Hydraulic Stern Thruster Ideas

[Fire99]

Hi all,

My boat (Trader 47 - 51ft overall) has a 20hp Hydraulic bow thruster but currently no Stern Thruster. As much as it't not vital, since I single hand quite often and am often berthed with the wind blowing on my beam away from the mooring, it might be handy.
I'm contemplating the idea of adding a hydraulic stern thruster to the existing hydraulic system rather than going electric. 20hp for a bow thruster seems quite big by most charts but for the Stern I was looking at either 11hp or 15hp (either 185mm or 250mm tunnel).

So any thruster experts here with some nuggets of wisdom? This is currently just fact finding but I'd like to explore the options..

Cheers.

 

[TK Blue MAX]

11hp or 15hp (either 185mm or 250mm tunnel).

I would always go for the biggest you can sensibly get in the space available, you can always use it for less time, the other way your stuffed it it isn't up to the job, price difference should be negatable

 

[Elessar]

I would always go for the biggest you can sensibly get in the space available, you can always use it for less time, the other way your stuffed it it isn't up to the job, price difference should be negatable

A stern thruster of the same power as the bow thruster will be less effective than the bow thruster. TKs advice is good.

If it’s easier to fit an electric one there is nothing wrong with that - it’s not unknown to have one of each.

 

[Fire99]

I would always go for the biggest you can sensibly get in the space available, you can always use it for less time, the other way your stuffed it it isn't up to the job, price difference should be negatable

Gotcha.. Thanks. There isn't a world of difference in price to be honest so that's good advice thanks..