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Bow Thruster on a small boat?

Discussion in 'Center Consoles, Tenders & Dinks' started by Norseman, Mar 2, 2026.

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  1. Norseman, Mar 3, 2026 at 3:50 PM
    #21
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Went for a boat ride on the ICW yesterday, nice enough weather, a tad chilly for us Southerners, but good: This is how a retired old fart goes boating:

    LenR likes this.
  2. Norseman, Mar 3, 2026 at 4:53 PM
    #22
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Yup, there is that…
    I am a sucker for nice and clean installations, I like my boats to have a bit of class even if the owner is questionable in that regard.:cool:
    mapism likes this.
  3. Pascal, Mar 3, 2026 at 5:58 PM
    #23
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    A good chunk of the job is labor and whether the boat is 25’ or 45’ or the thruster 2 or 12 hp, the labor will be pretty much the same. If anything working in the bow of a small boat is probably harder and more time consuming.

    I can see how a BT can make a difference if your home dock or slip is tricky. What I ve never understood is the need for a stern thruster on a twin diesel. As you know I also ran a Johnson 70 for years; it had a ST which never worked. Never missed it, never needed it. Didn’t have it either in the 84 Lazzara or the 110 I run now.
  4. Capt Ralph, Mar 3, 2026 at 7:18 PM
    #24
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Ah, so your not manly enough to bow in and press against a bow spring?
    Or is this one of those whipped marinas that states stern in only?

    Thought you had a slip behind your house anyway?
  5. LenR, Mar 3, 2026 at 8:17 PM
    #25
    LenR

    LenR New Member

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    Go for it but hold on when you hit the switch cowboy...... LOL
  6. Norseman, Mar 3, 2026 at 8:37 PM
    #26
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    I did have a dock behind my house in Fort Lauderdale, not a slip.
    Then I moved to Palm Coast 4 years ago and built a house on a private marina.
    This was my Fort Lauderdale setup, the Albin and the River Rat, good life.
    IMG_9452.jpeg
  7. Norseman, Mar 3, 2026 at 8:39 PM
    #27
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    I know, may snap my neck:oops:
    Be nice, I just want a little luxury on my old days, I deserve it..
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  8. LenR, Mar 3, 2026 at 8:47 PM
    #28
    LenR

    LenR New Member

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    Those chairs are Very Comfortable. I have 2 on mine.
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  9. Norseman, Mar 3, 2026 at 9:28 PM
    #29
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Great minds think alike:cool:

    I miss the Stidds and I keep fantasizing about another boat with great seats AND a bow thruster.
    The Albin had a 4hp Vetus thruster, it lasted 23 years with minimal maintenance and it spoiled me rotten, hence this thread.
    (I owned the boat for 5 years, not since she was new)
    Perfect boat, single diesel, bow thruster AND the nice chairs.
    IMG_7009.jpeg
  10. Capt J, Mar 3, 2026 at 11:02 PM
    #30
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Valid points, but about 7 out of 10 of his style of boat has a trolling motor and they'll also do DPS with spot lock. My 20' 100 mph flats boat has a trolling motor, I can completely remove it from the boat in less than 60 seconds. The other issue is how will the weight of the thruster in the bow (and batteries somewhere) effect the COG of such a small boat and then you also need a way of charging the thruster batteries from the engine. So it's not a simple install.
  11. ranger58sb, Mar 4, 2026 at 7:26 AM
    #31
    ranger58sb

    ranger58sb Senior member

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    I've read their installs often include an additional battery bank located near the thruster, and maybe a charger for that bank too. Was something like that included in your quote? If so, that might account for some of the unexpected cost, both parts and labor. If so, maybe you could power from an existing battery bank, instead? Trim at least a little off the project?

    -Chris
  12. Capt Ralph, Mar 4, 2026 at 7:47 AM
    #32
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Private marina?
    That's your house at Marina Del Palma?

    I assumed your new home was another water-side setup like your old (FL) home.
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2026 at 7:56 AM
  13. Norseman, Mar 4, 2026 at 10:18 AM
    #33
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Yeah, everything is included including an extra group 34 battery and a Noco charger.
    I asked if they could use my dual AGMs and Noco charger already on the boat, but those are mounted in the stern and too far away.
    (Not even sure I need an AC charger as the new thruster battery will be charged by the outboard’s 50 amp alternator)
    The Vetus thruster should weigh about 25 lbs and the battery 45, add some wiring and switches and here is 80-90 lbs.
    Probably not a performance factor as the boat is rated for 8 people and I usually go solo.
  14. Norseman, Mar 4, 2026 at 10:22 AM
    #34
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Yeah, private marina in Palm Coast, bought the lot there 2021 and built a house 2 years later.
    Got another house on a golf course in Palm Coast called Grand Haven, probably selling it this year or next, any golfers here, speak up and make an offer.:cool:
  15. Norseman, Mar 4, 2026 at 1:51 PM
    #35
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    What the hell, I decided to go ahead, asked them to send me the contract, got nothing else to spend money on, no mortgages or other loans, and I can’t eat or drink any more than I do now.
    Let it rip, here we go.:cool:
  16. Norseman, Mar 4, 2026 at 3:39 PM
    #36
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    Maybe not…
    I sent a message to the Sea Hunt factory, not good news..

  17. Norseman, Mar 4, 2026 at 6:56 PM
    #37
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

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    So I asked AI if anybody has installed a bow thruster on a Sea Hunt center console boat?
    The answer is yes because they are light in the bow.

    If the stringers are too close to fit a small thruster I just may have to take
    2 or 3 fat bikini girls for a ride and ask them to stay in the bow area for easier maneuvering. Damn…
    IMG_9456.jpeg
  18. boatpoor, Mar 4, 2026 at 7:52 PM
    #38
    boatpoor

    boatpoor Senior Member

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    I don't know anything about them but I saw a new installation of a "Sideshift " thruster for smaller boats that doesn't require drilling a hole below the water line. Not as pretty as the large bikini girls but probably cheaper to maintain.
  19. Capt Ralph, Mar 4, 2026 at 8:15 PM
    #39
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    I did not know such beauties were available to help trim a boat.
    Fine looking crew.
    For hire?
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2026 at 8:22 PM
  20. Capt Ralph, Mar 4, 2026 at 8:20 PM
    #40
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Somebody help me;
    Was their a past thread about a thruster jet system?
    A high performance pump located somewhere in the hull and plumbing, with just nozzles placed bow & stern?
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