes installing an electric drive operable to drive the propeller within the housing.
17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein forming the fiberglass hull with the recess includes co-molding an inset step around a periphery of the recess and connecting the bow thruster module to the hull includes connecting outer edges of the fairing to overlie the inset step.
18 . A watercraft comprising:
a fiberglass hull having a keel and a bow, a recess being formed in the hull extending into the keel proximate to the bow; and
a bow thruster module mounted in the recess and including a housing completely defining an athwartships tunnel extending across the keel and a propeller mounted in the tunnel, the housing including a fairing generally continuing a profile of the keel and surrounding hull around the recess, the bow thruster module operable to impart port or starboard thrust to the bow.
19 . The watercraft of claim 18 , wherein the recess includes an upper surface co-molded with the surrounding hull.
20 . The watercraft of claim 18 , wherein the housing further contains an electric drive operable to rotate the propeller.