The propeller bow or also called maneuver propellers were born by the need to avoid losses of installed time and to achieve maneuverability at very low speeds. Over time, it has been increasingly installed on smaller tonnage merchant ships and large luxury yachts, since it has been proven its effectiveness has been adopted by smaller recreational vessels . Currently, it is increasingly common to get boats of small and medium length that have incorporated a propeller maneuver in bow or propeller bow .
Characteristics of the bow thruster
The bow propellers are very similar to conventional propellers, in a smaller format and with the difference that the axis of rotation is transverse to the direction of the ship’s direction. The propeller of bow or maneuver allow that the lateral movements of the prow are much easier, when almost always they are difficult to control by the wind or the currents. The propulsive force of the bow thruster is what determines its effectiveness and not the power of the engine. The effectiveness is given as a result of the combination of the following factors: the power of the electric motor, the propeller and the greater or lesser loss of effectiveness in the conduit or tunnel.
Advantages of the bow thruster
- They allow the maneuver in narrow, complicated places and, above all, in unknown moorings.
- It does not allow the currents to affect them or due to the effect of the descent produced by the wind when it comes to carrying out the maneuver .
- The evolutionary effects produced in the course of the combination of the propeller, rudder and rudder when maneuvers are being carried out in both narrow places and in the am
Bow thruster materials
The propellers are made of different types of materials, the most commonly used are those derived from aluminum, steels, titanium, bronze or composite materials. Aluminum as pure material can not be used in the construction of helices because it is very soft, and therefore does not adequately support cavitation. It is a very active metal with three valence electrons, which, when in contact with air, quickly oxidizes the metal surface. It is therefore necessary to alloy it with other metals such as copper, magnesium, manganese, nickel, silicon, bromine and zinc.