How big of a job is it to install bow thrusters on an aluminum hulled houseboat?
What about those that can be installed while the boat is in the water?

this has been discussed several times somewhere on the boards. might check those posts and other sites on the net. also check magazines and books. some thrusters can be mounted exterior to hang off the bow one way or another quite like a trolling motor. most are typically mounted in a tunnel installed through the bow, side to side. expensive. this might be out of the question if the boat is shallow draft or oddball hull shape. have to ask why you need a thruster? i always found it easier to pull the bow in close to the dock, and have mother-in-law jump off with a line. good exercise for her and save money for other things......good luck, chuckie(NTB)|

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chuckie

If you don't happen to have a mother-in-law handy, you can put one of the kids on the jet-ski and tell him to make like a tugboat; and earn his keep!

Shiphandling for the Mariner, D. MacElrevey. Cornell Maritime Press. Chapter 3


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Willie
She's a tired old barge but she's paid for! http://s71.photobucket.com/alb...p;current=ef324993.pbw

Edited: 03/18/2005 at 04:52:54 PM by stmbtwle

RPL,

I am afraid to say that I think it is quite expensive....

I saw sever vendors who sold them at the Kentucky show

I would recommend you call one of these guys and ask them

Aftermarket Thrusters

klandershelox

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Nitrox 2005 16x68 Summerset Houseboat
Lake Lanier, Ga

Since in normal houseboat operations the boat is tied up to the shoreline bow-in, the only viable choice for the bow mounted thruster is of the tunnel design, and to my knowledge all those require the boat to be hauled out, and then of course the job of cutting holes in the hull, welding in a tunnel, and installing the thruster equipment would have to be done by professional yard workers and could very well be prohibitively expensive, in the range of $10K - $12K. However, rather than having the ability of moving the entire boat laterally in the water if used together or in conjuction with the engines, the true value of thrusters, bow or stern, is that they allow the driver to disassociate the control of the speed of the boat from its direction, which makes the docking procedure even in crosswind conditions much more intuitive. As you know, stern drives if not exactly centered will pull the bow off from your intended track at the point you shift into reverse on your approach. Stern thrusters are available that can be installed by the boat owner over a weekend while the boat is in the water and for my money provide essentially the same degree of control at a much more economical cost. The total cost of unit I installed on my 58' Lakeview, including batteries, cables, charger, and custom mounting bracket was ~ $5K, and worth every penny IMHO.

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58' Lakeview w/ single Merc 3L and Sideshift stern thruster on Dale Hollow Lake in KY/TN

RPL,

I have just purchased Hydranautic Thrusters. These are basically aftermarket type hydraulic thrusters that are installed without removing the boat from the water. I have heard positive feedback about them but I have not installed them yet. You can check out there website at www.thrusterman.com. The owner there has been very helpful. I hope to install them by next week, then I'll post my opinion.

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Sincerely,
Jason

Miss Sandi