Can a bow thruster lose power?

spikedaddy99

spikedaddy99

Well-Known Member
GOLD Sponsor
Jun 11, 2008
2,607
Prentice, Wi
Boat Info
2005 500 DB
Engines
QSM-11
I have a 500DB with a bow thruster. Last weekend when using it, it didn't seem to have the same amount of thrust as usual. Enough so that my son even commented on not "feeling" the same when he is on the bow while docking. I confirmed when docked we were pushing water, it just didn't seem as much thrust. Can a bow thruster have less thrust? I assume if the batteries were low, it would behave this way, so I will check them, but does a 500 DB have an alarm on thruster battery levels? Help is appreciated. Mike
 
Check foul fouling in the thruster cavity. May have picked up plastic or vegetation.
I haul out annually for cleaning and see a lot of marine algae growth in the cavity to clean out.
 
Sounds like a battery issue to me. The thruster will slowly die as the battery drains. Check your charger and the inline fuse between the charger and the battery.
 
On my 320, if the batteries get low, the thruster does not engage, just clicks. Once the battery gets enough of a charge, then it starts working again. Mine is 12v, so might be totally different on a larger more powerful thruster.
 
A few years ago mine was acting the same so I checked the charger and it was not putting out. Mine is a 24v pro mariner. I opened it up and found a 25a blade fuse inside that was blown. No problems since.
 
All points where mentioned already so to answer your question no the boat does not have any thruster warning indicators I have ever seen. Some don’t even come with thrusters or seperate thruster batteries.
 
Thanks guys. I will check for fuses and battery life first. I hope I don't have to get in the water since it is under 50 degrees still. Mike
 
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