Game Changer! Installing the Bow Thruster. | Ep. 8

Welcome back! This week we had a bow thruster installed, totally changing the game on how we dock and maneuver the boat in tight spaces. Taking advantage of having the boat on the hard, we did some dirty work with temps near 100. Whew! Can't wait to get on the water.
Special thanks to Rick and his team at Line Six Services for the great work on the thruster.
Line Six Services is a specialized service company dedicated solely to the yacht and yacht manufacturing industry.
www.linesixservices.net/
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[@randybaker6722]

Great camera work with the under the boat shots!

[@12000Jetlag]

It always makes me nervous whenever a hole was drilled into my boat but a hole that size would have given me nightmares lol.

[@nighthog1]

I follow several loopers on you tube. I’d love to follow your journey too but I want to see more content and video of the whole adventure. Day to day life on board, docking, fixing things that go wrong along , the fun timers etc. also share the costs of the whole experience to make it educational for anyone contemplating doing the looping life. Hoping for safe and wonderful travels for you guys!

[@livinglimitless1628]

Good ideas, thank you for the feedback. We hope to include some more details of those item in future videos.

[@bobbycallis5865]

I live here and I didn't see u guys out of water would have liked to watch a little of the bow thruster installation

[@livinglimitless1628]

Hey Bobby! Sorry we missed you, would love to have given you a much closer look at the process.

[@tmac709]

Congratulations on getting the bow thruster installed. I know you're going to feel a whole lot safer in the marinas.

[@cmk5490]

Definitely learning a lot! Thank you for sharing the videos of your journey!

[@CaptainTodd]

First time viewer. I can't believe you didn't show any of the bow thruster. Love that you have your daughter out there with you!!!

[@livinglimitless1628]

Thanks for watching! Unfortunately we ran in to some technical difficulties with those clips. Hoping to discuss it more in the future!

[@lesliefleming4359]

Bell thruster will make things a lot easier in the locks as well. Easier than scanning the wall pulling up to ropes and reversing at the last minute. I am also amazed at how large our boat looks when I’m on the travel lift

[@livinglimitless1628]

Agreed, I thought the same! Thanks for watching!!

[@hillrodfilms5262]

I’m freaking biting my nails the whole first half of this video ol son !!!! She said it looks so BIG when you pull it out hahahahahah I love y’all’s videos lol

[@wilcolon3815]

Left me wanting to see what a bow thruster looks like! All that showed was a Black circle. How does it work? And how do you control it. I know, I'm a geek, can't help it.

[@livinglimitless1628]

Hey Wil! We debated how technical to get with the video. Here's a quick non-Limitless video that's very similar to the process and controls followed and installed on my boat. kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIOXYoSihNSAatU

[@dariussullivan8022]

Can you share cost of bow thruster love the channel have followed at least five loopers you guys doing great keeping it resl

[@livinglimitless1628]

We paid $12K and worth every penny!

[@dariussullivan8022]

@@livinglimitless1628 thanks

[@bleis9896]

Another project in the books. What are you going to do with all your time after you complete your list of to-do's?

[@livinglimitless1628]

That's funny! We were sitting at the dining table the other night after a long day of projects, feeling somewhat productive, then the light over the table flickered and went out. We both just looked at each other and laughed. As a another friend shared with us, everything on a boat is broke, we just don't know it yet. 🙂

[@barryness7953]

Where your zinc that supposed to be on your rudders and I noticed bubbles on your undercoat paint

[@livinglimitless1628]

We don't have any zincs on the rudders, but they appear to be in good shape. Yes, we do have some bubbles. Talking with my hull surveyor, he said they're small enough we'll be okay for a while, but they do need addressed. I expect to do a full bottom job after we complete the loop.

[@brianknowles5152]

What type of camera do you use for filming your journey. Can you say how much the bow thruster cost to install? Thinking of installing one on my boat. Located on Lake Erie at KYC if your in the neighbourhood drop-in.

[@livinglimitless1628]

Hi Brian, we use our iPhones. We're slowly upgrading our equipment now that we're getting rolling, considering GoPro and wireless mics. For the bow thruster, we paid $12K. Going through the locks in NY this past week, it was the best money I could have spent upgrading the boat. 🙂

[@captainrosie6738]

We were wondering, now that you have a few miles behind you are you still happy with the decision to do the loop in that size boat? Would you now go with a smaller boat with less wind draft? How about a single engine with bow and stern thrusters? We are getting our boat ready for a future loop and we followed someone's advice and got the smallest boat we could be very comfortable on. Of course there are only 2 of us and 2 very spoiled pups. Also are you happy with the 3208t? How many hours are on them? We have a single 3208t pushing a semi displacement hull with 300 hp. On our first and only 1700 mile Trip to bring her home after purchase we averaged 5.5 mpg at an average of 7 knots.

[@livinglimitless1628]

Hi Capt Rosie! We're happy with the size of the boat. With three of us, the extra room and comfort makes any challenges worth it. Once the bow thrusters got installed, it really mitigated the challenges of wind and current while docking. So highly recommend bow thrusters, and stern thrusters will be a big help with only one engine. The benefit of a smaller boat is air draft and more choices. With our tight time table and high air draft, we can't go the entire Erie Canal, so we're looking at the Welland Canal as we don't have time this summer to hit the Trent Severn Waterway. Love the 3208Ts. They've been reliable, and relatively easy to maintain. We have 4900 hrs on ours, so they will go a long time when maintained. Having the twin engines, we don't get good fuel milage. When we keep the RPMs down to 1100 or less, we can get close to 2.5 mpg. Great questions, and hope to meet you on the loop someday! Safe travels!

[@barelyafloatwithsteve3975]

Hi Guys Great Video. I'm looking at boats in the size range of yours. If you don't mind sharing, what did it cost to have the Bow Thruster installed ?

[@livinglimitless1628]

Hi Steve, we paid $12K. After using the thruster for a few weeks, I'd gladly pay it again. It makes docking and maneuvering in and out of the locks sooooo much easier and less stressful. Thanks for feedback!

[@barelyafloatwithsteve3975]

@@livinglimitless1628, thank you ‼️ I don't know much about these things, I'm doing my research. But I think that's a Great Price, I would have thought over $20K Thank you again, this definitely helps me as I move forward. Stay Safe Out there ‼️ 🙂

[@romakayak]

How long is it and what tonnage and horse power

[@livinglimitless1628]

We're 48', 35K lbs, and each CAT is 375HP.

[@romakayak]

@@livinglimitless1628 mine is 48ft, 37.500ibs, and 120hp