If you have a twin engine boat, I say they're not needed. If the boat is a single, they're really nice to have.Are they an item that someone with little experience should consider getting when they purchase a boat.
When I spoke with the owner of the stabilizer company that installed our stabilizers for the PO he said that he installs alot of thruster systems, he recommends going with a 48v system that is designed for continuous use. He also said spend time aboard and in different situations and most people can get use to working their boat fine without them.
I was taught to maneuver boats without thrusters unless in an emergency. In fact , when I learned maneuvering, like many on here, thrusters were only installed on very large yachts and commercial ships. This practice may take more time to dock your boat, but will give you more experince in maneuvering, judging approaches, winds, and currents. You will also gain experience with spring lines. Thrusters sure are nice to have, but when you dont have them is when everyone on the dock finds out what caliber of captain you are.
I was taught to maneuver boats without thrusters unless in an emergency. ...
OK ... the time has come for those without thrusters or who don't use them even if installed to beat their chests.
I gotta go with Bligh and Boat poker on this. Thrusters are great! No doubt. But should not be a must have. I'm old school but in my opinion, if you can't dock without a thruster, maybe you shouldn't be docking at all.
I was taught to maneuver boats without thrusters unless in an emergency...
I have a dock neighbor who could not handle his 47' boat and got flustered at having to deal with four levers (2-throttle/2-shift) so he added bow and stern thrusters and now has six levers to contend with.
I was taught to maneuver boats without thrusters unless in an emergency...Same here. When we started boating, I didn't even know what a bow thruster was. After 50 years of running single engine boats I never used one. Now that we have one we don't depend on it to get us in our out of a slip. If we can't get into a slip or to the dock, without using the thruster, we don't go there.
What a waste!
Well, perhaps we almost all think we're better than most everyone else. ... Perhaps the most experienced helmsman of multi-engine boats are multi-engine-airplane pilots.
I was taught to maneuver boats without thrusters unless in an emergency...
What a waste!
Mark: I never said I didn't use it, I just don't depend on it.
With a 50' boat that has a lot of windage I have been struggling with the same question and have received several quotes for a bow thruster installed.
The cost of $13,500 + haul out etc is alot for us and that money can go along way in our cruising kitty so for right now we are going to keep it in our nice to have but not essential line item.
When I spoke with the owner of the stabilizer company that installed our stabilizers for the PO he said that he installs alot of thruster systems, he recommends going with a 48v system that is designed for continuous use. He also said spend time aboard and in different situations and most people can get use to working their boat fine without them.
I gotta go with Bligh and Boat poker on this. Thrusters are great! No doubt. But should not be a must have. I'm old school but in my opinion, if you can't dock without a thruster, maybe you shouldn't be docking at all.
Can someone comment on bow thrusters or stern thrusters as to the necessity of them. Are they an item that someone with little experience should consider getting when they purchase a boat.