Bow Thrusters on small craft?

Question

does anyone know of someone installing a bow thruster on a small craft, 20 ft or under. im rebuilding a boat and have the deck out, and thought it would be a cool idea. iwork on tug boats and see them on ships and it a great help in docking. any advice or product you know of would be helpful.

Answer 1

waiste of money and time  dont do it

youll look ridiculous

Answer 2

To install a thruster, you will have to cut the hull. That's just asking for big problems if not proffessionally done. Thrusters are cool and all that, but with some practice, that 20 footer can be docked pretty easy without them. Steering reaction time on a bigger boat is slow and takes some getting used to. Approach the dock slowly and get a boat pole.

Answer 3

I don't think there's much need on a boat your size; unless possibly to up the resale value?? Powering the thruster requires a lot of amps. Even if you won't use it often or for long durations. You don't say whether the 20 footer has an inboard engine or outboard on a bracket at the transom, but I will assume the latter for a vessel that size. Which means you won't have an alternator to put the amps back as  or after you use it.

You could dedicate a battery solely for thruster use and have a solar panel dedicated to charging that battery when you are not on the boat....but, it really is a lot of work and hassle for such a small craft and you'd have to come up with locations for the extra battery and solar panel.

I have seen them on 30 ft sailing vessels to assist the manoevering ability because of their long keels, but I would not bother installing a bow thruster on a boat smaller than that.

Answer 4

I, too, wouldn't bother.  It'd be expensive and fraught with problems when you could just lean over the side with a paddle or boathook . . .

Answer 5

Tha smallest boat I have seen them on is a 31 Pursuit. You should know they use tremendous battery power and need a very good charging system for the batteries. I would be sceptical of the charging system on a small boat with a single engine being able to handle that.

Answer 6

I wouldn't install one even if I could find one small enough.  On a boat your size there is just no need.  The turning moment, ARM is just to short.   It would be like backing a little red wagon.  To much reaction to be of much help.  It's an interesting thought!!!!!!! Good luck!