There are many pieces of equipment that are not mandatory but whose ability to improve your sailing experience make them valuable.
This applies to the bow thruster. With the bow thruster, docking the boat or leaving the dock becomes child’s play. You have mastered the three-point turn in a car thanks to your skill, but also (or even ‘largely’…) because of power steering, right? It’s the same on board your boat: the presence of a bow thruster facilitates tricky manoeuvres in the harbour. Remember that!
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1 – What is a bow thruster?
2 – What type of bow thruster for your boat?
1. What is a bow thruster?
This is a propeller placed at the front of the boat, perpendicular to the direction of travel, and controlled from the helm station via a powerful electric motor. It lets you move the bow to port or starboard. Its position is crucial for optimum performance: the propeller must be below the waterline but as close as possible to the bow (see diagram below).
If your boat is more than 7 metres long, Band of Boats recommends investing in a bow thruster for easy and safe manoeuvring. Some thrusters, called poop thrusters, are installed at the stern. If you equip your boat with both, you will be able to pivot your boat 360° in a tight space, just like a pro!
2. What type of bow thruster for your boat?
To choose the right bow thruster, there are a few essential factors to take into account:
- What is the windage of your boat? : This refers to every part of the boat (except sails) that is above the waterline. The windage offers passive resistance to the wind and creates turbulence. If you have large windage, choose a thruster for larger boats than yours, and vice-versa.
- What type of port are you in? You should consider the average strength of the dominant wind, the currents, and access to your port to evaluate the necessary power.
- What type of boat do you have? For example, a 40-foot flat-bottomed model with little depth below the bow reduces the installation options.
- What is your budget?
To narrow down your choice, Band of Boats gives you a detailed description of the different types of bow thruster and lists the pros and cons of each. It’s up to you to select the most appropriate one!
Have you made your choice? Now please share your manoeuvring experiences with the whole Band of Boats community. We always value your opinions.
