Was thinging of add one to my boat this year. I don't have troubles docking most of the time but theres a few time I wish there was a way to stop the bow from getting winded out. Just looking for so pros and cons. I have a 27' twin 200 outboards. 33' stem to stern over all.[:-thumbd] [:-thumbu]
bow thrusters
- Thread starter freddy063
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HAVE THEM, LOVE THEM ........... WOULD NEVER NOT HAVE THEM..............
Cons: Cost
Pros: saves your ass when your in trouble......
My boat is a kite in the wind so I do need them for very windy days. If money is not an issue than go for it.... it is a nice addition. With a boat your size, I think it may be a waste of money. You will not get your money back when you sell your boat. Be prepared to pay 5k or so for the thruster.
Walter
Cons: Cost
Pros: saves your ass when your in trouble......
My boat is a kite in the wind so I do need them for very windy days. If money is not an issue than go for it.... it is a nice addition. With a boat your size, I think it may be a waste of money. You will not get your money back when you sell your boat. Be prepared to pay 5k or so for the thruster.
Walter
My 35' single inboard houseboat is probably about as clumsy as they come. SO FAR I've not felt the compelling need to install a thruster. Granted there have been times when I WISHED I had one (or two), but I've always managed to get alongside without any damage. It wasn't always pretty, but I always made it.
Practice, practice, practice.
Practice, practice, practice.
As I'm sure you will hear shortly, some people can't stand them, and will impune your ancestors for even having one. I also agree that it is very easy to become dependent on your thruster, but on the other hand, it is a great tool if you want to "bump" the boat just a touch. I can now maneuver almost as well without it, but I'm still very glad to have it available.
Got one, but it is in a single IB 32'er. Hardly ever use it. Always take the wind into consideration & try to turn the wind into my friend.
JMO, but consider a thruster in anything <40' & twin engined a waste of money. I will concede that it is useful in a lightweight high sided 'bubble' styled boat. As an aftermarket install a thruster is a very expensive addition which has limited need & adds nothing to the resale of the boat.
JMO, but consider a thruster in anything <40' & twin engined a waste of money. I will concede that it is useful in a lightweight high sided 'bubble' styled boat. As an aftermarket install a thruster is a very expensive addition which has limited need & adds nothing to the resale of the boat.
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A thruster for a 27' boat with twins is a waste of money. I could think of a very long list of other items I would buy before spending the money on a thruster.
I personally wouldn't spend the money on it. My suggestion is practice with spring lines for a while first, and see if you can get by (comfortably) without it. If you still want it after that, go for it... spending the money on it is a lot better than staying at the dock!
I have one on my 262cr (29' LOA) - although I have a single engine. I got one because my boat only drafts 20" and has a high freeboard (for a boat this size) - PLUS the canvass really adds to it too.
Like others have said, you can use spring lines BUT those don't help you when you are trying to hold your position on a busy river waiting for a RR bridge to open (we deal with that on a weekly basis) or waiting in the river at a fuel dock, etc.
I used to use mine all the time but now I use it only when I can't get into position at a dock because of wind or space on the dock or lack of "hands" on the boat. It's a real plus (for me) as I am teaching my boys (10 & 5 1/2) about boating.
Would I do it again on a single screw cruiser? YES. I'll have to wait til I drive a boat with twins to see what I think about that situation.
Like others have said, you can use spring lines BUT those don't help you when you are trying to hold your position on a busy river waiting for a RR bridge to open (we deal with that on a weekly basis) or waiting in the river at a fuel dock, etc.
I used to use mine all the time but now I use it only when I can't get into position at a dock because of wind or space on the dock or lack of "hands" on the boat. It's a real plus (for me) as I am teaching my boys (10 & 5 1/2) about boating.
Would I do it again on a single screw cruiser? YES. I'll have to wait til I drive a boat with twins to see what I think about that situation.
DO a search for Bow thruster. This has been Debated over and over.. US thruster guys have taken some hits ... And then there's Pascal how literally got hit by a bow thruster guy ....
So search read... scratch the mellon and post some more... There's kinda an anti thruster tone here.... But they mean well....
Rob
So search read... scratch the mellon and post some more... There's kinda an anti thruster tone here.... But they mean well....
Rob
Unless you are driving a cat, most twin O/B's are mounted too close together to respond in the same fashion as a set of inboards. You can muscle it to do so, but it is a learned response to your boat and each boat with that setup will handle differently.
An inexpensive (relative term) solution for you may be this thing.
http://www.sideshift.com/index.htm
If we keep the present boat, I may buy one. If we upsize I may buy one.
An inexpensive (relative term) solution for you may be this thing.
http://www.sideshift.com/index.htm
If we keep the present boat, I may buy one. If we upsize I may buy one.
I had looked at the SideShift for about a year before we bought our current boat - I was planning ahead. At the time I believe the one for my boat was $3500-3600 plus a battery and install. I got lucky that when we found and bought the current boat that we had them put the bow thruster in before we took delivery...this added $5000 to our purchase price. Not as "painful" that way. LOL!
My grandfather told me about all the negative things that were said when those newfangled outboard motors first became popular, and then it was those silly automatic transmissions and power windows in new cars, and some even complained about those new airplanes flying around without propellers.
Guess some folks just welcome change and enjoy new things, while others are simply against anything new or things that they feel isn't really necessary.
Guess some folks just welcome change and enjoy new things, while others are simply against anything new or things that they feel isn't really necessary.
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Okay, without knowing what equipment you have some may be duplication, but here goes, in no particular order, and any combination of itmes works as well
1) EPIRB
2) Second EPIRB
3) PLB's
4) Life raft
5) Another VHF
6) GPS
7) Radar
8) A second handheld GPS
9) Ditch bag and all related gear
10) Another handheld VHF
11) New Down riggers
12) Sat Phone
13) Cold weather survival suits
14) Zodiac
15) A massive shopping spree for new tackle
16) A second Radar
17) Outfit my crew with inflatable PFD's (Sospenders or Mustang)
18) Chartplotter
19) SSB
20) A 13' Whaler to refurbish
21) Enter the Martha's Vineyard Shark Tournament
22) Re-canvas the boat
23) Outriggers
24) Greenstick
and on and on.