Bow Thrusters

[Chris R]

I think what GCB is asking for here is some feedback on installing a thruster (prices, type, etc. have you ever done it, etc....). Yet. people keep wanting to have the "go out and get some experience conversation". He wants to install a convenience- for chrissakes.

Every boater I know, even the very experienced ones, want to be better and gain more experience at handling their boat. We all agree an experienced boat handler can overcome most any situation. GCB is not asking for feedback on how much more, or less, experience he needs here. He wants to install the convenience of a bow thruster. Convenience is the key word here.

Like I mentioned a couple of posts up, were he asking for chartplotter/GPS install information no one would be telling him to go get more experience reading paper charts. One can apply that argument to almost every modern convenience on our boats - which are there to make life simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.

Geeze...reminds me when I was a teenager and you heard people say "real drivers" use a stick....

 

[sbw1]

Like a better looking boat?

Get over your Tiara envy Elvis. Our better yet, upgrade. The folks at Tiara would love to build you a boat to your specs.

 

[white glove]

You are absolutely right! What came over us? I would say with haul out, wiring, glass work (if the tunnel is possible), battery banks 24v and associated unexpected costs at least $10,000 perhaps as high as $15,000. And of course the thruster itself $4,500.It depends on costs where you live of course. I have personally never have done it nor have I ever heard of it being installed on a 260 Dancer. Please forgive me if I have offended You. The challange of boat handling is where I find satisfaction . I must realize or be reminded that not every one likes to play the games I do.

 

[Pseudomind]

Get over your Tiara envy Elvis. Our better yet, upgrade. The folks at Tiara would love to build you a boat to your specs.

Elvis? Haaa haaa ROTHFLMAO, afraid to fart or I might just ___my pants.

Elvis that was unexpected. But I have to admit it was better then 'Jock'o" :smt043

 

[Chris R]

You are absolutely right! What came over us? I would say with haul out, wiring, glass work (if the tunnel is possible), battery banks 24v and associated unexpected costs at least $10,000 perhaps as high as $15,000. And of course the thruster itself $4,500.It depends on costs where you live of course. I have personally never have done it nor have I ever heard of it being installed on a 260 Dancer. Please forgive me if I have offended You. The challange of boat handling is where I find satisfaction . I must realize or be reminded that not every one likes to play the games I do.

No offense taken here anyway - this ain't about me. I think the guy was simply looking for some feedback on thrusters. Sure, if he has the coin to do it, then why not. Kind of like " do I really need a bigger boat thing". No one needs a boat.

It just felt like a lecture on how the guy needs more experience. And, he was kinda/sorta dumb for asking a question about a thruster on a smaller boat. I've not met anyone yet that came out of the womb being a master boat handler. Some people have been doing it longer than others and are better at it because of that. Yes, we all want to get to the next level of skill- no matter what it is.

 

[Converse48]

The folks at Tiara would love to build you a boat to your specs.

Maybe they will, but it would look like this:

Mine is the good looking one on the right. I'll stick with it, thanks.:thumbsup:

 

[tobnpr]

I think some of us are just trying to point out that they are extremely expensive relative to the value of the vessel he's contemplating installing it on.
He will recoup relatively little of that value at resale (compared to installing a thruster on a larger boat) because most boat owners will not feel it is necessary on a boat that size, and therefore will not pay much more for the boat that has one.

Should the OP still decide to install one knowing this- more power to him. No question a thruster can make dockside handling easier, regardless of the size of the boat.

 

[sbw1]

Maybe they will, but it would look like this:

Mine is the good looking one on the right. I'll stick with it, thanks.:thumbsup:

How about making a fair comparison to one of Tiara's convertables? On second thought I can imagine why you would not want to do that!

 

[Converse48]

How about making a fair comparison to one of Tiara's convertables? On second thought I can imagine why you would not want to do that!

The 39 is too small and the 48 is too big for me. Thanks for the advice though.

 

[sbw1]

The 39 is too small and the 48 is too big for me. Thanks for the advice though.

What do you think of the look of the two boats?

 

[Converse48]

What do you think of the look of the two boats?

I think they are way better looking than the Sovran series. They are true convertibles (i.e. serious sport fishing boats)... which are almost always sharp looking boats. I would not use a 44 Sedan Bridge for serious port fishing. Luckily, I don't do any serious fishing.

 

[sbw1]

Sovrans are ugly but comfortable.

 

[jitts3]

everyone seems to like the idea of power steering, automatic transmissions, limited slip differentials, and anti-lock brakes in a car. What's wrong with the convenience of thrusters/pod drives?

