Bow Thruster or not?

dino

dino

Member
Feb 21, 2009
123
Boston MA
Boat Info
2002 380 Searay Sundancer
Engines
8.1s V-Drives
Going on my second season on our 380 Sundancer with 8.1s and love the boat. There has been a couple times in windy conditions that made it a little challenging to dock stern in as well as approaching marinas in slower speeds. I have been saying I will learn how to handle the boat better before I dish out 10k for a bow thruster. Any thoughts on this? Will it make a big difference having it or is just learning how to control the boat in these conditions the way to go? I did find that bumping up the rpms to 900-1000 helps when docking but before I spend that kind of money want to make sure that it is the right decision.

Thanks
 
I do not have one and would not spend the money to put one in but if I was looking for a new boat I would put it on must have list as I have seen people who know how to use them get in some tight spots.
 
I had one installed on our 410 last spring, and while not a necessity it sure is nice. I use it while slipping at transient marinas when on trips to hold the bow while the admiral tends to the lines. It also comes in handy when mooring on a wall. Often times it's just the two of us, and the admiral is very petite so I'm able either hold position or bring the bow back for another try with no anxiety. I've never used it underway, or around the marina. I'm sure others will offer their views.
 
dino, you're only on your second season with your boat so I'm guessing your time on board is somewhat limited. If I were in your shoes I wouldn't spend the money for a thruster. Having said that, I had one installed on our 550 when we bought it because we live in an area that has a LOT of wind and I have to back into the slip.

I would suggest you punish yourself by spending a lot more time on your boat and get the feel of how it responds to subtle changes in direction you make with the shifters. If you practice that a lot, before you know it you'll be able to make it do whatever you want. Anyone can drive a boat in open water. Only those who have taken the time to learn how their boat handles can be proud of how they handle it in tight quarters.
 
I watched a 60ft Hatteras MY with a bow and stern thruster drive into a beautiful new sport fishing boat this year in Beaufort NC. The captain became so dependent on the thrusters he could not navigate the fairway and back into a slip with a good current and wind. I tell you this as I think you are doing it right learning to use your engines and adding rpm to help push the boat. I currently have a bow thruster and only use it once I'm in the slip and trying to hold the bow for the admiral to put a line on it. I would save the money and use it towards other upgrades or a lot of fuel to practice docking in strong winds :)


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Ask around and find a good captain to show you some skills. Pay a few hundred dollars for an hour or two of private lessons on your boat. This will greatly enhance your confidence and skills in a short period of time.
 
I have Axius on my boat. I don't use it when docking unless I get in trouble which is rare. I like to know its there but I am determined to know how to drive the old fashioned way. There is something really sweet about sticking it in the slip with room to spare with an audience watching.
 
"Should or shouldn't" is dictated by your wallet. "Will or won't" is dictated by what you want. Just because you install a thruster doesn't mean you have to use it. But if you don't it won't be there when you want to use it.
It's a tool intended to make your life easier. Easy is good.
 
I just closed on a 2002 410 Sundancer the other day and the Bow Thruster is being installed this week. I've been looking at 380's & then 410's for about a year now and at least half of the boats I looked at had them. I budgeted for it and factored it in to the negotiations for this particular boat. I probably didn't absolutely need it but my home slip is a 50' bulkhead that I tie up port side to. I own the property where I dock but there are properties in front of me and behind me. The boat has an LOA of just over 45 feet. That leaves me 5 feet of maneuvering room to squeeze between two boats. I'm moving up from a 30' boat so this is a big move up for me and I want all the help I can get when conditions are less than ideal when I return to the dock.
I probably won't use it much when visiting other marinas where I'll be backing in to a slip,
or maybe even with ideal conditions at my own dock, but it sure is going to be nice to have it when I need it. Sort of like insurance is the way I view it.
 
We had a Florida Bow Thruster install a bow thruster in our 98' 400 EC about ten years ago and it was well worth it. Like many others who have already commented on this topic I did not rely on it. I usually docked the boat without it. When confronted with a challenging docking situation I was sure glad I had it. It made stressful docking situations much easier.
 
Thanks for the replies! just what I thought I was going to get a 50/50 split with no right or wrong answers lol. I spent a good amount of time on the water with the boat and have been told that I am doing very well docking although at times I feel like throwing up approaching on windy days. I think Im going with getting more proficient with the boat before spending the 9k on the thruster. I would agree if we decided to move up some day a bow thruster already installed would be on the list.
 
dino said:
Going on my second season on our 380 Sundancer with 8.1s and love the boat. There has been a couple times in windy conditions that made it a little challenging to dock stern in as well as approaching marinas in slower speeds. I have been saying I will learn how to handle the boat better before I dish out 10k for a bow thruster. Any thoughts on this? Will it make a big difference having it or is just learning how to control the boat in these conditions the way to go? I did find that bumping up the rpms to 900-1000 helps when docking but before I spend that kind of money want to make sure that it is the right decision.

Thanks
Click to expand...

I have a 440db and many will call me a cheater but I love my thruster. I don't use it all the time but those times when you need it I am thankful it's available. Example I lost an engine Saturday night in our Christmas parade and had an hour or more ride in close quarters and windy conditions. Never skipped a beat. Oh and I took second place and got the hard luck award which came with a yr. membership to Sea Tow. Score......



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I have both bow and stern thrusters I use them primarily for "touch ups" at the dock but they are activated every time I leave my slip or enter the long channel on our way home. Don't think your not a great capt if you install a thruster I'd rather have another tool in my box than an insurance claim I've lost an engine on our 36db and used the thruster to get down the fairway and into the slip.
 
If I were buying a boat I would get one with a thruster, however, I would not add one after the fact. I considered adding one to my 280DA because my slip was right next to a breakwall comprised of large, jagged boulders. I didn't have any room for error when coming into the slip on a windy day. I never spent the money and was happy that I didn't. The situation forced me to learn to control my boat in all conditions. Now that I'm back to a bow rider I feel I can handle pretty much any situation because of the experience with my 280DA.
 
At my marina the prevailing wind is perpendicular to the slips and the normal summer wind is between 10 and 15 knots in the afternoon. Our old boat was twin outboard and I had to whip it around to get bow into dock, and probably aborted 25% of my attempts. It created anxiety EVERY time we went into the dock for both me and my wife.

In our SeaRay search a bow thruster was mandatory or it was added to costs for comparison.

I have only once since getting the 44DA had anxiety docking and that was because it was blowing 25kts when we got to the dock, but the thruster made that docking as easy as no wind at all! We only use it to hold bow into dock while we get lines secured, without it (which we had three weeks this summer diagnosing controller issues) it means getting the stern line secured FAST to I can use it to pull against is a priority, that adds stress to my wife, and that does me NO GOOD! Our slips have two boats per "bay" I only have about 4' between me and my neighbor. To me that loss of stress is worth the money to have one installed.
 
Our 450 is 51' loa and with diesels (more torque on the wheels). I went from a 34' loa SR to our current 450 and I ran it one season without buying fiberglass. My wife and I boat with wind, tides, currents... And once in a while I single hand the boat. We invested $12k for our thruster with remote control and I have never questioned the $$ once..... Need it and don't have or have it and don't need it (every time) but when you need it, it is awesome. I have gotten out marinas where I was sardine packed in with boats all over the place and I have been able to maneuver the boat safely through the maze. I have docked in conditions where life & limb were at risk and would not have attempted it without the thruster.
 
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