I know they're expensive but wondering if anyone ever did it and if they felt it was worth it.
rhodyboater
Yes, very true....BUT! I tend to do exactly that when docking into my rather narrow slip (without a pier between me and the next boat) and I'm afraid I'm going to wear out the tranny's with all that shifting back and forth.
Plus, when the wind kicks up from the north (and blows me away from my finger slip toward the other boat next to me), I feel like I'm piloting a sailboat without a keel.
I might add, none of this applies when I have dock help, which is most of the time, but I like to go out alone a lot and would like to be able to dock a little more safely in windy conditions.
I know I probably wouldn't spend the $$$$ for one, but curious if anyone else did.
Plus, when the wind kicks up from the north (and blows me away from my finger slip toward the other boat next to me), I feel like I'm piloting a sailboat without a keel.
I might add, none of this applies when I have dock help, which is most of the time, but I like to go out alone a lot and would like to be able to dock a little more safely in windy conditions.
I know I probably wouldn't spend the $$$$ for one, but curious if anyone else did.
I understand where you are coming from....on the one hand, you can make this boat do the cha-cha in ideal conditions but on the other hand, its not easy to recover if you get tossed off course. I don't think a bow thruster would help though...it would add one more source of anxiety to a tense situation and it won't bring you into a tight slip.
But to answer your question -- many people have installed thruster on this site. If I recall the cost is around $8k. Search for Florida Bow Thruster.
But to answer your question -- many people have installed thruster on this site. If I recall the cost is around $8k. Search for Florida Bow Thruster.
Mine was closer to $10k+ but I'm a little bigger. It is a 10 inch tunnel with a 10 hp motor Side Power. I have not regretted spending the $$.......
I have a bow thruster in my 320. Don't know the specs, (HP etc) all I can tell you is that I have 4th battery to run it (same size as the other 3). It is nice to have and can help in a light breeze, but it gets overpowered in a strong breeze. When I bought the boat, it was my first in-board and it was a comfort to have. on my second day of owernership I tried to use it to pull my bow into a fuel dock during a heavy breeze and it didnt have enough thrust. I got blown away then laughed at.. (thats another story)
After getting comfortable with inboards, now, I don't need it.
It is nice to move the nose of the boat around at the dock, when getting lines, but not necessary. Now I only use it to exercise it.
Bottom line, nice to have option on a new or used boat, but I wouldn't recommend investing the money to retrofit one.
After getting comfortable with inboards, now, I don't need it.
It is nice to move the nose of the boat around at the dock, when getting lines, but not necessary. Now I only use it to exercise it.
Bottom line, nice to have option on a new or used boat, but I wouldn't recommend investing the money to retrofit one.
David, this sounds PERFECT!
I have a call in to my local distributor.
Yes, it sounds unnecessary with twin engines
but for one thing I feel I am going to
wear out two trannys if I keep shifting
so much to dock.
Secondly.....wind is wind. I don't care how
good you are at docking, a gust from the
north will blow my boat right into my
slip neighbor....prob costing as much as
this "sidethruster" in damages!
I'll let you know how I make out.
I have a call in to my local distributor.
Yes, it sounds unnecessary with twin engines
but for one thing I feel I am going to
wear out two trannys if I keep shifting
so much to dock.
Secondly.....wind is wind. I don't care how
good you are at docking, a gust from the
north will blow my boat right into my
slip neighbor....prob costing as much as
this "sidethruster" in damages!
I'll let you know how I make out.
Tony,
I have same boat as you have with single diesel and put bow thruster.
In my winter marina nine months stay there dock between boats close quarter and facing the north wind so bow of the boat uncontrolable without bow thruster.
In my summer marina I dock between cement pier and without bow thruster I could damage the hull and could see terrible since its blue. The marina is just looking to north-east winds and it is year round wind.
I bought/installed Sidepower SE 40/125S and paid 1125 Euros makes 1375 USD in today's parity, without labour.
It's amortised what I paid for it.
http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af108/melida315/Bow thruster/Grnt1433.jpg
http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af108/melida315/Bow thruster/11052010759.jpg
http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af108/melida315/Bow thruster/Grnt1483.jpg
control buttons/touch panel
http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af108/melida315/trim tabs/28032010651.jpg
Hope this gives you an idea.
Best regards
Melida
I have same boat as you have with single diesel and put bow thruster.