$7,000.00

But heres an idea in the Rube Goldburg Tridition....see thread http://clubsearay.com/forum/showpost.php?p=174593&postcount=1

Get a trolling motor and just extend the shaft about 8 feet. Set it up as you pull into the marina and fix it so it goes side to side. Use wire and black electrical tape to get the control to the helm and use foward reverse to move the bow side to side.
This one I found on Google for $50. Now look at the money you'll save!!!:smt101

Just messin with ya man.:thumbsup:

 

[dpmulvey]

http://www.bowthrusters.net/

 

[BobHenry]

Find another marina was the answer I liked best. Either
that or take the marina owner out to dinner...always works,
you scratch their back and they'll ask you to park your boat out back.

 

[Sorrento 25]

A fellow boater back in WI had a bow thruster on his 25 Crownline. He used it constantly and it was great entertainment. The boat would do a 360 in almost its own length in under 10 secs. The last minute U-turn after nosing up to the beach was my favorite. The key was to watch everyone else's jaw drop as he executed the maneuver.

 

[Newbie]

I can probably help out here. My previous boat was a 2006 260 sundancer that I bought used. THe first owner was an NFL player, and obviously had issues with docking it so he had the dealer install a bow thruster. The dealer used florida bow thruster for the install, which is the co. that installs them for the SR factory. Through MM, he paid close to 7k total. Expensive yes, I couldn't understand why he spent the money since the 260 is very nimble around the docks, until we docked at our MM with an incoming tide one day. Tidal flows here seem to move at about 4, maybe 6 knots not sure, anyhow my son was on the bow when the current caught the bow and started pulling it towards another boat on our first attempt of docking it. He was reaching for the other boat and while I'm telling him to let it hit instead of crushing an arm, I remembered the thruster. It saved much more than 7k in damages that day. It was only "useful" in one other situation in the 6 months I owned it and that was the day I listed the boat for sale. The person who bought it was a first time boat owner and was timid on docking it so the truster in my case, sold the boat within 3 days of listing it. He was not at all afraid to say the thruster was why he bought my boat and not someone elses.

I'm with the others that like to have every available option to control my crashes more stylish like. IMO, if you can afford it, I see no reason not to install it. I believe in most boats up to 35-40ft you will get a large majority of the cost back when you go to sell it since most of those buyers are first timers to those sizes. I wish I had one on my 340 now even though I've never been in a situation where its been needed.

 

[Sorrento 25]

Thanks for the pics - makes me want to install one. I knew a guy in WI who installed them for Great Lakes Marine and told me all the tricks. Is that a Vetus?

 

[Ryanjb01]

I would check out Sideshift. They are "external" bow thrusters. I had one on the past 3 boats I owned. All 28'. I purchased the unit for 3k and installed myself in about 2 hours on each boat. Originally purchased for a 28' flybridge boat and kept swapping the unit to the next two boats I purchased.

The reason I made the purchase was that my wife was pregnant with our first daughter. I live in upstate NY and we have a lot of locks to travel through on the Erie Canal. I did not want my wife walking around on the bow in that condition.

Did a little research and found Sideshift. They are based in Toronto I believe, and are wonderful to work with. I think I paid around 3k for the unit including wiring, batteries and a few extral switches so I could operate the unit from miltiple locations. Pretty cool.

The unit mounts using a U-bolt through the trailer eye.

The unit had many advantages over a conventional unit. The biggest being that it was much less expensive. It is out of the water while on plane, easy to clear of debris, and easy to swap to your next boat.

I recently looked at their site. The newer version is very nice. Can't even tell that you have it installed. Looks great.

As far as the performance. I had the SS230. Single prop. If you were to stand on the bow and not holding on, I could put you in the water. Awesome. I wish more boats had that as a option. Well worth every penny in my mind.

Even though we are done with babies (I hope), I still plan to always has a bow thuster. As some have mentoned before, it is just one more tool in the tool box. One more thing to make boating more enjoyable and possibly safer.

The normal reaction from others when you are coming into a dock, is for them to offer assistance. Which I look forward to, and do the same for them. Most of the time I tell them to stand by and just watch. As soon as they see the effects of the thruster, they are intrigued. I can make the boat do things that someone without a thruster can't do.

I like to have a relaxing time while out on the boat. Docking can sometimes be stressful, for anyone. If you say that it isn't, then you have too much confidence and you are an accident waiting to happen. In my mind you should be on edge a little bit. I think it makes you pay attention to what is going on.

Imagine, going into a lock with about 15-20 other boats. Some of which have a lift/drop of more than 20'. The wind on top can be completely different at the bottom. Also different at the entrance as opposed to the exit. Odd having the wind on the starboard side then completely change to the port. Enough to send the most seasoned pilots into a tail spin. Then add in a dozen more boats all going through the same situation. Not good. But I am as prepared as possible. The thruster adds just a little more. Feel free to PM me if questions. I am in the process of selling my current boat, a Bayliner 2855 and looking to getting into a sea ray 290.

As far the 15k price tag that others mention. I will install this unit any where in the country for 15k. Or you can do it for around 3k. Check it out, and watch their video, let me know what you think.

Take care,

Ryan