vetus BOW2512D Bow Thrusters Instruction Manual

: June 13, 2024
: vetus

Table of Contents

vetus BOW2512D Bow Thrusters
Product Information
Product Usage Instructions
Introduction
Maintenance
Warranty
Replacement parts
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

vetus BOW2512D Bow Thrusters

Product Information

The product is a Thruster used in vessels. It comes in various models and types, each with a different serial number. The available models include BOW2512D, BOW2512DI, BOW2512E, BOW2512EI, BOWA0301, BOWA0304, BOW3512F, BOW3512FI, BOW4512D, BOW4512DI, and many more.

Product Usage Instructions

To ensure proper usage of the Thruster, follow the maintenance and warranty manual provided. The manual is available in multiple languages including Dutch, English, German, Italian, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, and Polish.

Introduction
Read the introduction section of the manual for an overview of the product and its maintenance requirements.

Maintenance:
Follow the maintenance schedule outlined in the manual. This includes regular maintenance tasks for the electrical installation and checking the tail piece and zinc anode.

Warranty:
Refer to the warranty section for information on the product’s warranty coverage.

Replacement parts:
If any parts of the Thruster need to be replaced, refer to the replacement parts section for guidance.

Maintenance Records:
Maintain a record of all maintenance activities performed on the Thruster. Use the provided maintenance records section for this purpose.

Warning
Make sure that the user of the vessel is supplied with the owner’s manual.

Owner’s Name and Address.
Thruster model, Serial Number

ø 110 mm| ø 125 mm| ø 140 mm| ø 150 mm| ø 185 mm| ø 250 mm| ø 300 mm| ø 400 mm
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---
BOW2512D| BOW3512F| BOW4012| BOW3512D| BOW6012D| STE6012D| BOW12512D| BOW22024D|
BOW2512DI| BOW3512FI| | BOW3512DI| BOW6024D| STE6024D| BOW12524D| BOW28548D
BOW2512E| BOW4512D| | BOW3512E| BOW7512D| STE7512D| BOW16024D| BOW2204DE
BOW2512EI| BOW4512DI| | BOW3512EI| BOW7512DI| STE7524D| BOW1604DE|
| | | BOW5512D| BOW7524D| STE9512D| BOW18024D|
| | | BOW5512DI| BOW7524DI| STE9524D| BOW1254DE|
| | | BOW5524D| BOW9512D| BOW952DE| STE12512D|
| | | BOW5524DI| BOW9512DI| BOW954DE| STE12524D|
| | | STE5512D| BOW9524D| | STE16024D|
| | | STE5524D| BOW9524DI| | |
BOWA0301| BOWA0361| BOWA0401| BOWA0571| BOWA0651| BOWB076| BOWB150| BOWB285| BOWB385
BOWA0304| BOWA0364| | BOWA0574| BOWA0761| BOWB090| BOWB180| BOWB300| BOWB420
| BOWA0421| | BOWB057| BOWA0764| BOWB110| BOWB210| BOWB320|
| | | | BOWB065| BOWB130| | |

Introduction

About this Maintenance and Warranty Manual:

The Maintenance and Warranty Manual is a document that informs you about the necessary maintenance of your thruster, warranty, and the VETUS service network and can thus make a considerable contribution to your cruising pleasure!
This Maintenance and Warranty Manual accompanies the Installation and Operating Manuals.
Before operating your bow or stern thruster for the first time, it is important that you study the contents of these Manuals.
Keeping the records in this Service Manual up to date is the responsibility of the owner.
Failure to maintain a proper service record may void the warranty.

Maintenance

A bow thruster requires some periodic maintenance. Perform each function at the indicated time interval. The intervals stated are for normal operating conditions. Service the unit more frequently under severe conditions.
Failure to carry out maintenance can result in faults and permanent damage to the thruster. No warranty claim can be made if maintenance has been neglected.

note
Disconnect cables to the battery terminals (first negative, ground) before carrying out maintenance work.
Carry out maintenance procedures safely by only using suitable tools.

For very intensive use such as in rental vessels, it is required to check the brushes once every 2 months.
The motors of the BOWPRO series bow thrusters don’t have carbon brushes, they are brushless motors.

Electrical installation
Corrosion protection
Don’t allow your thruster motor, solenoids, cables, and other conductors to become dirty or corroded. Clean if required and use an anti-corrosion agent.
Never spray an anti-corrosion agent into the ventilation openings of the motor or on the contacts of the solenoid switches, this will affect the proper functioning.

Batteries

Check the voltage of your batteries every 60 days at a minimum.

The battery voltage must be not less than:

With a lower battery voltage, the battery is insufficiently charged or the battery needs to be replaced.
The instructions of the manufacturer should be followed for the maintenance of the batteries. VETUS batteries are maintenance-free.

Connections

A complete check of all electrical connections between the battery/batteries and the bow thruster and the connections on the motor solenoid must be made after 2 or 3 weeks of operation of the bow thruster (after initial installation) and then at least once every 3 months.

