Options
SideShift bow thruster?
diggin2day1
Member Posts: 1,326 ✭✭✭✭
Does anyone have a SideShift bow thruster? Any experience or opinions? I love my FV270 but docking is always the most stressful part of the day. I have looked at traditional(tunnel) bow thruster but I can't justify the price. The SideShift is approx $3k and I can install it myself. I am not going to lie and say that I like the way it looks(awe ****, it's downright ugly!!), but if it works then I can deal with the way it looks. 
Comments
I don't like the look of it.
Here is Mike with Power boat TV installing a rear thruster, a DIY project. To me if it works as well as a bow thruster it looks better and no fiber glass work.
Randy56- Thanks for the video!
A bow thruster I think gives you way more control than installing a stern thruster. At least for these high free board sails of a bow that Rinkers have.
I really think if you stick to a few rules you'll be good.
1. When turning the wheel from one extreme to the other, have it in Neutral.
2. Short bursts of power to get the bow where you want, then smooth low power to back in.
The stronger the current, the easier it is, as long as it isn't perpendicular to your slip!
Usually I picked going forward.. I prefer stern into the wind because it seems you can make small corrections easier.
Most of the places we dock are right off of the bay with little wind protection, no finger piers and just a set of poles between the boats.
Here is Mike installing Bow Thruster, It looks pretty slick, a lot of holes to drill
2007 280 Rinker Express 6.2L B3
just sayin...............
Andy
I paid over $5500. for front and rear thrusters from Sideshift, and have had no end of problems with them. First of all, the salesman never told me that I had to install a second battery to run the thrusters, so the mechanic installed them without. He called the company before installation and was also never told there had to be a second battery. After countless problems and several hours spent trying to figure out the problem, the mechanic phoned Sideshift again and was then told there had to be a second battery. Then I had to spend another $600. for a second battery to be installed. The owner of Sideshift is very rude and does not care at all that his salesman did not tell us that we needed a second battery. He just pointed out a statement on a page in the manual that says you need a second battery. The manual was given to me AFTER I made the purchase, so what help does that do? I think the company has a right to inform people that they need to spend another $600. on top of the $5,500. to get the unit working. Shame on them for misleading the public and shame on the owner for not caring. After installing the second battery, they still do not work properly. I have to constantly turn off the battery and reset the fuses so the thruster will work. And you cannot run both at the same time, which they neglect to tell you, if you do, the power source shuts down and they are inoperable. I highly recommend NOT purchasing this unit, unless you want a ton of headaches.
@Dude_Himself many many situations where you just can't get a spring line hooked up. Sometimes you're just too far away and the thruster is nice to have.
I have twin screws so in most situations don't need a thruster but I get a lot of crosswinds where I slip and it sure would make things easier.