Bow Thruster

W

wwaseleski

New Member
Jul 6, 2016
8
Connecticut
Boat Info
1995 Sea Ray 400 Express Cruiser
Engines
454 Mercruisers, Inboard
I'm looking to install a bow thruster on my 1995 SeaRay 400 Express Cruiser. Going with a Lewmar 185TT 4.0kw. What is best 12 volt or 24 volt ? where do you put the batteries?
 
I went for 24V and have them in the bilge space under the floor, aft of the actual thurster.
 
I have a Sidepower 10hp, 10" tunnel, with two large 12v AGM in the floor right next to the thruster motor.
 
Check with the manufacturer's web page to see what size tunnel and thruster power they recommend. If it's a 10" tunnel that's fine. If not, go with a 10" tube.

Whatever the thruster power they recommend, go up a size or two. You will not be sorry if you do. I've never heard anyone say "I wish my thruster didn't have so much power."
 
I had a thruster installed on my 2002 410 last spring. East Coast Bow Thrusters did the work and I would definitely use them again. Joe and his team got everything done in 1 day and it looks just like it was done at the factory. I think they put in an 8" tunnel and a 6 kw Vetus unit that is 24V. Plenty of power to move the bow around, but I wouldn't go any smaller. I agree that I've never heard anyone say that their thruster has too much power!
 
wwaseleski said:
I'm looking to install a bow thruster on my 1995 SeaRay 400 Express Cruiser. Going with a Lewmar 185TT 4.0kw. What is best 12 volt or 24 volt ? where do you put the batteries?
Click to expand...
wwaseleski said:
I'm looking to install a bow thruster on my 1995 SeaRay 400 Express Cruiser. Going with a Lewmar 185TT 4.0kw. What is best 12 volt or 24 volt ? where do you put the batteries?
Click to expand...

the advantage of higher voltage would be less current.... smaller wire.... less losses, same reason the power lines have thousands of volts then transform them to 120/240 to use...

If i was mounting the batteries farther away, def 24 volt. if the batteries are close, not as big of a concern....

never had a bow thruster, so this is just my opinion, not from experience
 
Here's a couple of shot of the thruster install on Beachcomber. 10" tube, 325 pounds of thrust (IIRC), 24V with the batteries mounted about 3' from the motor, just out of frame of the bottom photos.

P7091008.JPG
P7091014.JPG
P7091015.JPG
 
I’ve got a 24 volt mounted under the floor in the master stateroom and the two AGM batteries, along with a dedicated charger, for it are in the next storage area aft of that, under the salon just behind the thruster itself.
The installer picked up 110 volts for the charger from the outlet that the master stateroom TV is plugged in to.
 
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