Which Bow Thruster??

[makingplansfor]

I am installing a bow thruster on a 40 ft sailing boat and struggling to select which. I have very similar prices for Vetus 7512D and Lewmar 185TT 4kw and await a price from Side Power for the SE80/185. I would appreciate hearing owner experience of these units. Thanks in anticipation......

 

[pvb]

I have a Sidepower SE60 and it seems a very well-engineered unit.

 

[Tranona]

Another vote for Sidepower.

 

[Boathook]

I've had a vetus unit for over 10 years with no problem.

 

[Keith-i]

I recently fitted a Max-Power unit as it has an entirely composite gearbox casing so no corrosion issues to worry about.

 

[pvb]

I have very similar prices for Vetus 7512D and Lewmar 185TT 4kw and await a price from Side Power for the SE80/185.

JPC Direct in Norfolk have some good prices on Sidepower, about £2063 for the SE80. Kent Marine in France list the SE80 rather cheaper at €1853, but shipping might eat into the saving. No connection with either company, although I have found JPC Direct to be very helpful with a Webasto issue.

 

[makingplansfor]

Thanks for the research, I await a price from Side Power who will perhaps direct my enquiry to a UK supplier. The Vetus and Lewmar have very attractive bundles which include switching, cabling (control) and tunnel which are about the same as the Kent Marine price you have found. It sounds like the SP system is well regarded, it'll be interesting to see if they get anywhere close on price??

 

[Sticky Fingers]

Sidepower on mine but was a factory option. Works well, but the controller is a cheap tacky thing that looks worn after only one season.

 

[matthewriches]

Side Power in my opinion is "the best money can buy" and standard fit for many, easy to service, parts available all over the place. But the Vetus ones aren't bad either having wired one into a boat last Christmas, I can speak for both personally.

 

[benchmark]

I have a Max power on my current boat but had a side power on the last one I owned. Given the choice myself, I would choose a Sidepower due to its simpler electrical circuitry.

 

[Kinsale373]

I bought a Bene 373 2 seasons ago with the Lewmar 185 TT 3Kw Version. It is approx 15 years old now. I had to replace the Control Switch Panel up at the Wheel due to mechanical damage from use. I had some issues initially where I could only get 4 or 5 thrusts of approx 3 or 4 seconds and then started to loose thruster power. I incorrectly blamed the battery but it turned out to be badly pitted contacts on the Reversing relay. Its been great since I replaced the relay. The unit was very easy to work on, easy to strip and re assemble in the boat. Im very happy with the performance since. I was able to purchase the reversing relay from Albright in the Uk (who originally supplied the relays to Lewmar) at a fraction of the lewmar price. I found Lewmar themselves very helpful when I had issues. I would buy another 185TT without hesitation, I've no experience of the other units or manufacturers.
PS I keep a spare drive shear pin taped to the unit as these can go.

Regards, Kinsale 373

 

[Rafiki]

Thanks for the research, I await a price from Side Power who will perhaps direct my enquiry to a UK supplier. The Vetus and Lewmar have very attractive bundles which include switching, cabling (control) and tunnel which are about the same as the Kent Marine price you have found. It sounds like the SP system is well regarded, it'll be interesting to see if they get anywhere close on price??

Are you going to DIY install this? You are a brave man if you are happy to put very large holes in your boat and trust that nothing ever leaks. The cost of installation will be high. I cant (dont?) want to recall exactly the cost of my Sidepower 60 fully installed, but it certainly wasn't less than £5k. So maybe you should look at the fully installed cost and make sure you are comparing like for like. so for instance in my case the initial quote didn't include the thuster battery being charged from the the mains charger, but only from the alternator.
Incidentally the same battery serves the anchor winch and the thruster, which works well.

 

[makingplansfor]

Are you going to DIY install this? You are a brave man if you are happy to put very large holes in your boat and trust that nothing ever leaks. The cost of installation will be high. I cant (dont?) want to recall exactly the cost of my Sidepower 60 fully installed, but it certainly wasn't less than £5k. So maybe you should look at the fully installed cost and make sure you are comparing like for like. so for instance in my case the initial quote didn't include the thuster battery being charged from the the mains charger, but only from the alternator.
Incidentally the same battery serves the anchor winch and the thruster, which works well.

I'm having quite a bit of work done over the winter so will be getting the professionals to glass the tube in - I will do the rest...…...

 

[markhomer]

which did you go for in the end Im looking at replacing my QL and have same quandry , at my power bracket 95-100 kgf bracket the lewmar is considerably cheaper vetus then sidepower range from 1.5K £ to near 3K £

 

[Norman_E]

Vetus ones seem pretty long lasting. My boat had seven years in charter before I bought it so the bowthruster will have had a much harder life than any private owner would give to one, and I have had it a further 13 years. It suffered a broken shear pin when a rope was caught in it a few years ago now. The pin (on the motor shaft coupling) is 3mm brass rod, and I made a new one myself. Aside from that it only became a bit intermittant in use last year, and was cured by having the motor brushes replaced, as they were well worn, and the wiring connections cleaned up. The cause of intermittent working was not the motor brushes but a heavily corroded ring terminal on one of the supply cables.