Super looking Boat John. My bow thruster is smaller than the one in your pictures.
I like the idea of connecting it with the rudder.
Cheers Colin.

Superb model John. Hat off 👍
I see the thruster motors are fairly grunty 400s.
What volts and ESCs are you using?
What size and weight is the ship?
Please put her in your harbour
Cheers, Doug 😎

Hi John,
That's a nice boat.
I see that it is not in your harbour.
Do you have any more photos of it.

Martin555.

Hi ya
here are a couple of pics of the bow thrusters that I am using in the Seaforth Clansman - as I have said - the one at the front :-) - is linked in with a Y lead to the rudder - the stern bow thruster is on its own stick on the transmitter (I think its channel 2) so, therefore, I can control the model by making it move sideways across the lake and also spinning it on the spot. Both thrusters have independent speed controllers.

Doug,
Would it be possible for Colin to use the PCB from a striped down servo to control his Bowthruster ?

Martin555.

Hi John,
That is a nice little controller.
Thank you worth remembering.

Martin555.

Hi Colin
you have found an antique here - we used to use them in the 80s and 90s - the only drawback is that the resistant coils don't half grow red when under load and can be a bit of a fire hazard when put in the wrong place. Best thing for this is to keep it for a model that would run on something like a small 3 volt motor . As far as running a bow thruster/stern thruster the way I opted to do this on the Seaforth Clansman was to use a Y lead between the rudder servo and the bow thruster speed controller. There is a guy up North who makes little speed controllers - they are capable of running the bow thrusters - he sometimes advertises on Ebay - and I will look for a link for you and put it on for you.
The other thing to think of if you are gong to use a cheaper Chinese speed controller (designed for cars) the majority of them have a brake facility built into them and some of them only have a 50% reverse speed.
John

"Now I'm more confused than when I started. "

Oh😮 Sorry Colin, was not the objective😔
I'd still like to know which motor the thruster uses.
Maybe then I can find out how much current it slurps and thus find a suitable mini ESC.
First thought is a thumbnail size job I've got for KGV and Co.
Cheers, Doug 😎
PS
"the Lesro speed controller will be better kept for my vintage rc equipment display. "
I agree Colin👍 You could always connect it up to a 6V max 6W bulb for demo purposes!

Hi Doug,
Now I'm more confused than when I started.
I think that the Lesro speed controller will be better kept for my vintage rc equipment display.
I'll have to find a small voltage esc. to run the bow thruster.
Any help as to what esc would, be best for the 6v bow thruster will be very well appreciated.
I'm off to walk the dogs down by the harbour (Aberystwyth) try to get my head around electrical problems.
Cheers Colin.

" if you are already powering the Rec through the main motor ESC BEC."
Or the UBEC or even a separate RX battery.

Good idea mixing thruster and rudder IF you have a NON VINTAGE TX that can do that Colin.
But only at slow manoeuvring speeds perhaps.
Might get exciting at fast / cruising speeds😮
Open attached graphic in a GIF capable viewer to see why😁
😎

I believe that RN already suggested that an ESC would be a better bet for a bow thruster? You can get brushed ESCs off ebay for £2 or £3. Just remove the red +Ve wire if you are already powering the Rec through the main motor ESC BEC.

And you could mix the bow thruster ESC with the rudder...

What you have there is a collector's item - I'll bet it would go for a lot on ebay...

Nope, never seen one Colin.
Looks like a pretty dangerous piece of kit 💥😮
with only Stop, Low, Medium and High speed settings.
As opposed to your Bob's Board which would give smoother control.
Could make thruster manoeuvring very tricky, a bit jerky.

Maybe you could use the "glowing coils" for a smoker! 😊
Cheers, Doug 😎