MAX Power VIP 150 Electric Retractable Thruster - Manual (Page 6)

VIP 150, 12/24V with Electronic Controller . 25/12/05
6
3.2 CONSTRUCTION OF HULL OPENING & CLOSING PLATE:
The opening made for the thruster in the hull is closed by a plate, which can be made
from the cutout hull section, or specially fabricated.
Hull
Closing
Plate
15 - 20 mm
wide rebate
in hull.
Hull
( a )
( c )
( b )
To prevent marine growth inside the turbine enclosure, it is essential that once the unit is
raised, no light be allowed to enter.
On an excellent installation the enclosure may even be watertight. If this is achieved
anode life will be greatly increased (No circulating water, no oxygen and no corrosion!).
The use of antifouling or other paints on the thruster unit is not necessary if the closing
plate closes properly onto its seal.
However, if painted, never use copper based paints and do not paint the vertical
column of the unit.
3.3 FINAL FITTING OF THE THRUSTER UNIT TO THE MOUNTING BASE:
Final installation of the thruster unit onto the mounting base must be made after
thoroughly cleaning and then liberally coating both joint surfaces (thruster base flange
and mounting base flange) with good quality marine grease. This is so that the «O» ring
seal is compressed flat, evenly, smoothly and squarely when the bolts are tightened.
Under no circumstances should the thruster be glued or bedded down with a marine type
mastic/glue such as Sikaflex or other similar product(s).
The flange bolts should be tightened sequentially and in successive passes until the two
surfaces touch.
a) The closing plate should fit into a 15 – 20
mm wide rebate in the hull when in the
raised position. This is to transfer all the seas
slamming forces to the hull and not to the
electric rams!
b) The closing plate must be securely fixed to
the supplied adjustable aluminium-mounting
fitting.
c) A gasket must be installed in the hulls
rebate. This gasket can be made either from
neoprene or moulded in «SIKAFLEX» (or
similar product). Precautions should be taken
to ensure that the gasket does not stick to
the closing plate. The plate must rest evenly
on this gasket when the thruster is closed.