I was thinking about my boat at work today(I do this quite often). Why are thrusters not standard or at least an option on the 25' to 30' range. I have seen them priced in catalogs and they are not that expensive.

I'm gettting pretty good at controling the bow, but when the wind kicks up and I'm trying to get to my mooring a bow thruster would be nice. If I did alot of cruising to different ports and needed to dock alot it would be a great help.

For you guys that are in the know of the industry, (I'm obviously not) what the reason for my range of boat not being equipped with these?

Do you beleive they might focus on the(25'30' range more if and when IPS adn Axius become the main drive systems?


Just referman wondering to himself and not having the answers

Well, smaller boats are easier to handle and generally do not need thrusters. Dual engines help a lot in controlling a boat, but, as the size of the boat increases, so does the need for a bow thruster.

Probably the biggest reason for boats under 30' not having a thruster, is economics and profit margin. Particularly in the economy to mid-class priced boats. As a boat becomes larger, and has more profit margin to deal with, there is financial 'room' to add things like thrusters. From a manufacturer's standpoint, that is probably reason #1.

If you have a mooring, then experience will give you all that you need to guide your boat gently to it in any type of condition. Thrusters are most needed for pulling into a tight docking space. (kind of like parallel parking)

I'm not in the know but here is my though. Once Merc Axius and Volvo's version become main stream in 09 we will see it everywhere. The boat manufacturer doesn't have to do any changes to the hull, unlike bow thrusters. They simply charges the client more for it. Easy profit there.

But don't confuse it with IPS or Zeus. Different and bigger animal.

I feel it's going to be longer than 2009 for Axius and VPs version of it to become more mainstream.

It's hard to imagine spending over 10, 15, or more of a percentage of the purchase price on Axius.

Formula wants over 23k retail for it. You get DTS, Vessel View, but it's still so much money.

I personally would love to have it, but way too much $$$ right now. Hopefully in the next few years, the price does drop.

Bow thrusters are another tool to get any boat easier (in higher wind or higher current set-ups) into the position the Helmsperson wants.

In new slips, it often gives the Admiral time to get a looped line over each of the two bow pilings.

We have a bow thruster. Admiral requested it when we had the boat built. Works great with the larger cabin on our boat.

Very helpful in sticky situations. Who am I to argue with the Admiral?

I agree!

HELMSPERSON? SB, I'm just pushing your leg a bit but when did you start being the PC monitor on here? Did your Admiral proof that post for you and substitute that term for "skipper"?

My guess to the answer to the original question about why thrusters aren't on boats of that size would have to do with where to stick the thing. There's only so much room in the bow to stuff things like chain lockers, windlasses, etc. By the time you squeeze out the space for a thruster you've probably moved the v-berth back or raised it a bit.

It's often a matter of finding the room to put things.