Stern thruster - recommendations..........

[Delrico]

There have the odd occasions where I could have done with a stern thruster........ and so as glutton for punishment, and to give somewhere new for the barnacles to party I thought I'd fit one to my 1999 Beneteau 10.80........... but before I do I thought I'd ask you lot for any particular recommendations......... I'm pretty much wedded to electric............. any pearls of wisdom much appreciated...... Del.

 

[ST840]

I have a Vetus bow thruster which has been problem free in the 3 years ive owned my boat. They do do stern thrusters too. Ok ive not got one, but if the stern thrusters are as reliable as their bow thrusters then you cant go far wrong.

 

[Bouba]

My experience with Quick is that it did fail once and was replaced under warranty. Not been a problem since (touch wood) and neither has the Quick bow thruster ever let me down (touch wood). So I can’t say if I recommend it or not.
But you are right about one thing, it’s the first thing that will fail due to barnacles. Get a thruster that is over powered, when that beam wind blows an under powered thruster is like peeing against the wind

 

[Seastoke]

We had one fitted last year , wry useful when windy , try not to use it , if you have one have the remote as well.

 

[Delrico]

I have a Vetus bow thruster which has been problem free in the 3 years ive owned my boat. They do do stern thrusters too. Ok ive not got one, but if the stern thrusters are as reliable as their bow thrusters then you cant go far wrong.

Hmmm yes the vetus ones look very much like the ones I've seen bolted on the back of many boats.... is your bow thruster an after market one or original equipment?

 

[Delrico]

My experience with Quick is that it did fail once and was replaced under warranty. Not been a problem since (touch wood) and neither has the Quick bow thruster ever let me down (touch wood). So I can’t say if I recommend it or not.
But you are right about one thing, it’s the first thing that will fail due to barnacles. Get a thruster that is over powered, when that beam wind blows an under powered thruster is like peeing against the wind

Quick.... Ok I'll check them out.... and good advice re oversize. thanks. Del.

 

[Delrico]

We had one fitted last year , wry useful when windy , try not to use it , if you have one have the remote as well.

There you are you see, who'd have thought a remote would be an option.... I can see the advantage single handed having a remote, what make was yours????

 

[Bouba]

There you are you see, who'd have thought a remote would be an option.... I can see the advantage single handed having a remote, what make was yours????

Mine’s called ´The Wife’

 

[ST840]

Hmmm yes the vetus ones look very much like the ones I've seen bolted on the back of many boats.... is your bow thruster an after market one or original equipment?

I think mine was an aftermarket fitted by the previous owner. But how long ago i don't know.

 

[dustywings]

I have Sleipner Side Power bow and stern, been brilliant so far.
Make sure you are slightly overpowered rather than underpowered!

 

[Sticky Fingers]

I have Sleipner Side Power bow and stern, been brilliant so far.
Make sure you are slightly overpowered rather than underpowered!

Do yours have the the proportional controllers?

 

[Seastoke]

There you are you see, who'd have thought a remote would be an option.... I can see the advantage single handed having a remote, what make was yours????

Side power , do you have a bow thruster.

 

[Cavalierbond]

Fitted the side power one myself ... pretty
Easy but managed to cover my hands and arms in sikaflex ... but ... all the worry about close manoeuvres had gone ... well worth the money

 

[dustywings]

Do yours have the the proportional controllers?

No but I did have a remote fitted as well as the joysticks at all three stations.

 

[Elessar]

There have the odd occasions where I could have done with a stern thruster........ and so as glutton for punishment, and to give somewhere new for the barnacles to party I thought I'd fit one to my 1999 Beneteau 10.80........... but before I do I thought I'd ask you lot for any particular recommendations......... I'm pretty much wedded to electric............. any pearls of wisdom much appreciated...... Del.

First question is do you need one. Not many twin engine boats need one. There are exceptions especially displacement boats with a keel. . Single shaft boats different story. For a regular twin boat someone like Julie Proudfoot on your boat for the day is a much cheaper option.

If you do need one get the same make as your bow thruster so the joysticks look neat ! They all live the boat sideways.

Then, when you get it installed, make sure the installer fabricates a box around the thruster that is waterproof or bilge water WILL kill it.

if you follow all the above who cares about the make.

 

[Scapegoat]

We retrofitted a Vetus stern thruster a couple of years ago under the bathing platform and it worked well. Also fitted the cavitation hoods which you may need, depending on how close to the surface it is.
got a 20% boat show discount which was very helpful

 

[Delrico]

Side power , do you have a bow thruster.

I do, and its an original fit, to be honest its rarely used, as would be the stern thruster, its just those few times you need one it seems sensible to have the option there, our berth is very exposed and although having twin shafts and a bow thruster and a fairly heavy (for an 11m) boat being able to nudge the stern about a bit would be really handy, and as the saying goes why make it hard if there is an easier solution... even if its going to cost several grand.......

 

[Delrico]

First question is do you need one. Not many twin engine boats need one. There are exceptions especially displacement boats with a keel. . Single shaft boats different story. For a regular twin boat someone like Julie Proudfoot on your boat for the day is a much cheaper option.

If you do need one get the same make as your bow thruster so the joysticks look neat ! They all live the boat sideways.

Then, when you get it installed, make sure the installer fabricates a box around the thruster that is waterproof or bilge water WILL kill it.

if you follow all the above who cares about the make.

I like the tip about the internal box to stop bilge water getting to it.... thanks.....

 

[Delrico]

We retrofitted a Vetus stern thruster a couple of years ago under the bathing platform and it worked well. Also fitted the cavitation hoods which you may need, depending on how close to the surface it is.
got a 20% boat show discount which was very helpful

I think the Vetus design looks the most sturdy, and simple, which is probably no bad thing. thanks for the tip about the cavitation hood.........

 

[Delrico]

Fitted the side power one myself ... pretty
Easy but managed to cover my hands and arms in sikaflex ... but ... all the worry about close manoeuvres had gone ... well worth the money

It looks a straight forward job...... and the advantages of that extra degree of manoeuvrability far out weights a close encounter with sealant, I think I'd still generally use the main engines to position the boat but given how many times a nudge from the bow thruster has helped it seems silly not to have one on the stern. Though I do see some boats that navigate around the marina using thrusters only, generally more modern (and expensive) power boats with - I guess - a joystick controller........