Bow Thruster Part 2?

[Bam073]

Never having one and possibly purchasing a boat that has the option I ask is it worth it? Pros and Cons? Going from a single screw to twin screws will be a change, but throw in this option and it would be a big difference.

Any thoughts?

 

[Converse48]

Re: Bow Thruster?

Depends on a number of factors... the size of the boat (both length and beam as well as windage); the prevailing conditions in your locale (wind/current); your comfort level with close quarters handling; and lastly I'd look at the proportion of other like boats that have them in your area to determine if the lack of one would be an issue at resale time. I don't think you'll necessarily get a ton more money for a boat that has one vs. one that doesn't, but one that doesn't will be harder to sell. Why does it always work that way?

From what I see, bridge boats over 36' and express boats over 40' tend to have them. Do they need them? Probably not, but most have them. I could survive without one, but when that puff of wind comes along at the last minute and tries to push the bow off line, it sure is handy to hit the joystick and voila! problem solved.

 

[wingless]

Re: Bow Thruster?

A bow thruster can't hurt, but I've never needed one and I routinely squeeze into spaces smaller than my boat w/o touching w/o problems or concerns.

 

[Bam073]

Re: Bow Thruster?

Festivus it's a 300 Sundancer. I also thought they were in bigger boats as well so I was surprised when I saw it in there. I've learned how to dock pretty good in my 260 so I'm not sure how much I'll actually use it.

 

[Larry&Leisa]

Re: Bow Thruster?

If you've been docking with a single screw then you will think it is heaven to have twins! I was amazed at how much easier it is. As Festivus says, that gust of wind sometimes causes me a little angst, but for the most part after just a couple of attempts learning it was a piece of cake backing into our slip. Would I order the option.. probably not.. if it was on the boat I wanted to buy.. I'm sure I'd love it.

 

[Converse48]

Re: Bow Thruster?

Festivus it's a 300 Sundancer. I also thought they were in bigger boats as well so I was surprised when I saw it in there. I've learned how to dock pretty good in my 260 so I'm not sure how much I'll actually use it.

If you can dock a 260 with a single screw, I'll doubt you'll need a thruster on a 300 with twins! Regardless, that seems like overkill to me on a 300. My advice is to skip it.

 

[Turtlesboat]

Re: Bow Thruster?

I see a thruster on a 40ish DA and smaller as a liability. Another motor to worry about, another source of water intrusion etc... and no "real" benefit.

 

[earthmover17]

Re: Bow Thruster?

I personally very rarely use mine. But I must say it came in very handy the other day when I was a half mile away and my steering went out with 20 mph winds.
So my opinion is I would buy a boat with one verses one without provided it didn't cost too much.
One can always say I won't need one because I'll never have a problem but I have learned to X that train of thought.
Jack

 

[Bam073]

Re: Bow Thruster?

That's what I'm thinking Larry. I'm not going out looking for the option in a 30' Sundancer. It happened to be in the one I am interested in.

The slip that my 260 is in backs up to a restaurant. I was forced (because I have a deck full of restaurant go'ers who seem to like to watch me back in) learn the right way. That's why I get my boat in the water about a month before everyone else, just to practice. It certainly is a very humbling experience.

 

[Vince_nj1]

Re: Bow Thruster?

I have a bow thruster on my 320. Its sort of like having a training bra for me.. I'm tickled to have it and proud to show it to everyone and think its the tits, but the old salts laugh at me.. :smt043

That’s ok. I'm not afraid to leave the dock on a windy day. It is just another tool that allows me to come and go without crashing. If you boat in a sheltered area, or don't go out when its windy, you won’t need it.. My last boat was a 26 footer and when the wind was blowing, the nose of the boat went with the wind.

 

[MikeS]

Re: Bow Thruster?

I'm having a thruster added to our 460 EC. I debated on this for a while, and got good advice from many on here. I'm in the midst of haggling with florida bow thruster and new england bow thruster this week over who's going to do the work. Whichever it is, I am going to have them do ocean led's at the same time.

 

[earthmover17]

Re: Bow Thruster?

Not to beat a dead horse but you may never need it but that one time you do it'll be well worth the money.
Jack

 

[wingless]

Re: Bow Thruster?

Ifin I were to add a thruster I'd put in a hydraulic unit run off the gen so I wouldn't have to worry about the very limited duty cycle of electric units.

An electric thruster could give up the ghost, right when it’s needed most.

 

[The Bill Collector]

Re: Bow Thruster?

That's what I'm thinking Larry. I'm not going out looking for the option in a 30' Sundancer. It happened to be in the one I am interested in.

The slip that my 260 is in backs up to a restaurant. I was forced (because I have a deck full of restaurant go'ers who seem to like to watch me back in) learn the right way. That's why I get my boat in the water about a month before everyone else, just to practice. It certainly is a very humbling experience.

here's a thread to review..........
http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14491

 

[Mr Salt]

Re: Bow Thruster?

My 540 CPMY came with the otion installed. It sure makes getting that boat in and out of tight places easy. I think that was worth the cost.

Mr Salt
2001 540 CPMY
Caterpillar C-12s
Cape May, NJ

 

[earthmover17]

Re: Bow Thruster?

My 540 CPMY came with the otion installed. It sure makes getting that boat in and out of tight places easy. I think that was worth the cost.

Mr Salt
2001 540 CPMY
Caterpillar C-12s
Cape May, NJ

Your boats 2 foot shorter than mine and it should be much easier to maneuver(my attempt at humor). Kidding aside twin screws make it very easy to move a boat but in a pinch it's nice to have. I looked at boats with and without and I am glad the one I bought had one. I kinda see some of the points here on smaller boats but I've only had experiance with over 50 foot so I'm kinda one sided.
Jack

 

[dpvandy01]

Re: Bow Thruster?

I see a thruster on a 40ish DA and smaller as a liability. Another motor to worry about, another source of water intrusion etc... and no "real" benefit.

Spoken like a true "bigger than 40'ish" sea ray owner........:grin:

 

[Bridog]

Re: Bow Thruster?

Never having one and possibly purchasing a boat that has the option I ask is it worth it? Pros and Cons? Going from a single screw to twin screws will be a change, but throw in this option and it would be a big difference.

Any thoughts?

I also went from a 260 to 300DA. You will love the twin handling. Not quite as easy as V-drives but still much easier than a single. If the 300DA your looking at already has it....that's gravy. What are the engines?

 

[Converse48]

Re: Bow Thruster?

Ifin I were to add a thruster I'd put in a hydraulic unit run off the gen so I wouldn't have to worry about the very limited duty cycle of electric units.

An electric thruster could give up the ghost, right when it’s needed most.

My father has a hydraulic unit that runs off his main engine. But that is on a full keel, 42' single-screw Krogen trawler where he needs to run it for longer than the usual few-second burst that electrical units are limited to. He uses it often to get that unwieldy beast in and out of slips.

Not sure I see the benefit of running the hydraulics off the generator though , since the generator may not be running when you need the thruster, while the main engine certainly would be...

 

[wingless]

Re: Bow Thruster?

Not sure I see the benefit of running the hydraulics off the generator though , since the generator may not be running when you need the thruster, while the main engine certainly would be...

A gen has a PTO, my engine doesn't. This configuration would require running the gen during docking / low-speed usage.

The benefit would be in difficult situations where extended usage would help. An electric system won't cut it for more than very short duty cycle.