Thrusters on a single sterndrive 270/280 Sundancer?

Its a variation on the use of a fender board. A fender board is a board with lines on each end. You hang a fore and aft fenders, and then drop the fender board across the fenders. That way the fender board contacts the pilings, or a sea wall made out of corrugated caisson steel. GLP is suggesting that if you are in a slip where there are pilings, to hang a board between them.

Henry

Thanks for the clarification.

I back my boat into my slip and my bow cleats are about 6' ahead of two pilings (of course the pilings are totally in line with my side cleats) and my aft goes to the bulkhead.

I am between a 27' Sundancer with a pulpit and a 20' Sea Dory. It' s a horror with a single Bravo1 to back in on a windy day -- even with an extra set or two of hands from my teenage daughters -- as my bow seems inevitably attracted to that damn pulpit.

It's even worse if I have the camper up........
 
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I'd like to hear from you later, when your confidance is higher due to having the thruster. My bet is useage will taper off dramatically as confidance goes up, as GFC was eluding to. I'm NOT being a smarty pants, just an observation. Most people lack confidance, but don't realize it.....untill they get a crutch.

Nice install BTW.
I've never had a problem with confidence... I boat on a canal with locks unchanged for hundreds of years and boaters of old didn't have bow thrusters, if they could do it so can I. The wind gusting hasn't changed but the fact that there is only 1 lock master cramming in as many boats into a lock as possible making for no margin for error is the issue. It's all about capability and safety (margin) providing a more enjoyable experience. I didn't buy a boat for more things to worry about.

Cheers,
Kaoru
 
I think everyone has been in a situation at some point where they wished they had a thruster and didn't. I know I have. It just comes down to what price you are willing to pay for the convenience to have it available. I think it also makes a lot of difference where you are boating. My friend put one on his 340 a few years back (I did a thread on it) and he hardly, if ever, uses it. We are on an inland lake. On the other hand, I have heard stories from people who boat with tidal and river current where I believe it would be of much greater benefit. For me personally, I can't see paying to put one on but I would consider it as a definite pro over a boat that did not have one if boat shopping. To each their own.
 

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