Bow Thrusters, necessary??

[Rideout]

I'm having a 29ft Chesapeake Bay Deadrise built. Cruising boat on a workboat hull, single diesel with a small full length keel.<br /><br />I'm really torn about getting a bowthruster, I have no real experience handling this type of boat. Currently have outboards<br /><br />It's a $6000 option, is it worth it?<br />Thanks

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Bow Thrusters, necessary??

Worth every penny, in my opinion..

 

[cc lancer]

Re: Bow Thrusters, necessary??

On a 29 foot boat that an expensive toy, If you don't buy them, in less than 50 hours you will be spinning your boat around and have 6-K in your pocket.<br />The first 28 footer I bought,I was a little nervous, when I put it in at the marina, took it easy, then went out and practiced, backing, maneuvering, learned the boat.<br />Don't take this the wrong way but if a guy came into the marinas where I go, the old salts would laugh at him if he had thrusters on a 29 foot boat.

 

[Stratocaster]

Re: Bow Thrusters, necessary??

Necessary? No.<br /><br />Really handy as a stress-reliever in some situations? You betcha.<br /><br />Don't listen to those who call them training wheels. If you can afford it, go for it!<br /><br />Mike P

 

[Rideout]

Re: Bow Thrusters, necessary??

Thanks, there seems to be two schools with everyone I talk to. Old Salts...say they're unneccessary, Pragmatics...who say they're invaluable when you need them.<br /><br />I will keep the boat on a lift, so won't need them day to day, but assume I will need them at marina's and some gas docks. <br /><br />I believe they are more and more becomming standard equipment on smaller boats. But like cc lancer says, 6K would look good in my pocket

 

[Luna Sea]

Re: Bow Thrusters, necessary??

The guy that sold me my 25' Grady, with the straight inboard was thrilled about his new(er) Albin 27 or 29 footer having a thruster. It's not a toy when the wind's got your nose and your in close quarters and..........<br /><br />If you can afford it, do it. It will increase your boat's value as well (sure you knew that).<br /><br />Good Luck!

 

[JC1933]

Re: Bow Thrusters, necessary??

Hi hope you dont minde me asking, what is a bowthruster. thanks in advance for replys. J C.

 

[sloopy]

Re: Bow Thrusters, necessary??

It is like a trolling motor on the bow, accept it can only push push your bow left and right.

 

[JC1933]

Re: Bow Thrusters, necessary??

Thanks Sloopy now i know what a bowthruster is. J C.

 

[DJ]

Re: Bow Thrusters, necessary??

Ditto Stratocaster.<br /><br />Learn the boat, but having a backup is always a good plan.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Bow Thrusters, necessary??

When it you and your wife and you come into a dock with a strong wind blowing you off the dock your line handler will love it.<br /><br />Those old salts will be impressed how slow and easy you came up to the dock.<br /><br />I would love to have one. My only consern would be that it is well built and not a leak hazard and have a way to get to the motor / impeller for any maintenance. <br /><br />I would love to know the Price also.

 

[swist]

Re: Bow Thrusters, necessary??

Experienced commercial fisherman up here never have them - it's amazing what they can do, particularly in reverse, with a single screw inboard. <br /><br />Having said that, you have to remember a lot of these guys have been handling boats since they were kids and doing it every day. It may be unrealistic to expect a recreational boater to achieve that kind of proficiency without more practice than there are hours in the day for.<br /><br />So it's a trade off - but don't forget the cost of the unit is only part of the deal. Installation is complex and time consuming - for one thing how many boats have good access to the forepeak below the water line without ripping stuff apart?<br />Also, these things use a lot of battery power, is your electrical system up to it?

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Bow Thrusters, necessary??

I believe that the installation is the same whether you get it now or later.The boat will not be built with it.The thruster would have to be installed and the boat modified.Question if the cost would be the same and if it is then you can give it a try without, until you hone your boat handling skills.If you need it at that point----get it.Charlie

 

[Rideout]

Re: Bow Thrusters, necessary??

Actually, charlie, the boat would be built with it. They asked me to decide before the v berth is installed (which will be months away) They also said they would install later at the same price. The price is $6100. I could probably get it retrofitted cheaper from another marina. Options are where they make their money.<br /><br />I had 90% decided to pass on this, now I'm 90% convinced to get it.<br /><br />If it makes a difference the boat is at <br /><br /> http://mathewsboats.com/models/index.asp?Model=patriot29

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Bow Thrusters, necessary??

