Raritan Engineering Company your Raritan marine products experts would like to share with you these topics we thought would be of interest to you this month regarding how to choose the best bow thruster for your needs.

Your Raritan marine products suppliers talk about how bow thrusters come in many styles and sizes. Before choosing a thruster for your boat, many factors should be considered with guidance from knowledgeable dealers and installers.

Consider these factors when choosing the best bow thruster:

• Strength of winds and currents – The more the wind and water move in your environment, the more power you’ll need from your thruster.
• The boat’s profile – The higher and longer your boat’s superstructure, the more pressure a thruster will need to push against a cross wind.
• Bow shape, interior space – The deeper your bow is in the water, and the more interior space is available forward, the more easily a bow thruster can be fitted.

The example shows the different wind speeds that two different thruster installations can encounter and the increased leverage gained when the thruster is positioned further forward.

Significantly lower installed cost, more responsive performance, no mounting holes below the waterline, virtually silent operation.

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Tunnel-style thrusters

Although occasionally found on smaller boats (less than 30′ in length), through-the-hull or tunnel-style thrusters are usually found on larger boats. 

First, two large holes must be cut or drilled on either side of the hull below the water line for the tunnel/tube to be passed through the boat. Correct tunnel placement is critical and requires a skilled installer experienced in structural fiberglass repairs, because the area around the tunnel on the hull’s exterior will require fiberglass work, paint and gelcoat. It’s not uncommon for a through-the-hull thruster to experience leakage over time that can void the boat owners hull warranty. 

Sideshift thrusters

Sideshift invented the original externally mounted bow thruster. Choosing a Sideshift bow or stern thruster offers numerous advantages over traditional tunnel-style thrusters. Significantly lower installed costs.