Bow thruster

[billnpat]

I'm Thinking about installing a bow thruster on our 2002 310

Not sure if its possible on this model...got a price between 6-7 grand

its an aid, and a toy i know, but need a little feed back from someone here,:huh:

thanks...

 

[dpmulvey]

If you want it and can afford it, why not? I have looked at eXturn and side shift. More affordable, less invasive and places the thrust point further forward.

 

[billnpat]

If you want it and can afford it, why not? I have looked at eXturn and side shift. More affordable, less invasive and places the thrust point further forward.

Thanks David,

Yes i want it, and yes can afford it......only question is ,is it do-able on this model.....

Room enough in the bow area...gaining access etc...

 

[rcknecht]

yes it is doable... I have seen it on a 320, so a 310 should be fine... I don't think it is a bad idea if it makes more comfortable driving your boat...

 

[Gary Hill]

Vetus makes thrusters down to 18 foot boats. I would like to give a word of advice here. My fist boat with a bow thruster was a 390 DA. This boat had a 95 lb thruster. When I hit the joystick that boat moved right now. Fast forward a few years and I got a 40 DA for reasons I can't discuss. Anyway, the 40 DA did not have a thruster. I demanded that the dealer install a thruster. Well they did. A 75 lb thruster. So when I hit that joystick I had to wait for the boat to move. It sucked, I was pissed. So I demanded that they get the 95 lb thruster installed, which they eventually did, and I got my power back.

Moral of the story, don't go with the smallest force available for your vessel. Spend the extra cash and get the larger thrust model. There is nothing worse than to be in that situation where you need the thruster because you are about to hit something and it doesn't move the boat right away. The other thing I found with the weaker motor is when I was in water with a current against the direction I wanted to go, it wouldn't move.

I do not use my thruster very often. I like to control the boat with the motors. However, it is very nice to have and I will not have a boat without one going forward.

 

[billnpat]

Thanks guys.....Big Help:smt001

 

[BritLady]

Vetus makes thrusters down to 18 foot boats. I would like to give a word of advice here. My fist boat with a bow thruster was a 390 DA. This boat had a 95 lb thruster. When I hit the joystick that boat moved right now. Fast forward a few years and I got a 40 DA for reasons I can't discuss. Anyway, the 40 DA did not have a thruster. I demanded that the dealer install a thruster. Well they did. A 75 lb thruster. So when I hit that joystick I had to wait for the boat to move. It sucked, I was pissed. So I demanded that they get the 95 lb thruster installed, which they eventually did, and I got my power back.

Moral of the story, don't go with the smallest force available for your vessel. Spend the extra cash and get the larger thrust model. There is nothing worse than to be in that situation where you need the thruster because you are about to hit something and it doesn't move the boat right away. The other thing I found with the weaker motor is when I was in water with a current against the direction I wanted to go, it wouldn't move.

I do not use my thruster very often. I like to control the boat with the motors. However, it is very nice to have and I will not have a boat without one going forward.

Wow, thanks for the info. We're a bit concerned after reading your post as we are scheduled to have a Vetus Bow 55 121lb installed in our 340DA next Monday. It's being installed by Florida Bow Thrusters who have an excellent reputation and told us that this is the size we need. However, would really appreciate your thoughts please. Thanks in advance! Brenda

 

[sporters78]

Brenda, let me know how it goes, it's something I miss from my bigger boats that made life easier.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Amen to getting a larger-than-needed thruster. Nobody EVER said "Wow, I wish my thruster wasn't so powerful."

 

[dpmulvey]

Thrusters are very common in Europe an all size boats.

 

[JC3]

Guys I certainly do not want to get any to anyones personal money, but could you give us an approximate cost of the bowthrusters etc... I may pull the trigger early spring if i do not have to sell my dog to do this. Thanks JC

 

[Gary Hill]

Wow, thanks for the info. We're a bit concerned after reading your post as we are scheduled to have a Vetus Bow 55 121lb installed in our 340DA next Monday. It's being installed by Florida Bow Thrusters who have an excellent reputation and told us that this is the size we need. However, would really appreciate your thoughts please. Thanks in advance! Brenda

First, I stated my post wrong. My units were Vetus 75 and 95 which are Kgf not lbs. Florida Bow Thrusters installed the thruster in our 40DA. When this was happening I visited our 40DA and saw that they were putting in the 75 Kgf unit and I blew a gasket. We all went back and fourth as the 40DA was to be a replacement of our 390. FBT swore up and down that the 75 would be fine. It was not.

I can not tell you if the 55 will be enough for your boat. If you look on their site there is a bunch of math that you can calculate the size of motor you will need. I did the math and the 75 was not enough for my 40 DA. You might also look at the dry weight of your boat and then look up the weight of a 2008 40DA (my model)(20,000 lbs I think). This weight comparison is not conclusive by any means as there are many factors. One thing they look at is the size of the side of the boat (square feet) (like the size of sail your boat would replicate) and the amount of wind your boat might be in. Its all factored in the math on their site.

