2001 Sundancer 340 Bow thruster

R

rjrcmr03

New Member
Jun 15, 2009
12
Rehoboth, DE
Boat Info
2001 Sea Ray Sundancer 340
Garmin 3210 Garmin 740s
Engines
Inboard 8.1 L Horizons
Hi Everyone, First time posting. Was wondering if it is worth installing a Bow Thruster in my 2001 340 Sundancer, That I have just purchased or is that model just that easy to dock. I have inboards with the 8.1 Horizons. Thanks for any info.
 
I had two different 1996 330's and didn't have a problem docking it and never felt like a thruster was needed. The boat responds well to small instructions given to the props through the shifters. The best way to learn how to do that is to practice, practice, practice. Oh, and did I mention you should practice?

If this is your first boat or first boat with twin engines, to get a 'feel' for what the shifters do, picture yourself operating a shopping basket at the grocery store.

If you want to go straight ahead, you push forward with both hands. Same thing with the shifters. If you want to go straight backwards, you pull back with both hands. Same thing with the shifters.

If you want to go forward and do a moderate turn to the left, you push ahead with your right hand and hold the left hand steady. Same with the shifters.

If you want to do a U-turn, you pull back with one hand and push forward with the other. Same thing with the shifters. And practice, practice, practice.
 
You forgot to mention practice....!

I doubt if many 340's have thrusters. The 8.1s and V drives maneuver well around the dock. Oh...practice.
 
You guys left out the most important thing...

He should practice.......

Dale
 
Bow thrusters can be found on many boats that have even better handling characteristics than the 340, but I agree with the posts above. Get comfortable with how your new boat handles, and THEN decide if you want a thruster. If you have a 1st Mate who's agile and capable, and if your boating environment doesn't have unusual challenges, a thruster will be harder to justify. However, if you regularly have to battle strong winds, current or if your mate might struggle, a thruster can remove a lot of stress.
 
I'm going to disagree with everybody.

i have handled several twin screw boats in that size range (Wellcraft, Carver, Chris-Craft, and a Regal) and without a doubt the 330 is the absolute poorest handling of them all. The big culprit is how darn close the screws are together. This is magnified when you have a stiff wind and have to turn the bow into the wind, it will take some throttle and the 330 won't be turning on a dime.

Going back to the shopping cart analogy, if you push the cart a little off-center the cart turns a whole lot less than if push at the edge of the handle.
 
Under reasonable conditions the 340 should be fine docking. If you boat in strong winds frequently or on a river with very strong currents you may find it challenging. I only had a problem one time in 3 years and it was in 25-30 mph sustained winds. Needless to say I only did that once!


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Pete, I agree that the distance between the props makes a big difference in how a boat handles, but given the boat he has, practice makes perfect. I used to back my 11'5" beam 330 into a 12' wide slip. It took a lot of practice to be able to get in the slip without touching the sides of the slip.

I have a thruster on my current boat and, even with the sail area it has, I find I don't use the thruster much. We live in an area that has a lot of wind but I've found if I take my time and attention off the shifters and devote them to the thruster I don't do any better job of backing.

We use our thruster most when we're in one of the locks on the Columbia or Snake, and use it to hold the boat against the wall of the lock while my Galley Wench gets us tied to the bollard.
 
I will honestly say I was a critic against having a bow thruster and harassed my friends that had one. That being said last year we sold our 280 with twin outdrives and purchased a 06 340 that had a bow thruster, I was not looking for one this boat happened to have it. I will say the boat handles very well and it maneuvers very well much better than the 280, however the bow thruster makes docking and rafting much easier if you use it. Any control loss of the bow can be easily recovered. I can say that having a bow thruster can easily reduce your stress level when docking with wind and/or current. I think if cost is not an issue it would be a great addition.
 
Two 34s in my marina have them and most of use is for when putting front ropes on so they can go from pilling to pilling to get ropes they have remotes.
 
So go ahead and get those bow thrusters and get really used to using them all the time. Oh, oh....they just quit working, now what? Learn to handle your boat without a bow thruster first and then if you still feel you need them maybe boating isn't for you. Maybe a motor home or something.
 
I don't understand why bow thrusters are such a big deal for some people. They are just an extra convenience like air conditioning, GPS, refrigerator and vacuflush which, of course we could do without and go back to the ice box, sextant and porta potty.
 
Well I hate to say this but I had one installed this winter.I don't get to use the boat as much as I would like so I'm not as good a boat jockey as some of you are.I figured if it made my boating less stresful it will be worth it.
 
Like a previous poster said, if you can afford it and it makes your boating more enjoyable, go for it. I was only aswering the question of "need". I was also nervous when I bought my boat but am quite comfortable now docking it. It comes down to whatever works for you.

To the OP I say, try it and see how you feel. As someone else said, you can always add it later as a cool mod!! Good Luck!!
 
Our 2008 340 has a thruster, it was a priority as we shopped as we're on a river with strong current. The boat is agile and very responsive to relatively subtle throttle inputs. I've enjoyed the learning curve. On difficult days I have it on as we approach but rarely actively use it. Good to have as a back up solution though!
 
After a couple years I think I have gotten pretty good at docking and manouvering under slow speed and up to moderate wind conditions. However, even after 2 years I still occasionally "miss" my sweet spot getting into the slip and have to go round again so to speak when I am fight a strong current or wind.

Id file them under a "like to have" rather than have to have, but if money is no object, I would have a thruster in second, why not?
 
I have to say, thanks guys for all the input. Best response I have ever had on a forum
 
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