Bow Thruster

I don't have one either but I find that with my old boat so long as I reverse neatly into the boat downwind of any gap I can bounce off nicely and scrape down the side into a stern-to position. Have to hit it just right though, just where the curve of the bow straightens out for the run down to the stern. Only thing buggers it up is if the rotten sods leave their fenders down to hang up on!
 
Had a SidePower thruster fitted last year for all the reasons mentioned. Cost approx £3k for my Sealine F36. Quite a powerful beast i can turn the bow even against a 6 knot tide. Had an additional battery fitted at the front to prevent power drain from cables etc. I can also purchase a remote control device so I can if wanted operate the thruster from anywhere on the boat or pontoon.

http://www.side-power.com/
 
I had a bow-thruster fitted to my Beneteau 36 yacht by a guy who had fitted hundreds of the things to power boats and used to work for one of the big power boat manufacturers, Fairline I think. Anyway, he did all the cutting, tunnelling, fairing and fibreglass work and it worked out brilliant. I ran the wireing from the thruster battery next to the thruster back to the controls on the helm and the charger. He charged me £600 and the thruster and all its bits cost £1100. I was quoted £2650 so I saved nearly £1000. If you are interested send me an E and I will give you his name and tel no. I don't use it all the time but its there if I need it; like mooring in a cross wind etc. Stops me bumping into Sunseekers and the like!
 
P.S This included its own dedicated battery which is also wired to a switch to help the engine battery if required and a remote control unit so that "Her in training" can use it whilst standing on the pontoon.
 
Using the bow prop is the most effective way of steering if it is necessary to go astern for any longish distance, especially with only one engine. Just centre the rudder and use the prop.
 
Only to add that all electrically powered (as opposed to hydraulically powered) thrusters have limitations on continuous use and may cut out after only a couple of minutes of continuous use which could just wreck your day if it happens at the wrong moment. Also thrusters work less efficiently or not at all if the boat is moving forward or astern at anything over dead slow speed. IMHO, thrusters should be used sparingly and intermittently and only when the bow cannot be controlled by the engine(s)/rudder(s) not as a substitute for the engine(s)/rudder(s). Apart from that, you look a right plonker if you can't enter your berth without your bow thruster grinding away for several minutes
 
As a guide my boat is 37 foot LOA and I have a vetus 55Kgf on the Bow and 35Kgf on the stern.
The price you seem to have been quoted seems way over the top.
My Bow thruster cost me a total of £1750 two years ago including installation..laminating etc.
Stern thruster I did myself and the parts cost about £1200 including changing both the upper and lower helm controls for dual bow/stern types.
Both are vetus and bought from Kings Lock Boatyard in Cheshire as they had the best deal.
All works well including the sideways shuffle into the marina lock with good holding in cross winds.
 
I'd lost the will to live. Met a bloke this summer, on a pontoon in, Dartmouth I think. Went blah, blah, blah, about the damage to the back end of his boat. Before he bought it. Said he would never do anything like that. Then proceeded to set off, using the pontoon as a sort of runway /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Why dont folk just back out at say, 45 deg's It's so easy to do.

The trouble with bow thrusters, is. That folk with bad habits and abortional boat driving. Use it as a get out of jail card. But still stuff up there boats and wonder why. Nothing wrong with bow thruster. It's just that it is the wrong tool to use most of the time..

Now come on. How many of you leave an alongside berth, forwards. Bet nearly every one.Hm You ever see a ferry doing that. None I dont think. Maybe just now and then, cos the wind or tide is going the right way.

Largly, folk try to drive boats like cars. Fail miserably, then blame the equipement. It's so silly. Watched them all. Even said to them. Like how you going to get out of this five raft thingy in Guernsey. Oh drive out, OK right. So his wife, mine and all commers, try to hold arse end of boat off, like four or fives hands against, five or six hundred horse power.

It's so stuiped. It never neades to happen.
Twin shafts, outside forwards, inside back.
Leave berth in comfort. I only need 6 inch before or behind, to fit into a berth. It sort of depends weather I do the side step shuffle. Or the nose in approch. Nose in is normally best, as can swing arse around and assess the room. Normally you fit nto the gap quite easy.

Bit worrried about the run way start up guys that I keep coming across. Hope there not here!!
 
When new boat arrives in march it will have a factory fitted thruster, but I must agree with you.
Since we did powerboat level two course I can't see us needing it that often. As soon as new boat is in water we will be booking Mr boat teaching man for next course!
Our berth is in Essex marina with strong cross current & winds. Used to scare the Willy's out of us, but now no problem at all /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
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