For the correct care and maintenance of your Menorquín's manoeuvring thrusters, first of all, you should check every time you go to your boat that they do not present any difficulty when turning, both on the bow and stern thrusters. You should also check that the battery, terminals and wiring are in perfect condition.
Maintenance schedule
After two or three weeks of the first use of the boat you should carry out an inspection of the electrical connections and the batteries, after which they should be checked approximately every three months.
Finally, it is recommended that the wiper blades are checked annually. If the boat is used intensively (in the case of rental boats), the wiper blades should be checked every two months. Please note that the BOWPRO series bow thruster motors are not fitted with carbon brushes, as they operate without these devices.
Inspection of the cathodic protection
In this case, special attention must be paid to corrosion, as these parts of the boat are usually in direct contact with sea water. Therefore, you should avoid fouling and/or corrosion of the thruster drive motors, solenoids, cables and other propeller conductors. Pay particular attention to their cleaning if necessary, using an anti-corrosion agent.
Under no circumstances should anti-corrosive agents be used on the ventilation holes of the motor or on the contact parts of the solenoid switches, as this will affect their correct operation.
Batteries
In this case, we advise you to check the battery voltage at least every 60 days. To know if your batteries are operating correctly, we indicate which are the parameters to measure the voltage:
If your Menorquín is 54 feet, while the thruster is inactive, the voltage should never be lower than 12.6 Volt and never higher than 25.2 Volt. On the other hand, if the thrusters are in operation, in the case of the BOW Series thruster, the voltage should be between 10.5 Volt and 21 Volt.
If the battery of your Menorquín has a low voltage, this means that it is deficient and will have to be replaced. Remember that VETUS batteries do not require maintenance.
Connections
Two to three weeks after installation and at least once every three months, a thorough inspection of all electrical connections on your Menorquín should be carried out: between the batteries and the thruster and at the motor solenoid. Make sure that the nuts and bolts are securely fastened on the connections between the battery cables and the motors.
Be aware that, due to the high currents generated by the manoeuvring thrusters, a large amount of heat will build up in areas of high electrical resistance. Extreme caution should be exercised when inspecting the area. You should also be aware that the most common points of high resistance are poor, loose or corroded connections in power circuits.
Normal conditions on a vessel are understood to be temperature oscillations and high levels of vibration. The expansion and contraction of metal parts caused by temperature fluctuations and vibration can cause threaded connections to loosen. Remember to loosen, clean and lubricate corroded connections. The sparing and cautious use of dielectric grease or thread sealant will help keep threaded connections in good condition.
It is very important that you exercise caution when handling the connections of your Menorquín, as they can become extremely hot and create a very dangerous situation. It is essential, in order to avoid these potential risks, that all power circuit connections are checked and maintained regularly.
For further information, please refer to the manual supplied with your boat's documentation. These suggestions for the care of your Menorquín are part of the maintenance indicated in the manual of each of the equipment delivered with the boat and must be put into practice for optimal preservation of the boat. We also advise you to have all maintenance work carried out by the professional team of your trusted boatyard.