In my winter marina nine months stay there dock between boats close quarter and facing the north wind so bow of the boat uncontrolable without bow thruster.
In my summer marina I dock between cement pier and without bow thruster I could damage the hull and could see terrible since its blue. The marina is just looking to north-east winds and it is year round wind.
I bought/installed Sidepower SE 40/125S and paid 1125 Euros makes 1375 USD in today's parity, without labour.
It's amortised what I paid for it.
http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af108/melida315/Bow thruster/Grnt1433.jpg
http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af108/melida315/Bow thruster/11052010759.jpg
http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af108/melida315/Bow thruster/Grnt1483.jpg
control buttons/touch panel
http://i998.photobucket.com/albums/af108/melida315/trim tabs/28032010651.jpg
Hope this gives you an idea.
Best regards
Melida
SidePower Representative in United States is www.imtra.com
30 Samuel Barnet Boulevard/New Bedford/MA 02745
Tel: +1 508 995 7000
They listed 2050 USD price for the bow thruster as I have
http://www.imtra.com/product/thrusters/side_power_thrusters/electric_thrusters/125mm/se40_125s.htm
There maybe lots of other brands in USA but in my country and Europe Sidepower is a well known brand and oferred in most boat brands standard/extra equipment
Best regards.
Melida
30 Samuel Barnet Boulevard/New Bedford/MA 02745
Tel: +1 508 995 7000
They listed 2050 USD price for the bow thruster as I have
http://www.imtra.com/product/thrusters/side_power_thrusters/electric_thrusters/125mm/se40_125s.htm
There maybe lots of other brands in USA but in my country and Europe Sidepower is a well known brand and oferred in most boat brands standard/extra equipment
Best regards.
Melida
You could also install a set of these:
![Image]()
You could mount an oar lock on the bow and have a big long oar up there (14' comes to mind) to move the bow back and forth... that would be a less expensive option... look really cool also... maybe put an oar lock on the stern as well (i.e. stern thruster). Like this:
![Image]()
Give it that whole "European" look... that's really in style now.
You could mount an oar lock on the bow and have a big long oar up there (14' comes to mind) to move the bow back and forth... that would be a less expensive option... look really cool also... maybe put an oar lock on the stern as well (i.e. stern thruster). Like this:
Give it that whole "European" look... that's really in style now.
Please don't bolt that thing on the front of your boat.
the 280 is easy to handle when you get the hang of how is slides in the water. Take $500 and hire a captain to teach you how to dock the boat in various conditions. This will go a lot further than bolting that thing to the front of your boat.
the 280 is easy to handle when you get the hang of how is slides in the water. Take $500 and hire a captain to teach you how to dock the boat in various conditions. This will go a lot further than bolting that thing to the front of your boat.
Thanks Melida. Wow so it has been done!
Prob is I don't think I can get a thru hull
bow thruster installed for what you paid
for it.
I heard back from the bolt on Sidethruster
dealer and although the size for the 280
is around $2800 he said I would need the
next size up for about $1K more to really
make a difference in docking.
Prob is I don't think I can get a thru hull
bow thruster installed for what you paid
for it.
I heard back from the bolt on Sidethruster
dealer and although the size for the 280
is around $2800 he said I would need the
next size up for about $1K more to really
make a difference in docking.
Tony, you wellcome
If you really feel need although you have twins then go for it.
But, I drive my dad's two boats which are 2004 360/395DA twin Yanmar and 2001 410/455DA twin Cat3126 both v-drive and doesn't have bowthruster and no need for it altough they are larger, wider, taller and heavier then 280DA.
It's gonna be a fixed weight and you can't uninstalled it later and need to upgrade batteries for more amps.
SE40 is enough to control the bow of 280DA even the campers on while the side winds blowing and people/liquids loaded.
Best regards.
Melida
If you really feel need although you have twins then go for it.
But, I drive my dad's two boats which are 2004 360/395DA twin Yanmar and 2001 410/455DA twin Cat3126 both v-drive and doesn't have bowthruster and no need for it altough they are larger, wider, taller and heavier then 280DA.
It's gonna be a fixed weight and you can't uninstalled it later and need to upgrade batteries for more amps.
SE40 is enough to control the bow of 280DA even the campers on while the side winds blowing and people/liquids loaded.
Best regards.
Melida
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