Because of the high currents that occur with electric bow thrusters, a lot of heat will develop in places where a high electrical resistance occurs.
The most common points of high resistance are corroded, loose, and poor connections in the power circuits
Temperature fluctuations and high levels of vibration are normal conditions on a boat. Expansion and contraction of metal components due to temperature fluctuations and vibrations leads frequently to threaded connections working loose.

DanGer!
Such connections can become very, very hot, possibly result-ing in a very dangerous condition.
To avoid this potential hazard, it is essential that all power circuit connections are checked and maintained on a regular basis.

Only use appropriate tools to check that each bolt and/or nut is securely tightened. Prevent the nut and bolt from turning at the connection of the battery cables to the motors. This is also why you should always use a second wrench when tightening these connections. Failure to do this may result in a terminal post be-ing twisted out of the solenoids or motor, both being difficult or impossible to repair.

note
Never exceed the tightening torque of the bolts as shown in the tables.
The specified tightening torques apply only to the electrical connections of the bow thruster.

Loosen corroded connections, clean them and grease them. Care-ful and sparing use of dielectric greases or thread locking com-pounds will be helpful in maintaining good threaded connections.

BOW / STE Series thrusters BOWPRO Series thrusters Brushes
note
The motors of the BOW series bow thrusters and the STE series bow thrusters contain carbon brushes.
The motors of the BOWPRO series bow thrusters are brushless motors. These contain NO carbon brushes.

Check the carbon brushes for wear – in normal use once per year with very intensive use of the bow thruster, e.g. with rental vessels, once every two months.

The electric motor has four carbon brushes or four pairs of carbon brushes to convey current to the rotating part of the motor, called the armature. These brushes are spring loaded and wear away as they bear upon the commutator. (A commutator consists of a cylinder composed of multiple hard copper contact segments on the rotating armature of the motor.) The rate of brush wear is variable from one motor to another, and of course, is affected by how much the thruster is being used. Improper use may cause the commutator to overheat and warp, which will damage the motor.

Remove the protective cover from the solenoid and then the protective cover to the brushes.
Clean the brushes (1), the holders (2) and the com-mutator (3). (Blow away the dust coming off the brushes.)
Check whether the carbon brushes slide easily in the brush holders and make proper contact with the com- mutator.
Use a pair of needle nose pli- ers to partially pull back theretaining spring. Grasp the connector wire of each brush and gently pull the brush back 5 to 6 mm (1/4 inch) then allow the spring to push down on the head of the brush and let it go. The brush should slide into the brush holder smoothly and stop only when it comes back into contact with the commutator.

In order to be able to remove the brushes from the brush holders, first disconnect the brush wires then using needle nose pliers or a wire hook, pull the spring out of the way, and extract the brush by gently pulling on the brush wire.

Check the brush holder and the carbon brush for irregularities that might or may prevent free movement.
Check the length of the carbon brushes.
Even if only one of the carbon brushes is shortened so much that the spring no longer pushes it down making good contact with the commutator, all carbon brushes must be replaced!
Replace before the carbon brushes no longer make good contact.

The minimum length of the brushes is:

14 mm for thrusters 25 kgf to 75 kgf and
16 mm for thrusters 95 kgf larger.

For a part number of replacement carbon brush sets, see page 48 ‘Replacement Parts’, or consult the ‘Service Parts’ page in your bow thruster manual.

Check the commutator for damages.

Tail piece and zinc anode
Lubrication
The bow thruster tailpiece has long-term lubrication. Therefore oil change is not necessary.

Checking Cathodic Protection

On the thruster tail piece (the gearbox un-der water in the thruster tube) a zinc anode is installed. This zinc anode will be dissolved (sacrificed) by electrolysis to prevent corro-sion of the bronze tailpiece and the propel-ler shaft. The speed at which the zinc anode is dissolved depends on the temperature and the type of water (salt or fresh) and stray current in the water around the boat either from other vessels or a defective ground in the shore power system.
Zinc anode corrosion can also result from a short circuit to any part of the thruster mechanism.
The zinc anode should be inspected and/or replaced at least once per year.
Replace the zinc anode if it is less than half the original size.
In clear water it is also possible to check the zinc anode during the sailing season.

Warning
Make sure that you disconnect the power to the thruster!

Zinc anode replacement
Bow thrusters with tube diameter ø 110 mm, ø 125 mm, ø 140 mm, ø 150 mm and ø 185 mm

Remove the propeller.
Remove the screws from the zinc anode and remove the zinc anode.
Install the new zinc anode, install the new zinc anode after application of the thread lock (Loc-tite®).
Clean the propeller shaft, grease it with ‘out-board gear grease’ ), and reassemble the propeller on the shaft.
) A suitable grease is VETUS ‘Shipping Grease’, Part number: VSG.

