Archive | Bow Thrusters

Bow and Stern Thruster Maintenance

By Chris Brown on April 2, 2019 in Bow Thrusters, Hydraulics

Bow and stern thrusters are critical components on any mega yacht. Not only do they increase the maneuverability of large vessels but also play an important part in the safety of other boats around the docks particularly in larger vessels is tight spaces. Most of these systems are driven by hydraulics on vessel from 80-180 feet but others are driven by electric motors.

When hauled it is a good idea to drain the gear oil out of the leg to check for water or metal. If no water is present, add fresh gear oil and the service is done. New seals can easily be added depending on the brand and model of thruster. If salt water is present, the gear leg can be removed for disassembly and assessment on gears and bearings. More often, we find oil in the tunnel beneath the propeller a few days after haul-out that indicates leaking shaft seals that would need to be replaced. While we typically do not change out zincs unless requested, zincs for bow and stern thrusters are specific to the brand of thrusters so that would be included in the maintenance service.

We were recently called on to service a bow thruster on one of our repeat clients where the propellers complete broke apart due to improper installation. We were able to secure new props and rebuild the thrusters to “like new” condition.

Because your bow and stern thrusters are in constant contact with sea water, we recommend that you inspect and service them twice a year to ensure that your yachting experience in close quarters and safe and stress free.

Need Running Gear and Hydraulic Work Done on your Yacht – Work with Us

By Chris Brown on July 11, 2017 in ABT Trac, Bow Thrusters, Hydraulic System Flush, Hydraulics, Stabilizers, Steering Systems, Windlass

A 106’ Westport yacht was recently hauled at Lauderdale Marine Center for a variety routine maintenance projects including shaft work, bearing replacements and an overhaul on several hydraulic systems. To streamline the process and help the captain and crew better manage the project, they contracted with both High Seas Yacht Service for the running gear portion and High Seas Hydraulics to handle the hydraulics work.

Our running gear mechanics inspected the shafts to ensure they were straight and aligned and replaced the bearings and seals. Normal wear and tear associated with running the vessel and prolonged exposure to salt water makes this task a necessary evil for properly maintaining the boat. As seen in the adjacent photo, there was a visible gap where the cutlass bearing adjoined to the shaft.

We were also commissioned to replace the seals on the lower stabilizer fins. ABT Trac, one of the more popular brands, recommends changing the lower stabilizer fin seals every couple of years but at least every six years depending on use. The components on the stabilizer are constantly working except is absolute calm seas, so the wear and tear can be considerable. After dropping the fins, we proceeded to change out the old lower stabilizer fin seals with new ones, check the hoses and cylinders, then reassembling the units.

In addition to the routine maintenance on the stabilizer systems, we flushed the entire hydraulic system using the simple drain, filter, fill approach commonly referred to in our shop as a DFF. This type of flush is more of an “oil change” and is part of routine maintenance. It is not appropriate where a more serious condition such as water, metal particles or other contaminants are found in the oil. The process calls for draining the hydraulic tank, changing out the filters and refilling the tank with hydraulic fluid.

To round out the work on this Westport, we did an overhaul on the bow thruster, single Maxwell windlass, the boat’s heat exchangers and the hydraulic steering system which was slow to respond.

From running gear to hydraulics, our teams at High Seas Yacht Service and High Seas Hydraulics, make easy work of maintaining the systems that make your vessel safe and operating smoothly.

Repairing a leaking Heat Exchanger in a Bow Thruster HPU

By Chris Brown on April 17, 2017 in Bow Thrusters, Hydraulic Power Units, Hydraulics

We were recently contracted to inspect a leaking heat exchanger on a 130 foot Westport yacht docked at a local marina. The heat exchanger was part of the hydraulic power unit (HPU) for the ship’s bow thruster system. The HPU consists mainly of a motor, a reservoir tank and a hydraulic pump. These units can generate a tremendous amount of power to drive most any kind of hydraulic ram or motor. They can also generate high temperatures. Most heat exchangers used in the marine industry are water cooled and use a water control valve to regulate the flow of water though the exchanger to keep the hydraulic fluid temperature between 64 and 68 degrees C (147 and 155 degrees F). It is important to make sure the adjustments for the water control valve are set properly to avoid rapid overheating.

