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Bow Thruster on a small boat?

Discussion in 'Center Consoles, Tenders & Dinks' started by Norseman, Mar 2, 2026 at 4:27 PM.

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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:

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  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:
  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.
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