In general, I was pleased with the installation on our boat. The motor size created much hard ship and bad feelings between the admiral, myself and the dealer/FBT. This was a dealer set up and they went on the cheap. It took some bitching and calls to SeaRay but in the end FBT did the right thing.

 

[rondds]

Vetus 95 KGF on this boat and it reacts instantly.

 

[Jeremygavin]

I have a factory installed side power on my 340 and love it. I have stern drives so I need the added thrust in the bow to swing it in the wind or current but after having one I wouldn't by another large boat without one. They are very little maintenance and make life so much easier. I do use mine every time I go out even when I can manage without it because it is another component like a generator, use it or things will go wrong such as growth build up.

 

[BritLady]

First, I stated my post wrong. My units were Vetus 75 and 95 which are Kgf not lbs. Florida Bow Thrusters installed the thruster in our 40DA. When this was happening I visited our 40DA and saw that they were putting in the 75 Kgf unit and I blew a gasket. We all went back and fourth as the 40DA was to be a replacement of our 390. FBT swore up and down that the 75 would be fine. It was not.

I can not tell you if the 55 will be enough for your boat. If you look on their site there is a bunch of math that you can calculate the size of motor you will need. I did the math and the 75 was not enough for my 40 DA. You might also look at the dry weight of your boat and then look up the weight of a 2008 40DA (my model)(20,000 lbs I think). This weight comparison is not conclusive by any means as there are many factors. One thing they look at is the size of the side of the boat (square feet) (like the size of sail your boat would replicate) and the amount of wind your boat might be in. Its all factored in the math on their site.

In general, I was pleased with the installation on our boat. The motor size created much hard ship and bad feelings between the admiral, myself and the dealer/FBT. This was a dealer set up and they went on the cheap. It took some bitching and calls to SeaRay but in the end FBT did the right thing.

Thanks Gary. I did call FBT and went over the size and they told me that every 340DA, apart from one, has had this size thruster installed. And, they do fit a very large number annually nationwide. The only exception was a guy who was going to do the Loop followed by other areas not renowned for their "kind water" and he was ending up on the St. Lawrence River in Canada. They did ask if we have really bad "current" issues in our home port as it may take a a few seconds longer to move the vessel if we had, (thankfully we don't.) He also pointed out that we probably only have a bare 34' in the water and this size goes upto 36' in the water. He also said they fit this size to longer boats (than 36') but they were not of the same construction or as heavy.....fishing boats etc. The difference in price to go the next size up is about $3k Providing it helps a bit that's all we need, it's just basically to help out when we are on our own as I have RA and not as nimble as I used to be jumping up and stretching on the bow Pleased to hear you have your issue sorted, but from their site I can see why a BOW75 176/lbf would not work it clearly states for 36'-38' boats. Thanks again!

 

[BritLady]

Guys I certainly do not want to get any to anyones personal money, but could you give us an approximate cost of the bowthrusters etc... I may pull the trigger early spring if i do not have to sell my dog to do this. Thanks JC

JC3, I take it your question to the guys also includes gals, so I'll respond Think you would need a BOW 95 like Gary which puts you in the 8" tunnel and dedicated battery category. Therefore, think you'll make an hole in $12k +/-. Check out here: http://www.floridabowthrusters.com/thrusters.html. Ours was $8.5k incl. haulout. Hope that helps.

 

[BritLady]

Brenda, let me know how it goes, it's something I miss from my bigger boats that made life easier.

Will do Steve, hoping it helps out when we're out boating on our own, not as young as I uded to be

 

[SR400DB]

Guys I certainly do not want to get any to anyones personal money, but could you give us an approximate cost of the bowthrusters etc... I may pull the trigger early spring if i do not have to sell my dog to do this. Thanks JC

The quote from FBT for my boat in Seattle was $15,250.00 including haul out.

 

[BritLady]

I have a factory installed side power on my 340 and love it. I have stern drives so I need the added thrust in the bow to swing it in the wind or current but after having one I wouldn't by another large boat without one. They are very little maintenance and make life so much easier. I do use mine every time I go out even when I can manage without it because it is another component like a generator, use it or things will go wrong such as growth build up.

Thats good to know thanks, keep being asked, "why do you want that?" I just can't jump off/on as quick as I did or climb up the bow in a hurry, so hoping it helps when we're docking and boating on our own

 

[JC3]

Thanks GALS/GUYS, Thank you Britlady & SR400db, I really appreciate your help. Its a little more expensive than i would have thought but i should know by now when a boats is involved it can go up quickly. Thanks again, JC