She looks sweet!!!!I did not know anyone built a boat with the thrusters.I would do a little more investigating on that one.They probably have the same outfit come in to do it either way.The boat cant come out of the mold with the hole.I can tell you that a friend of mine has a Mainship that is a very similar style and he loves showing off his docking ability with his bow thruster.Whether its now or later you will surely love having it.I believe in learning a boat and how it reacts in different situations before having the luxury of something like a thruster.The lack of one will make you a better boat handler but I would get it anyway!!!!Good Luck!!! Charlie

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Bow Thrusters, necessary??

I say, if your wallet will allow it, get the thruster and screw what the old salts say. Yeah, you can live without it, but why should you if you don't have to? Boating is supposed to be a pleasant experience, if mundane tasks like docking and manuevering in close quarters can be made easier, then go for it. All it would take is docking with a cross current or a really windy day to let you know you should have got the thruster. It's always best to install that sort of thing while under construction than retrofitting later. Besides, you can always still hone your boat handling skill, just don't use the thruster. You'll need to be proficient anyway, you never know if the thruster may fail or you have to captain someone elses large boat. Good luck....

 

[Rideout]

Re: Bow Thrusters, necessary??

Charlie, you're right it doesn't come out of the mold with the whole. In the building process they cit the whole through, insert the tube and glass it in.

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Bow Thrusters, necessary??

Rideout – I did a lot of research, reading, talking to manf, and talking to experienced single-screw capt’ns about bow (and stern) thrusters, and stabilizing fins. A capt’n experienced with a single screw does not need a thruster. All props produce a side thrust in addition to the main thrust. You will learn how to use that side thrust of your single-screw against (and with) the wind and currents to move your vessel sideways. It becomes intuitive, like parallel parking.<br /><br />My other thought is “why avoid technology?” If you decide on a thruster, at a minimum, have the builder install a thruster tube (4 - 6 inch) that will compliment a thruster you can install post-delivery. You do not need to pay the hull builder for the thruster but installing that tube during hull manf will give you a better, stronger, cleaner tube install.<br /><br />Note: the alignment tools needed to install the tube in a post-manufactured hull are specialized…not common but not impossible to find, either. The aligning of the tube is a job for someone with more advanced boat building skills. Typically, it involves establishing complimentary cutouts on compound curves on a pair of mirrored surfaces. A Chesapeake Bay Deadrise may differ. The placement of the tube may or may not affect the stinger placement during manufacturing. A handy person can install the actual thruster itself. Often (but not always) the thruster’s motor is required to be mounted vertically so you need to know there is room down there for the motor under any flooring.<br /><br />Why I want a thruster: when “woman” is piloting, upon the approach to any dock, I put the PFD on the dog, inflate my own, throw the EPIRB overboard, launch a couple red flares, start the orange smoke signal, hit 5 shorts ‘danger’ blasts over the hailer, toss out a “mayday” on channel 16…then brace for impact. (May the Lord be with anyone brave enough to stand on the dock. Normally, they will scatter.) I guess some people will catch onto piloting with a single-screw a little quicker than others.

 

[Rideout]

Re: Bow Thrusters, necessary??

Rabbit, in the end, did you get the thruster?

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Bow Thrusters, necessary??

Rideout - Not yet, but we definitely are. Ours is about 34ft displacement hull, with a deep keel about 3/4 length of the boat. Not unlike the vessel you are getting. I’ve been dragging my butt on getting the hydraulic system designed/installed. I want to go with a hydraulic thruster as opposed to an electric one only because we need hydraulics in other applications. Otherwise I’d go electric. Btw, electric thruster motors are monetary motors, can only run about 4 or 5min every hr. I will pay someone to install the tunnel when we haul out, but the thruster I’ll probably put in myself.<br /><br />I suggest you go back to the hull builder and ask for a sea trial in a CBD with a thruster so that you can play around with it. Also try maneuvering without it. Just a guess, but I’m thinking something round 4 hp, single prop, for your boat’s thruster (depends on cabin size). $6k seems out of line. You might want to shop around. And like I mentioned before, it won’t hurt anything to have the builder install just the tunnel. Then try your boat for a year. Later you may decide to add a thruster, maybe not. If not, it's a lot easier/less $$$ to glass over the tunnel then to cut one in later.