Thinking about adding a bow thruster

[MadHatter53]

I’m thinking about adding a bow thruster but not sure if the costs etc would make it worthwhile.
there are elect and hydraulic units and quite a few manufacturers all have pros and cons to each.
I like the hydraulic units without needing more batteries etc etc but the battery units have been around for a while. I did read thru the posts here looking for some insight. These boats do handle very well on open water but are subject to winds blowing the bow off course when in tight quarters.
I was leaving my slip I’m backed into and the wind had me pinned to the finger pier on port and I need to go stbd to leave and had to let the wind take the bow to port and back out to fairway which wasn’t an issue but I did say if I had a thruster that would have been much easier. I was gonna try to use a spring but I was alone and leaving the helm didn’t seem like a good idea. I’m sure I could have spun the boat once out of my slip but I had already mentally planned to back out to fairway then spin it. Again I said to myself I wish I had a bow thruster.

 

[Pascal]

Downside of electric is that they can only run so long before getting hot and shutting down. Adding a couple of batteries and a charger is not a big deal. Hydraulic is great but you need to add a PTO on a gen or main and run hoses, etc.

Whatever you do, make sure the thruster is big enough. On many boats, the thruster will become useless over 20/25kts winds, when you really need it.

Sometimes it s better to use the wind instead of fighting it. In your example you did the right thing but letting the wind help turn the boat and back out of the fairway. And our Hatteras have something pretty good rubrails that will handle running on a piling without worries.

 

[oscarvan]

While I wouldn't have turned down a nice boat because it didn't have one, I'm glad mine does. The covered slip I just vacated was 18' which is one thing, the new one is only 17' and while there's plenty of rubber to run the rub rail over I prefer not to and a tap on the thruster makes things a LOT easier. You can make the boat go sideways with little effort. Haven't tried it in heavy winds yet, but in lighter air (15kts) it's pretty darn effective so I think it will do just fine.

Oh, electric.....24V. So far so good.

 

[kingsley_oasis]

Another option possibly to look at is using AC motor powered from generator.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I have run my boat for 17 years without a thruster. I can't see spending the money to add one for the few times I might use it. I say run the boat some more and get used to the way it handles. You'll find it isn't really necessary. The bows on these boats pretty much stay where you put them.

 

[SEVEN]

I have one but it was on the boat when I bought it. I use mine very little and if I didn’t have one I would not miss it. But then again I’m an old school captain. These new boats that berth/park themselves takes to much away from the challenge of being a boater.

 

[MadHatter53]

I’m a fair weather boater so any wind close to 15kts is too much.

 

[sgharford]

Not to derail, but find the bow of my 43dc stays where I put it much more so when I come in forward verses backing in with regards to wind. I wouldn’t mind having one for that last 10’ when backing in.

 

[Pascal]

The classic hatteras hull shape with a sharp entry and a keel really helps reduce the effect of cross winds when maneuvering unlike boats with flatter bottoms. Weight also helps.

Once the stern is between the pilings the bow really has nowhere to go but follow the rest of the boat in

 

[MadHatter53]

I haven’t had a problem backing in with wind, my slip entry is pretty much open and can spin easily with about a 10ft cushion.
What’s a good dependable make and what would be the recommended HP. I would prefer if going hydraulic having pto on a main vs gen.

 

[scottinsydney]

We had the maths done for our boat and believe it was 45-60 litres or 10-15 US gallons per minute for a hydraulic system. If I am correct you needed 40hp to do this. This would be a very big pump on the PTO at idle. Or separate motor/pump in the genset room. Or a big electric motor running off the genset. I cant remember the amps used, but it was large.

We went back to a 48 volt and biggest Vetus thruster. Dedicated lithium batteries should be able to supply the current draw.

 

[Pascal]

I ve had good experience with Sidepower (electric). Supported by Imtra which has the best customer service in the industry

Both boats I have run over the last 15 years had Sidepower. Only significant issue was a gearbox failure (10 year old thruster) Intra has it in stock (upgraded design) and wasn’t too expensive. Considering.

 

[Fanfare]

Installing a bow thruster would pretty much eliminate my wine cellar under the bow compartment--Oh, the horror!

 

[Boatsb]

I didn't see the wine cellar. May need to do some extra work up forward next time.

 

[racclarkson@gmail.com]

And reasonable access to my head pumps!

 

[Jammin']

And reasonable access to my head pumps!

View attachment 44646

Eliminating the wine cellar may prevent this.

 

[MadHatter53]

I’m more of a vodka man and can wiggle my skinny a** into that bow spot where my macerater and overboard valves are. Sound like a battery powered thruster might be better.

 

[SeaEric]

I've had good experiences with East Coast Bow Thrusters out of NY. They use Vetus thrusters. for a 48' to 60' boat they spec a Vetus Bow 160 which (for the latest list I have) is $15,500 installed. They will come to your location.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

The newer transmissions have optional PTO drives on them that can run a hydraulic pump. On the old Detroits you have many accessory ports on the back of the engine to run a hydraulic pump. I see no reason to go electric when hydraulic is that easy to set up.

 

[SeaEric]

The newer transmissions have optional PTO drives on them that can run a hydraulic pump. On the old Detroits you have many accessory ports on the back of the engine to run a hydraulic pump. I see no reason to go electric when hydraulic is that easy to set up.

When a bow thruster really comes in handy is on the (hopefully) rare occasion when you have to maneuver on one engine.