For a part number of a replacement zinc anode (c/w mounting screws), see page 48, ‘Replacement parts’, or consult the ‘Service Parts’ page in your bow thruster manual.

Bow thrusters with tube diameter ø 250 mm, ø 300 mm and ø 400 mm

Remove mounting bolt (1) and zinc anode (2).
Then remove in order the nut, washer and propeller (3), the key (4) and the V-ring* (5).
Clean the propeller shaft and grease the running surface of the V-ring* with ‘outboard gear grease’ **).
Fit a new V-ring* .
Reinstall the key on the shaft and reassemble the propeller.

*) Not applicable for 400 mm tunnel.
**) A suitable grease is VETUS ‘Shipping Grease’, Part number: VSG.
For a part number of a replacement zinc anode (c/w mounting bolt) and for a V-ring, see page 48, ‘Replacement parts’, or consult the ‘Ser-vice Parts’ page in your bow thruster manual.

Warranty

About the VETUS service network
The VETUS service network is available to the boat owner, you can go to it for advice, inspection and service work, parts, repairs and to process warranty claims.

About the VETUS Warranty

The warranty is granted to the first owner. The warranty can be transferred to a new owner and the remainder of the warranty period will be integrally transferred to the latter. All modifications made to the bow or stern thruster will render the warranty conditions null and void.
This warranty is provided by VETUS BV or its affiliates.
The final decision about warranty applicability is made by VETUS and not its authorized dealers. The decision will be forwarded to the supplying dealer/boatyard in writing.
The end user cannot claim under warranty directly with VETUS but should make a claim under warranty with the supplier of the VETUS product.

About the VETUS Warranty Coverage

VETUS guarantees that VETUS equipment is warranted against product defects and material and manufacturing faults during the warranty period.
Faulty products during the warranty period will be repaired or replaced by VETUS if the claim is found to be valid.
VETUS reserves the right to substitute new or replacement products.
Products replaced by VETUS under warranty will automatically become the property of VETUS.

Warranty period

The warranty period will commence at the time the VETUS product is sold.
The warranty period is 36 months. This warranty period is only applicable to a retail end user.
The warranty period is 12 months for commercial use. Prior to using the product for commercial purposes, the user should obtain written approval from VETUS and/or its authorized dealers.

Repairs

Replacing parts and/or products under this warranty does not affect the original terms and conditions of the warranty.
Parts replaced under the warranty are guaranteed during the remaining warranty period of the product of which they are part.

Warranty Conditions

Visible faults should be reported immediately, or within 5 days at the latest, in writing and specified, to the VETUS dealer, distributor or importer.

Any claim on the Warranty is not valid when:

The bow or stern thruster has been used for an application other than that stated in the specification or has been used differently from what could normally be expected.
The bow or stern thruster has been applied as part of a Dynamic Positioning system (exception: non-commercially used bow or stern thrusters of type BOWA and BOWB).
The bow or stern thruster has been improperly fitted or installed.
There is a case of normal wear and tear.
The conditions concerning operation, maintenance, and repair have not been followed.
The product has been used differently from what could normally be expected.
The failure is caused by lack of care by the owner or user.
The construction of the bow or stern thruster has been changed without the approval of VETUS.
Non-original parts have been fitted.
In the case of external calamity.
The fault has not been reported in writing to the dealer, O.E.M. (Original Equipment Manufacturer), importer or VETUS B.V. Schiedam, The Nether-lands, within 14 days of this defect being noticed by the owner, or when it should have been noticed by the owner. Such, a report must be made within 14 days after the expiry of the Warranty at the lat-est.
The warranty period of 36 months has expired.
The provided service schedule has not been followed and documented.

The Warranty does not cover:

Faults that are not caused by material or construction defects.
Faults caused by: Normal wear, internal or external dirt, rust and paint damage, freezing, overheating, overloading or improper treatment.
Damage caused during transport, distribution, and/or storage.
A repair carried out by a non-VETUS dealer, when VETUS B.V. or the VETUS affiliates has not been informed beforehand of the repair and has not given written permission for the repair.
Materials or procedures used at the request of the owner which are not part of the normal service.
Inspections, specialized work, similar operations or advice carried out for payment without the per-mission of VETUS B.V. or a VETUS affiliate.
Parts liable to wear, such as gaskets, lubricants, paint, brushes, zinc anodes.
Consequential costs of profit-sharing, transport, travel or accommodation, loss of time, loss of property, loss of use, or costs incurred in making the product accessible, crane costs, dock charges, damages due to personal injury or loss of possessions.

Service Abroad
If you need to have warranty work carried out, go to the local VETUS dealer. You can obtain the address of your nearest VETUS dealer via the website www.vetus. com boat builder, importer or VETUS B.V., Schiedam, The Netherlands.

Modifications
VETUS B.V. may make modifications to the execution or construction of their products without prior notice. VETUS B.V. are not be obliged to make these modifica-tions to products which have been previously sold or supplied by VETUS B.V..