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Post by mred25234 on Jul 3, 2020 9:33:08 GMT
Has anyone installed an aftermarket bow thruster, in particular the jet thruster brand?
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Post by Tafika II on Jul 3, 2020 15:14:43 GMT
We have a 2008 SO42DS. We investigated adding a bow thruster a few years back. From my research, I was not a big fan of the traditional propeller-driven tunnel bow thruster design…more antifoul, exposed drives to seawater, etc. We look at retractable units….more stuff to break. Then, we looked at Holland Marine Jet Thruster. This system made a great deal a sense. We only consider a bow thruster, not the quad system With the thru-hull port connected to a pump, it would be easy to maintain without a haul-out. If there was a problem, you close the seacocks and shut down the system for later repair, no props to foul, and no exterior mechanical devices. For installation, once you have the thru-hull fitting installed with shutoffs, you can get back in the water and finish the tubes and electrical wiring as either a DYI or a contracted project if you want. The cost was slightly higher but competitive.
Due to other life priorities, we did not go through with the purchase, but when or if we do, this is the system I would purchase. I'll be following this thread to see if anyone has actually installed this system
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Post by alex1949 on Jul 6, 2020 12:22:41 GMT
Has anyone installed an aftermarket bow thruster, in particular the jet thruster brand? Hi mred25234 , I have a SO 40DS 2005 which I love very much. It is almost same size as your boat. 5 years ago I installed by myself an external bow thruster X75 made by one of the best manufacturers SIDE POWER , Norway. No need for tunnels and easy to reach and maintain, very efficient and as I mentioned ,very easy to DIY. 5 years with no major problems. Not a single case of rope in it or catch around it. Absolutely no influence on boat speed. Maneuvering became easy and pleasant to do. Price of the unit same as a regular BT unit, but you save the installation cost by doing it yourself. Suggest you go into Side Power web and explore it. I highly recommend having it. |
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VanVeiden
Junior Member
Posts: 18 
Jeanneau Model: Sun Odyssey 409
Yacht Name: Brizo
Home Port: Finike
Country: Turkey
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Post by VanVeiden on Jul 11, 2020 9:54:17 GMT
I am also thinking of installing one. A Jet Thruster looks interesting, but the price is too high - 6300-6500 Euro for a bow or stern kit or over 8000 for a bow&stern system. And you will still have to do quite a lot of installation work and 3 more holes in the hull.
Besides, on a 409 we have a dedicated space for the installation of a tunnel thruster, but I am not sure the JT could be mounted witn no problem as we have a water tank where it should be situated. So, a careful measurement is a must before buying.
Side Power looks easiest for a DIY setup as compared with JT or conventional tunnel thruster like Quick or Lewmar etc.
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