Bow Thruster?

B

Bam073

New Member
Mar 1, 2008
177
Long Island
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?
 
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.
 
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.
 
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'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.
 
Bam073 said:
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.
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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.
 
wingless said:
vus, easy just underhang the bow pulpit of the boat behind me and overhang that in front.
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I get it. I took your original point too literally... I figured if the spot is smaller than your boat then by definition, your boat can't fit into it. I guess I'm old fashioned like that. You must be a popular guy along the seawall!
 
festivus44 said:
Wing- how do you fit in places smaller than your boat?
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OK guessing here but I think I know what he means and have been there, not often but I have been there.

The largest remaining spot along a wall has both boats facing the same direction. The gap from the end of the tip of the bow on the one boat to the end of swim platform on the next is less then the same distance on your boat.

You wiggle in such that when you are done the bow and bow anchor on the boat behind you boat is hanging over your swim platform and your bow anchor is hanging over the swim platform on the boat in front of you.

Now you tie your boat with spring lines in both directions and check to see if the boat on either side has a spring line so the boats do not mover forward / stern. If the other boats do not have spring lines you try to find the boat owner and ask them to add one, lending them a line and showing them how if necessary. Politeness is key. It helps if you hand them a cold beer as you do this.
 
wingless said:
vus, easy just underhang the bow pulpit of the boat behind me and overhang that in front.

Plus, it puts my boat in perfect position for a Rodney Dangerfield Caddy Shack anchor drop. My chain is already marked.
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I'm sure that makes you popular with the folks in front of and behind you.

If someone tried a stunt like that with my boat either fore or aft there would be...trouble.

-CJ
 
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.
 
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
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Bam073 said:
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.
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here's a thread to review..........
http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14491
 
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
 
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