Does a Bowthruster create too much drag

[Ardenfour]

I've often wondered whether a high pressure water jet could be deployed, rather than a prop in a tube. Tried a pressure washer lance underwater once and there seemed a fair amount of thrust.

 

[Tranona]

Has been tried, and indeed marketed (forget the name) but failed to catch on not least because of the complications of running the pump and the piping through the boat. The propeller type has proven the most effective method, either electrically driven or on larger boats hydraulic. Developments now ar more on variable control to get away from the on/off nature of the current designs.

 

[Bobc]

What about the water jet thrusters. They won't produce hardly any drag, as they only use standard thru-hull fittings.

I met a lady who had them on her boat in Concarneau a couple of years back, and she said that they worked perfectly well (the boat had bow and stern jets).

Another big benefit was that they were silent.

 

[HenrikH]

In some sailing circles, thrusters are seen as more relevant for motor yachts.

Here is one way of docking in strong side wind without a thruster:

 

[mjcoon]

In some sailing circles, thrusters are seen as more relevant for motor yachts.

Here is one way of docking in strong side wind without a thruster:

I wonder if that wind is always on-shore?

 

[Tranona]

What about the water jet thrusters. They won't produce hardly any drag, as they only use standard thru-hull fittings.

I met a lady who had them on her boat in Concarneau a couple of years back, and she said that they worked perfectly well (the boat had bow and stern jets).

Another big benefit was that they were silent.

See post immediately above yours.