With the Bow Pro A for tunnels with a diameter of 140 millimetres, Vetus has launched a bow thruster for small boats up to nine metres in hull length. The BOWA0401 has a brushless motor, which means it can be operated for much longer without overheating, according to the manufacturer. The bow thruster can be used for up to ten minutes at full power of 40 decanewtons. Of course, this also depends on the capacity of the battery. The speed is also said to be adjustable, which should make use more flexible and quieter. The brushless drive is also maintenance-free. Three tunnels with lengths of 750, 1,000 and 1,500 millimetres are available for the bow thruster.
The control panel is connected via the Vetus V-Can bus. If this is already on board, it is only necessary to connect the new bow thruster, but no new cables need to be laid. The different tunnel lengths and simple installation should make the small Bow Pro attractive for retrofitting on small boats. The price has not yet been finalised.
4-in-1 charger from Ctek
The CS Free from Ctek combines a charger, power bank, solar regulator and jump starter in one compact design. If the starter battery goes on strike, the CS Free is connected via pole terminals and analyses the charge status, then even deeply discharged batteries are brought back to life and charged quickly using Adaptive Boost Technology. The charging progress is displayed via LED. The manufacturer promises that the battery will be ready to start after 15 minutes. The CS Free therefore charges the starter battery and is not a classic jump-start battery. The charger is suitable for all battery types.
The CS Free itself is charged via USB-C and a mains adapter on shore power. It can optionally be charged with solar power using the separately available Solar Panel Charge Kit. This also makes it suitable as a solar charge controller for charging the on-board battery independently of the mains. It also supplies laptop, tablet and mobile phone with power while on the move. The CS Free is water-protected to IP 54, measures 248 x 98 x 78 millimetres and weighs 1.4 kilograms. Price: 235 euros.
Sliding mooring traffic light with space for notes
Is the berth free or occupied? There are usually small signs indicating either red or green. Bent Larsen from Yacht-Charter.dk has its own system on offer. The sign can be set to the appropriate colour using a sliding cover. So far, so normal. However, the cover can also be easily removed and then provides space for a note stating when the space is free and when guests should vacate it. This means that paperwork does not have to be done kneeling overhead. A sign costs 26 euros.
