PhilPB
Guru
- Joined
- Oct 5, 2021
- Messages
- 771
- Location
- Palm Beach County
- Vessel Name
- Sun Dog
- Vessel Make
- Mainship 34
Thank you all very much for the insightful comments and suggestions. I truly love the varied and honest advice from forum members.
As background, We live and cruise on the West coast but our entire family is on the East coast, so we expect frequent guest on our East coast boat. Both my brother, his 4 kids and my father are susceptible to sea sickness. We potentially can have 10 souls on the boat at once. Consequently, we are targeting larger boats with stabilizers for sure. But many good candidates don't have thrusters.
After reading your comments, I started contacting outfits in FL to get an estimate on installing a bow thruster. Just waiting to hear back. I may also ask the cost for a stern thruster, since the boat will be already on the hard.
We actually use our current stern thruster frequently to get off the swimgrid when docking but also when trying to move laterally at fuels docks if stuck between 2 boats. I suspect we can manage with a bow thruster only.
One difference is that the flybridge and aft deck on our west coast boat are fully enclosed and is extremely susceptible to windage. Many FL boats have open an open flybridge, so potentially less windage?.
I am looking at an older Hatteras 70’ with Stabilizers but no thrusters. And a 60’ Jefferson with the old Koopnautic stabilizers and a non functioning thruster but it has a teak covered bow, flybridge, etc. Not ideal.
I would love a long range cruiser vessel but cannot find the right mix at the moment. I anticipate that electronics and various things will need updating right off the bat with beautiful older vessels.. so with the addition of a thruster.. things will creep up pretty good prior to mile one but that,s boating.
I am hoping to impose on you once more as I tackle how or if it is fair to adjust an offer based on needing to install a thruster?
Thank you all again
Raylee
I would recommend Florida Bow Thrusters, they even travel out of state. They fully installed my thruster in 2.5 days. That included a huge hole in boat, glassed in tunnel, installed thruster, electronics, battery, faired and new bottom paint to match what I had.
I spoke with Ian Dils. He is very knowledgeable and answered any and all questions. They were on time and did everything as planned.