This particular model was a shell and tube design. As its name implies, this type of heat exchanger consists of a shell (a large pressure vessel) with a bundle of tubes inside it. One fluid runs through the tubes, in this case hydraulic oil, and another fluid, water, flows over the tubes (through the shell) to transfer heat between the two fluids. The set of tubes is called a tube bundle and may be composed of several types of tubes.

Upon inspection, we found that the fittings in the heat exchanger were not properly seated and the sealant used was not sufficient for the job. In order to remedy the problem, we needed to remove the heat exchanger from the HPU and send it out for servicing. In order to do this, we had to disconnect the hard pipe Stauff clamps above the heat exchanger in order to spread the pipes apart to remove the heat exchanger from the bilge. We also disconnected and installed caps and plugs in the hoses connected to the heat exchanger. We resealed the adapters and fitting upon re-installation, connected the hydraulic hoses, installed Stauff clamp supports and tested the unit for leaks.

The heat exchanger is back in operation and helping to ensure that the hydraulic bow thrusters are doing their job helping to maneuver this yacht in tight places.

High Seas Hydraulics Adds Factory Trained and Certified on ABT•TRAC Systems to its List of Credentials

By Chris Brown on October 3, 2014 in Bow Thrusters, Hydraulics, Stabilizers

At High Seas Hydraulics and High Seas Yacht Service, we take pride in the high level of service we provide our customers. One way to continue that tradition is to make sure our technicians receive the latest training on new and emerging marine systems.

We recently sent two of our hydraulics technicians to ABT•TRAC training in Rohnert Park, CA. ABT•TRAC is a leading manufacturer of world class yachting products. The Company specializes in stabilizers, bow and stern thrusters, and hydraulic systems.

During the training, our technicians honed their skills on re-building bow and stern thrusters, stabilizers and other hydraulic systems. Part of the training focused on installation and service for ABT•TRAC’s STAR and ReTrac systems. STAR is an option on all of ABT•TRAC’s stabilizers and provides vessels roll stabilization while at anchor or laying to. Introduced in 2013, ReTrac is the Company’s first retractable thruster.

After completion of the training and passing a comprehensive exam, our technicians are now Factory Trained and Certified to work on all types of ABT•TRAC systems. An added bonus of the training session, our technicians arrived back at our shop with comprehensive schematics for a number of hydraulic systems.

We firmly believe that to remain a trusted partner to our customers, we must remain on the cutting edge of technology.

High Seas Hydraulics Now Factory Trained and Certified on WESMAR Hydraulic Systems

By Chris Brown on October 1, 2014 in Bow Thrusters, Hydraulics, Stabilizers

On August 25 and 26, we sent two of our Hydraulics technicians to Woodinville, WA, to attend WESMAR’s annual Sales and Technical Service Training Seminar. The seminar consisted of two days of intense classroom work along with time spent on the manufacturing floor assembling, testing and operating WESMAR’s stabilizer systems, bow and stern thrusters and hydraulic systems.

WESMAR is the inventor of the dual prop counter-rotating bow thruster and the electronic gyro powered roll fin stabilizers.

At the end of the course, our technicians were awarded with a Certificateof Achievement for Successful Completion of the Mechanical Seminar on Installation, Maintenance and Operation of Bow Thrusters, Stabilizers, and Hydraulics. They are now Factory Certified to work on WESMAR Hydraulic Systems.

“This was one of the more comprehensive training classes I have attended,” commented Jeremy Short, High Seas Hydraulics Foreman. “Not only did we have the opportunity to learn in a classroom setting, but being able to actually breakdown and rebuild the stabilizers and thrusters gave me real world experience that I can bring back to my customers.

At High Seas Hydraulics, we believe that the investments we make in our people are investments we make for our customers. We will continue seek out new courses and certifications to help guarantee we can offer our clients the best service in the industry.