My wife and I own a 2004 44DS and are thinking of having a bow thruster installed over the winter. We find that the boat has a lot of windage due to its high profile and can be difficult to dock when it is very windy. Did anyone buy a bow thruster with their boat or had your boat retrofitted? I am looking for advice of any kind. Thanks.
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Bob
bow thruster
We have a 2005 Passage 456 with a bow thruster and couldn't be more pleased. It is equivalent to having an additional hand on board in many circumstances. The thruster makes docking in difficult conditions easier - but not necessarily easy. Due to the type of motor, 21/2 to 3 minutes is about all the sustained power you can count on. After that the motor will shut down (we are told) until it cools off. Practicing docking without the thruster will make you appreciate it even more. For us it was worth the expense.
We have a 2005 Passage 456 with a bow thruster and couldn't be more pleased. It is equivalent to having an additional hand on board in many circumstances. The thruster makes docking in difficult conditions easier - but not necessarily easy. Due to the type of motor, 21/2 to 3 minutes is about all the sustained power you can count on. After that the motor will shut down (we are told) until it cools off. Practicing docking without the thruster will make you appreciate it even more. For us it was worth the expense.
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Dave Robinson
Bow Thruster
I have a 2004 Passage 456 with a bow thruster. It's a huge help. I often single hand this boat, and the thruster makes it easy under normal conditions. I would do it again in a minute. Good luck!! Dave Quiet Wings
I have a 2004 Passage 456 with a bow thruster. It's a huge help. I often single hand this boat, and the thruster makes it easy under normal conditions. I would do it again in a minute. Good luck!! Dave Quiet Wings
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Cookie
Side Power
We also have a 44DS with factory installed bow thuster. It is fantastic. We can get in and out of our slip in one shot. With out, it would be a 3 point turn. Be carefuf in a 15 knot and up side wind as the thruster will hold your position but will not push the boat against the wind. I will now never be without a bow thruster on a large boat. It make docking and rafting up so much eacier.
We also have a 44DS with factory installed bow thuster. It is fantastic. We can get in and out of our slip in one shot. With out, it would be a 3 point turn. Be carefuf in a 15 knot and up side wind as the thruster will hold your position but will not push the boat against the wind. I will now never be without a bow thruster on a large boat. It make docking and rafting up so much eacier.
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Nordsea
retrofit bow thruster
I added a bowthruster to my hunter 386 and would never get a boat without one. My wife and I come into a very narrow channel and I have to back into our slip. Even in low tide it is a pleasure. It also gives an amazing amount of confidence and most of the time I really don't use it but its nice to know that it is there as a backup. Even in wind gusts up to 25 knots it made an amazing diference. East Coast Bowthrusters was the installer. Joe Molinari is the owner and he did a great job for one half the cost of the local yards
I added a bowthruster to my hunter 386 and would never get a boat without one. My wife and I come into a very narrow channel and I have to back into our slip. Even in low tide it is a pleasure. It also gives an amazing amount of confidence and most of the time I really don't use it but its nice to know that it is there as a backup. Even in wind gusts up to 25 knots it made an amazing diference. East Coast Bowthrusters was the installer. Joe Molinari is the owner and he did a great job for one half the cost of the local yards
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frank arndorfer
Bow thrusters
We had thrusters added at the factory on our 2003 44DS and would agree with all the previous posts; they're a worthwhile addition on a boat this size. We taught ourselves to manuver/dock the boat without the use of the thrusters and the peace of mind of just knowing that they're there to bail you out if needed is worth the cost. And Bob's comment on battery life is a good point. We had a back-up battery and separate charger added to ours.
We had thrusters added at the factory on our 2003 44DS and would agree with all the previous posts; they're a worthwhile addition on a boat this size. We taught ourselves to manuver/dock the boat without the use of the thrusters and the peace of mind of just knowing that they're there to bail you out if needed is worth the cost. And Bob's comment on battery life is a good point. We had a back-up battery and separate charger added to ours.
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