7.6 BOW THRUSTER (OPTIONAL)

The bow thruster is a very simple and strong device, but it requires some special care:

• The thruster must be used at a very low speed, or without fresh way;
• The Manufacturer, considering the excessive overheating, has foreseen a continuous run of max. 3 minutes. The electric engine is equipped with a built-in protection magneto-thermal, which stops the electric engine, in case it overheats and starts it again once it has cooled down. You should consider this when planning the manoeuvres to carry out;
• Each time the yacht is lifted, check the condition of the thruster, of the protection anode and of the fastening system.

On the battery breaker , located in the technical room is a manual button with two positions:

• ON: in this position, the battery breaker may be automatically closed/ opened by respectively turning ON/OFF the thruster’s control panel;
• OFF: in this position, the battery breaker is always OPEN, regardless of the turning ON/OFF of the thruster’s control panel.

To close the battery breaker and have the thruster powered and ready for the manoeuvre, in general, it is necessary to:

• Position the automatic battery breaker to the ON position (button “extracted”);
• Close the engine battery breaker;
• Turn ON the thruster control selector by simultaneously pressing the “ON” keys.
  

Use of the bow thrusters:

Before using the thruster, activate the battery switch. After activating the power supply, press the “ON” button on the helm position control panel.
The warning light indicates that the device is ready for use.
The thruster motor is controlled by the control selector.
When the thruster is no longer in use, press button OFF.
Before getting on land, disconnect the switch and the battery switch.

DANGER

When using the thruster, be careful of any swimmers that may be in the immediate vicinity of the propeller openings.
Do not test the thruster when the yacht is outside water, unless you are sure the workers are at safety distance from the thruster tunnel.

CAUTION

Always disconnect the related magneto-thermal when the thruster is not in use.

DANGER

Always stop the thruster before carrying out checks or maintenance by disconnecting the magneto-thermal.

CAUTION

When the bow thruster stops supplying the thrust while the electric motor turns, there might probably be a fault in the transmission system.
In this case, immediately disconnect the bow thruster.

CAUTION

Never activate the bow thruster longer than one second when the yacht is at dry shore, because this can damage the electric motor seriously.

CAUTION

When you leave the yacht, or during maintenance work on the thruster, you must turn all the battery switches on board to the manual OFF position.

CAUTION

In case it is necessary to replace a fuse on the system thruster, to involve a technical competent naval electrician.
Be sure to view the preliminary technical and operational documentation relative or contact RIVA After Sales & Service Department.