OK, so I have an 8-week old sail away and it came with a Vetus BOW5512D bow thruster.
On the odd occasion I've used it I've ensured it was for short bursts and to mainly get me out of a tricky situation when the wind has picked up. All worked very well. For the past few times I've needed to use it, it's done nothing to help.
I can hear the engine going but no thrust. It wasn't until a fellow boater commented yesterday that I've looked into it further. It creates zero thrust, instead a few bubbles and a very slight churn of sedement. It certainly doesn't move the bow.
So, looking at the manual, I've either damaged a propeller blade or the drive pin has broken. The outside of the thruster tube ends has grid bars and a sort of cowel hood at the top. All fuses are ok and battery is in good nick (voltage tested). The power gets to the motor fine, it's below water that I think is the issue. The photo is the thruster locker, I've removed the wooden cover from the top of the battery so you can see it all fully.
The hatch the thruster is in is floodable (once I've removed the battery). If I've sucked something in and broken the propeller or drive pin it's my fault so I need to fix it. If I find the pin has fallen out and the blade is fine that's another matter but I need to investigate.
OK, many of you will likely say best thing for it to stop working, drive correctly, weld the damn thing up etc etc but I'd like to fix it. I'll call manufacturer on Monday but is removal and flood a relatively simple job, all be it a little stressful!