SPENCER 87 FT "BETSY"

[nabeelah]

Yup another beautiful 64 coming up for Winter Yachts
See http://www.rhodesyachtdesign.com/ for the renders lower in the page

Also a huge 77 ft for Jarret Bay just flipped

[captnemo]

Unless the Bow Thruster is retractable and rotating (azimuthing) I can't imagine it being a big component for DP, Station Keeping, Sky Hook or whatever they what to call it. Maybe it is used to assist for the increased windage for that big of a boat?

The ZF Pods, Zeus Pods and Volvo IPS can usually provide their version of DP with Pods alone...

Fixed tunnel thruster are a key component of DP, you can DP with out them, but one of the pods has to be forward of the turning center, which is obviously not practical on a boat that needs performance, however it is VERY common on larger scale DP operations, and the fwd tunnel thruster is the perfect fit for this job.

DP thursters DO NOT have to be azimuthing, tunnels can do it all by them selves with or without pods aft.

In fact the first DP set ups, were twin fixed conventional props with fwd and aft tunnel thrusters.

Heading control is the #1 most important factor in DP control which the bow tunnel has the greatest effect. There are three control axis when DP'ing surge, sway and Yaw, without a fwd thruster you have no control over Yaw, (the heading control)

I use tunnel thrusters everyday for DP in conjunction with azi-pods, they are very capable. POD drives are a nice to have, but not necessary.

[Marlinmate]

are you referring to the Winter 64'? I love those boats!

Here's a 64'...They don't get much prettier than this

I agree....one of my all time favorites

[nabeelah]

NO DOUBT ITS PRETTY BUT DEFINITELY THE NEW 64 IS EVEN MUCH PRETTIER !!

http://www.wintercustomyachts.com/boat-details/36

[PacificBlue]

---

[QUOTE=captnemo;2050324]Fixed tunnel thruster are a key component of DP, you can DP with out them, but one of the pods has to be forward of the turning center, which is obviously not practical on a boat that needs performance, however it is VERY common on larger scale DP operations, and the fwd tunnel thruster is the perfect fit for this job.

DP thursters DO NOT have to be azimuthing, tunnels can do it all by them selves with or without pods aft.

In fact the first DP set ups, were twin fixed conventional props with fwd and aft tunnel thrusters.

Heading control is the #1 most important factor in DP control which the bow tunnel has the greatest effect. There are three control axis when DP'ing surge, sway and Yaw, without a fwd thruster you have no control over Yaw, (the heading control)

I use tunnel thrusters everyday for DP in conjunction with azi-pods, they are very capable. POD drives are a nice to have, but not necessary.[/QUOTE\]


I follow what you are saying, especially with regards to the commercial (displacement) craft I am assuming you are operating, but I would like to clarify one item. The recreational pods are capable of DP (Station Keeping) without the need to have a pod forward of the turning center/pivot point for these types of planing craft and they can control the vessel's heading. Picture the pods rotating and vectoring their thrust through the pivot point of the craft, after calibration has taken place of course. With four of them, I am sure they have plenty of maneuverability. In this particular case, the bow thruster could assist in maintaining a heading, assuming it is tied into the joystick control/logic. I have been on several of these boats (smaller, 65' and under) that can Station Keep without a bow thruster, but the sheer size of this beauty may have driven the bow thruster decision.

I could not picture having as an effective DP function if they went with conventional propulsion (fixed shafts) a thruster and the logic supplied by ZF /Twin Disc controls as avaible on their current product. The response just does not match the pod product, and places much more emphasis on the thruster size/type/reliability, maybe even requiring the integration of a stern thruster, which is not so desirable on a sport fisher.

Just my $0.02

[nabeelah]

CLICK LINK BELOW FOR LAUNCHING TRIP SHOWING POD INSTALLATION & SPLASH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi6iAVFqhFU&sns=em

[fishingkdr]

That's just insane! Anyone ever have any finished pics.

[Wireman]

According to her crew, "at 32knots we are burning 50gph less than the 76'."

Pretty impressive if you ask me!

[Bones2Bills]

Hellsss Bay just finnnedistalling the new Biscayne flats boat on her bow! Beautiful boat

[obxboatbuilder]