Bow thruster system for fiberglass boat

A fiberglass boat having a hull with a through hull bow thruster system, the through hull bow thruster system comprising:

• a first opening positioned in the port side of the hull;
• a second opening positioned in the starboard side of the hull;
• a conduit joining the first and second opening, the first opening, the second opening and the conduit defining a continuous fluid flow path from a port side to a starboard side of the boat hull;
• a first electric motor, the first electric motor driving a first propeller, the first electric motor and the first propeller housed within the conduit;
• a second electric motor, the second electric motor driving a second propeller, the second electric motor and the second propeller housed within the conduit.

A method for fitting a bow thruster system to a bow of a boat, the boat having a fiberglass hull comprising:

• identifying a first location on a port side of the bow of the fiberglass hull and a second location on the starboard side of the fiberglass hull wherein the first location and the second location are transversely located on opposite sides of the fiberglass hull at a location which is below a water line of the boat when the boat is underway at a speed less than 5 mph;
• cutting a first hole through the fiberglass hull at the first location;
• cutting a second hole through the fiberglass hull at the second location;
• positioning a first flanged port in the first hole, the first flanged port having a flange surface which fits substantially flush with the bow of the fiberglass hull;
• securing the first flanged port in the first hole using a waterproof sealant;
• positioning a second flanged port in the second hole, the second flanged port having a flange surface which fits substantially flush with the bow of the fiberglass hull;
• securing the second flanged port in the second hole using a waterproof sealant;
• providing a first thruster module:
• the first thruster module having a first motor the first motor supporting at least one propeller;
• and,
• the first thruster module having at least one first electrical conduit port providing a water tight passage through the first thruster module;
• wherein the first thruster module provides fluid communication between the first and second flanged ports;
• a controller in electrical communication with the first motor through the first electrical conduit port, the controller configured to direct operation of the first motor.

A method for fitting a bow thruster system to a bow of a boat, the boat having a fiberglass hull comprising:

• identifying a first location on a port side of the bow of the fiberglass hull and a second location on the starboard side of the fiberglass hull wherein the first location and the second location are transversely located on opposite sides of the fiberglass hull at a location which is below a water line of the boat when the boat is underway at a speed less than 5 mph;
• cutting a first hole through the fiberglass hull at the first location;
• cutting a second hole through the fiberglass hull at the second location;
• positioning a first flanged port in the first hole, the first flanged port having a flange surface which fits substantially flush with the bow of the fiberglass hull and a first conduit which passes to an interior of the fiberglass hull;
• securing the first flanged port in the first hole using a gelcoat fiberglass cement;
• positioning a second flanged port in the second hole, the second flanged port having a flange surface which fits substantially flush with the bow of the fiberglass hull and a second conduit which passes to an interior of the fiberglass hull;
• securing the second flanged port in the second hole using a gelcoat fiberglass cement;
• providing a first thruster module:
• the first thruster module having a first motor the first motor supporting at least one propeller;
• and,
• the first thruster module having at least one first electrical conduit port providing a water tight passage;
• providing a second thruster module:
• the second thruster module having a second motor the second motor supporting at least one propeller;
• and,
• the second thruster module having at least one second electrical conduit port providing a water tight passage;
• positioning a first adaptor sleeve on the first conduit, the first adaptor secured in a water tight manner to the first conduit;
• positioning a second adaptor sleeve on the second conduit, the second adaptor secured in a water tight manner to the second conduit;
• securing the first thruster module to the first adaptor in a water tight manner;
• securing the second thruster module to the second adaptor in a water tight manner;
• joining the first and second thruster modules in a water tight manner to provide a continuous fluid flow path from the first flanged port to the second flanged port;
• a controller in electrical communication with the first thruster through the first electrical conduit port, the controller configured to direct operation of the first motor.