Click for Cross Privacy Matters Click for Nordhavn Click for Burger Click for Abeking

BW 350 Outrage thruster wiring

Discussion in 'Technical Discussion' started by Pascal, Apr 24, 2026 at 10:38 AM.

You need to be registered and signed in to view this content.
  1. Pascal, Apr 24, 2026 at 10:38 AM
    #1
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,856
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    We got a 2020 Outrage 350 as a tender for the 110 I run. Good condition, feels solid and nice layout but so far I m not impressed with the electrics. It feels like Boston Whaler hired former Mutt engineers to design the system. Apologies to our Italian friends :)

    the boat has a 24VDC thruster with the 2 batteries installed deep in the fwd bilge along with a Pronautic charger. Also down low in the bilge which has a tiny bilge pump and no high water alarm (already remedied)

    problem is that you can only charge the shore power batteries on shore power. I guess in the typical day outing scenario, it’s no big deal as you will recharge the batteries after you get back to your home slip. But when using the boat as tender back n forth to shore with a lot of docking it means having to run a shore cable at night from big boat to the little one.

    doesn’t make a lot of sense to me… thinking about adding a 12-24 charger so the batteries recharge whenever the engines are running

    anyone familiar with the new Victron Orion 1400 XS? 70 amp multi voltage. I would power it from the center engine / house bank (two batteries). L

    https://www.victronenergy.com/dc-dc-converters/orion-xs-dc-dc-battery-chargers
  2. Capt J, Apr 24, 2026 at 5:02 PM
    #2
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jul 11, 2005
    Messages:
    14,834
    Location:
    Fort Lauderdale
    I use the Orion XS 12v dc to 12v dc 50 amp to charge my house bank on my personal boat, it works great, it has a ton of features that you control from the APP on your phone, which also gives you state of charge. You can also program how many amps it charges, starting voltages, stopping voltage, battery type, and on and on. So you could set it to 30 AH of charge or more or less straight from your phone.
    d_meister likes this.
  3. Dj239, Apr 25, 2026 at 11:15 AM
    #3
    Dj239

    Dj239 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2016
    Messages:
    39
    Location:
    Ft myers
    There should be a ACR that allows for charging when Port and starboard engines are running. PM me on this.
  4. Pascal, Apr 25, 2026 at 12:21 PM
    #4
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,856
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    I looked and haven’t found it. Not mentioned in the manual either. There ACRs near the main batteries but as far as I can see they re not for the thruster bank.
  5. Capt Ralph, Apr 25, 2026 at 12:43 PM
    #5
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    14,318
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    A 24V thruster on a 12V boat?
    Could that be two 12V batteries in parallel for a stronger 12V bank?
  6. Norseman, Apr 25, 2026 at 12:58 PM
    #6
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2005
    Messages:
    3,513
    Location:
    Palm Coast, Florida
    I have good experience with Victron products and the apps for iPad and phone, great stuff.
    Center engine you said:
    You have triple outboards on a tender?
    Even a single outboard with a 50 to 80 amp alternator can charge the bow thruster batteries in a few minutes.
  7. Capt Ralph, Apr 25, 2026 at 4:20 PM
    #7
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    14,318
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    I wonder if a lil solar panel chargers is worth looking at?
  8. Norseman, Apr 25, 2026 at 4:31 PM
    #8
    Norseman

    Norseman Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2005
    Messages:
    3,513
    Location:
    Palm Coast, Florida
    Doubt it..
    I had solar panels on 2 boats, 150 watts on a sailboat and even with a boosted charger I was lucky to see 10 amp/hrs on a perfect day in the Exumas at high noon with no air pollution and the sun right over us.
    Clouds would cut that in 1/2 to 1/4 and rain to nothing.
    Solar panels are great for long term anchoring, but for a tender buzzing around, much easier to hook up one of the alternators to the thruster batteries.
    (Don’t even need a charger, the outboard should charge..(wait, a 24 volt thruster and a 12 volt stator?)
    Who installed the 24 volt thruster on a 12 volt boat?
  9. Capt Ralph, Apr 25, 2026 at 5:06 PM
    #9
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    14,318
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Thrusters are used little. I think just a lil trickle back to them during the day would help.
    But you know what I think about bow thrusters; Real boat drivers don't need them.

    That's what I asked post #5.
  10. Pascal, Apr 25, 2026 at 6:02 PM
    #10
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,856
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    Yes 24 vdc thruster with two g31. Factory install. I m not impressed by the electrical a, for instance the AC panel has a small analog voltmeter which is pretty much useless.

    i agree that a thruster is an overkill on a boat that size but I won’t be the one driving the tender much. I want to make it easy on the crew. And some docks can be crowded when we pick up Or drop off guests

    when anchored in the Bahamas, we may not need to power the tender at night so I really want the thruster batteries charged while underway. Will also avoid deep discharge which shorten life.
  11. Capt Ralph, Apr 25, 2026 at 6:29 PM
    #11
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    14,318
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    Could a new 12V motor make things easier?
  12. Pascal, Apr 25, 2026 at 9:25 PM
    #12
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,856
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    I doubt it. Seems like adding that Victron charger is the easiest way to fix this.
  13. Capt Ralph, Apr 25, 2026 at 9:56 PM
    #13
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    14,318
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    4 machine screw nuts off, 24V motor off.
    4 machine nuts on, 12V motor back back on.
    2 battery cable connects off / on.

    VS;
    The added complication of any electronic gizmo to make this mess work and charge from your single engine thru an ACR.

    KW vs KW is still the same. Who ever installed that 24V motor should walk a plank up here in the swamps (chomp, chomp)..

    Sorry brother, I still believe in K I S S.
    Simplicity will pay off in a short time.
  14. Pascal, Apr 26, 2026 at 8:41 AM
    #14
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,856
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    The hardest part of the job will be to run wires from the 12v bank in the rear to the thruster at the bow and it will be needed in both cases.

    will also need to add an ACR to charge the thruster batteries. And replace the 24v charger with a 12 volt charger …