Are you researching bow thrusters? Curious if your boat needs a bow thruster? Here at Day Break Marine and L&M Marine, we’re here to share our 30+ years of marine industry experience so you can make the best, most informed decision possible. In this article, we’ll thoroughly explain the purpose of a bow thruster and when we recommend having one on board. 

The Purpose of a Bow Thruster

A bow thruster is a motor (with a propeller) located in the bow of the boat that’s used to swing the boat to the right or left. Bow thrusters are primarily used for docking, they make it easier to maneuver by providing more control. They’re mostly used for docking large boats, especially in parallel parking situations. You could also use your bow thruster to approach your trailer without using your engine. You can only use your bow thruster at idle speed and many won’t even deploy after you reach a certain speed.

The Difference Between Electric + Hydraulic Thrusters

Hydraulic thrusters are made for larger boats such as sportfishing yachts and generally have a hydraulic tank with hydraulic fluid. Electric bow thrusters are more appropriate for our inventory here at Daybreak as electric bow thrusters are ideal for most center console boats. 

How Bow Thrusters Affect Boat Maneuverability

Bow thrusters allow you to swing the bow easily in tight spaces, such as marinas. If you had dual dual-engine, triple-engine, etc. boat you’d still need a bow thruster to give you the full range of motion. Bow thrusters are made for maneuvering tight spaces while dealing with strong winds and currents. 

Even though you may have twin or tri-engines, the use of a bow thruster gives you more maneuverability options and extends your range of motion and control.

For example, if you’re trying to back in a slip at a marina, you’d use the bow thruster to counter the wind and help you back into your slip. Below is a graphic depicting how to use a bow thruster:

How Bow Thrusters Work

Recommended Use + Boats for Bow Thrusters

Although you may have twin motors, you still need a bow thruster for the full range of motion. It’s more responsive and quicker to hit the bow thruster versus getting one motor to go forward and the other to go in reverse. Bow thrusters are powerful, convenient, and easy to use via a joystick, and they make it less stressful to dock and maneuver through tight spaces. 

Generally, bow thrusters are recommended for larger boats approximately 25-30’ +. The bigger the boat, the harder it is to control, it’s similar to the difference between packing up a pickup truck versus a semi-truck, so it’s even more important to have bow thrusters on a boat of larger size. While docking a 62’ Viking an employee was backing in, just about halfway into their slip, and used the bow thruster to move the bow over into the spot. 

Although many of the boats that feature a bow thruster are mostly larger yachts and offshore boats, some pontoon manufacturers do include bow thrusters in their build as well as manufacturers such as EdgeWater Boats, which offers a bow thruster for their 370CC model. 

We’ve installed a bow thruster on a pontoon boat, a 27’ Avalon, and it was used mostly for docking. The current in the channel near the marina in Fairhope, Alabama where the owner likes to store their boat is rough, plus it’s a highly trafficked area due to a restaurant being nearby, and with the bow thruster, they’re easily able to dock the boat.

Although some find the need for a bow thruster for a boat with joystick controls debatable, ultimately the combination of joystick controls along with a bow thruster will maximize your range of motion. As the industry constantly evolves, we're looking forward to seeing the integration of these controls into one.

Installation: Before or After the Boat is Built?

As far as installing a bow thruster, we highly recommend doing this while the boat is being built. It’s a big job that will most likely require a hole being drilled through the bow in a fiberglass boat and for pontoons, the paneling will have to be taken off. If you decide to install a bow thruster after the boat is built, it will be more costly than getting one installed while it’s being built. 

Another thing to keep in mind is electricity as it’s important to make sure you have sufficient power for your bow thrusters. Bow thrusters are powered by a generator or its own battery (or two) while its battery bank is separate from the boat's power source.

Cost + Resale Value

There’s a large range of sizes and prices, electric bow thrusters can be anywhere between $1,500-$8,000 plus the labor to install them. As far as bow thrusters affecting your resale value, generally, it’d help your resale value and make people feel more comfortable and confident with the boat. 

Summary

In summary, if you park your boat in a marina such as Day Break Marina, or if you maneuver through any tight space with heavy currents or strong wind and your boat is over 25’, a bow thruster can come in VERY handy. Granted, not everyone needs them, but we’ve never talked to anyone who regretted having one, regardless of skill level. 

We’re happy to answer any questions about bow thrusters or any other accessories and any other questions you may have at either of our locations. See our current inventory here and in person:

• Day Break Marine - (850) 434-9022

  • 811 S R Street, Pensacola, FL 32502

• L&M Marine - (251) 837-1380

  • 34600 AL-59, Stapleton, AL 36578