Bow/stern thrusters

I agree with Frank with one addition...If you find you're having difficulty backing into a slip I'd consider a bow thruster. But keep in mind what he said about a boat that's already heavily depreciated.

I put a bow thruster on my boat when I bought it 9 years ago. We live in a windy area and I knew I'd be backing into the slip. It's nice to have the thruster when the winds kick up.

With twin engines I wouldn't even think about a stern thruster. It'll amaze you how easy it is to move the stern one way or the other just by using the shifters.

I'd suggest if you find a boat without a thruster, use it for a season then decide if you need it or not.

Not sure I agree with the statement about twin engines and no benefit from a stern thruster. I tend to think it depends very heavily on the specific make and model of the boat.

My experiences:

340DA - no bow or stern thrusters - never missed them. Neither were needed.

47DB - both bow and stern. Twin engines would move the stern, but stern thruster was a definite benefit. I would NOT want a 47DB without the stern thruster

Current boat - both bow and stern. Stern will walk like a big dog with just the transmissions. Use the Stern thruster sparingly - went a few months waiting for parts last spring - did not miss it not working.

Guess my point is, hard to make blanket statements about the benefit of thrusters (either bow or stern) without considering the specific boat - and sometimes unique challenges that an owners slip presents.
 
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Seahawks Fan, err, I mean Football Fan,

I guess the old disclaimer of "your mileage may vary" still applies. I haven't missed having a stern thruster on my boat because it has some pretty big props. That, and learning how to use the shifters, gets me to where I want/need to be.

YMMV. :cool:
 
Not sure I agree with the statement about twin engines and no benefit from a stern thruster. I tend to think it depends very heavily on the specific make and model of the boat.

My experiences:

340DA - no bow or stern thrusters - never missed them. Neither were needed.

47DB - both bow and stern. Twin engines would move the stern, but stern thruster was a definite benefit. I would NOT want a 47DB without the stern thruster

Current boat - both bow and stern. Stern will walk like a big dog with just the transmissions. Use the Stern thruster sparingly - went a few months waiting for parts last spring - did not miss it not working.

Guess my point is, hard to make blanket statements about the benefit of thrusters (either bow or stern) without considering the specific boat - and sometimes unique challenges that an owners slip presents.
Agreed, If it's bad windy anything extra can help in a unpleasant situation …….lol Also a DB has a ton more windage than a DA has, I learned that in the first hour on my boat ;)
 
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Having now operated a few DBs and MYs with gas engines, here is my take. The gas boats do not move anywhere close to my diesel when putting it in gear. The wind plays havoc with the high profile boats. That said, the thrusters are needed much more on a gas boat than a diesel boat especially when it is windy....

Bennett
 
Having now operated a few DBs and MYs with gas engines, here is my take. The gas boats do not move anywhere close to my diesel when putting it in gear. The wind plays havoc with the high profile boats. That said, the thrusters are needed much more on a gas boat than a diesel boat especially when it is windy....

Bennett
Totally agree Bennett, I can see one coming this winter for sure
 
Agreed, If it's bad windy anything extra can help in a unpleasant situation …….lol Also a DB has a ton more windage than a DA has, I learned that in the first hour on my boat ;)

Let me clarify. Not to be argumentative, just to clarify my point.

On the 340 we used to own or my current boat - What ever the unpleasant situation (wind or current) a stern thruster doesn't help appreciably change anything. The stern moves with my application of transmission and throttle.

On my current boat - the big props swinging far apart does a much better job than the stern thruster. So easy on this boat to move the stern with the transmissions - its crazy.

On the 47DB - in my opinion you need the stern thruster. It is much more difficult for a 47DB to move the stern with the transmissions than either a 340DA or my current boat.

So dancer and a fly bridge. My current fly bridge has significantly more windage than a 47DB. The 340 Dancer has zippo windage compared to the 47DB or my current boat. These two boats adding a stern thruster is not going to improve your life.

Frank W weighed in on this thread about his boat - the fact that it would walk sideways if needed.

My point is this, be careful about general statements about thrusters. It really depends on the boat, the hull, the engines and props.

Some boats they have big impact - other boats they may not.
 
Let me clarify. Not to be argumentative, just to clarify my point.

On the 340 we used to own or my current boat - What ever the unpleasant situation (wind or current) a stern thruster doesn't help appreciably change anything. The stern moves with my application of transmission and throttle.

On my current boat - the big props swinging far apart does a much better job than the stern thruster. So easy on this boat to move the stern with the transmissions - its crazy.

On the 47DB - in my opinion you need the stern thruster. It is much more difficult for a 47DB to move the stern with the transmissions than either a 340DA or my current boat.

So dancer and a fly bridge. My current fly bridge has significantly more windage than a 47DB. The 340 Dancer has zippo windage compared to the 47DB or my current boat. These two boats adding a stern thruster is not going to improve your life.

Frank W weighed in on this thread about his boat - the fact that it would walk sideways if needed.

My point is this, be careful about general statements about thrusters. It really depends on the boat, the hull, the engines and props.

Some boats they have big impact - other boats they may not.

Pretty solid info there.
While I really appreciate having my bow thruster, I don’t see a real need for a stern thruster on my particular model boat. The stern is pretty compliant.
But I could see where a stern thruster would be an asset on some other boats.
 
But both of you guys are DIESELS which is a game changer while docking with some wind!!
 
If this is a new to you boat, I'd hold off on the decision until after the shrinkage period.

All boats shrink when wet. That is to say, it may feel huge and cumbersome at first, but it won't feel nearly so big (or cumbersome) after a year or so. By then you should know for sure whether you want or need thrusters.
 

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