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Old 07-31-2012, 01:24 PM   #1
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Stern Thruster

Has anyone had any experience with the "Sideshift" stern thruster. Thinking about installing one on a 36' Monk. Single screw with bow thruster. First Mate thinks it will help make her life easier.
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Old 07-31-2012, 02:42 PM   #2
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If you alreadt have a bow thruster..I suggest practice docking. If you need both bow and stern thrusters to dock..I think you need to see a better docking picture which will ultimately make docking safer and easier in the long run. Even if you have to hire someone for lessons.
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Old 07-31-2012, 03:37 PM   #3
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I don't need it but the second in commad is asking about it. I agree with more practice. Gotta keep em happy.
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Old 07-31-2012, 03:48 PM   #4
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I don't need it but the second in commad is asking about it. I agree with more practice. Gotta keep em happy.
Peace of mind is a wonderful thing.... e.g. I've flown commercially alot and have never needed an oxygen mask, but it is nice to know that it is there if required.

Same thing for thrusters.... skill in using engines and rudder is an important thing, as well as good knowledge of how your boat responds to various circumstances. But in addition to that, tools like thrusters can be a wonderful thing.... we have them and I am glad of it!
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Old 07-31-2012, 04:15 PM   #5
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I don't need it but the second in commad is asking about it. I agree with more practice. Gotta keep em happy.
If it keeps the wife happy and eager to climb on the boat it's money well spent.
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Old 07-31-2012, 06:13 PM   #6
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Having nothing to do w the wife stern thrusters that are mounted above the bottom of the boat on the back of the transom do'nt have any downside that I know of except the cost and I think for thrusters they are prolly cgheap. Any increased control is a plus. If I had a flat submerged transom I'd do it. Half the time prop walk is a blessing but the other half ...............
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Old 07-31-2012, 06:35 PM   #7
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Is anyone going to answer the OP question or are you going to just go right back to the tired old thruster argument? ;-)
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Old 07-31-2012, 06:41 PM   #8
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Is anyone going to answer the OP question or are you going to just go right back to the tired old thruster argument? ;-)
I would think the old tired argument is whether to do what the first mate/admiral wants because it is "thought ot be a good idea" or get the real skinny from people with experience...but your right...we should answer the question...

... which I can't because I have no experience with stern thrusters at all despite thousands of hours and hundreds of boats I have delivered...so they must not be too popular no natter what brand.
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Old 07-31-2012, 07:03 PM   #9
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I would think the old tired argument is whether to do what the first mate/admiral wants because it is "thought ot be a good idea" or get the real skinny from people with experience...but your right...we should answer the question...

... which I can't because I have no experience with stern thrusters at all despite thousands of hours and hundreds of boats I have delivered...so they must not be too popular no natter what brand.
Don't know about anyone elses' thousands of hours and hundreds of boats I have delivered
'we can only state that we installed Side Power bow and stern thrusters... and we love them!!
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Old 07-31-2012, 08:07 PM   #10
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Has anyone had any experience with the "Sideshift" stern thruster. Thinking about installing one on a 36' Monk. Single screw with bow thruster. First Mate thinks it will help make her life easier.
As you are in the PNW you may be aware of a second option in stern thrusters from Cap Sante Cap Sante Marine Thrusters | Bow, stern, box thruster sales & service. How these compare to the Side Power or "Sideshift" units I have no idea but the couple of people I've talked to over the years who have the Cap Sante thruster as well as the magazine reviews I've read have been very favorable.
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Old 07-31-2012, 08:40 PM   #11
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Is anyone going to answer the OP question or are you going to just go right back to the tired old thruster argument? ;-)
I thought I did???
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Old 07-31-2012, 09:34 PM   #12
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Has anyone had any experience with the "Sideshift" stern thruster. Thinking about installing one on a 36' Monk. Single screw with bow thruster. First Mate thinks it will help make her life easier.

I just installed this thruster and gave some feedback Link.

Yes, I'd buy it again. One word of advice, buy the "L Bracket" instead of mounting it to the swim step or horizontally. It's worth the over priced bracket cost.
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Old 07-31-2012, 11:42 PM   #13
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Is anyone going to answer the OP question or are you going to just go right back to the tired old thruster argument? ;-)
I guess if anyone is inclined to answer the question, they will. Chastising those who deviate slightly from your expectations may not prove to be productive.
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Old 08-01-2012, 07:50 AM   #14
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. Chastising those who deviate slightly from your expectations may not prove to be productive.
Not productive, you are correct, but some folks here thrive on it.
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Old 08-01-2012, 07:54 AM   #15
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I can't say anything bad about a tool that helps us operate or control our boats more easily or safely. Some folks take pride in doing things the hard way, others take pride in doing things the smart way. That means making use of tools and technology.
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Old 08-01-2012, 02:27 PM   #16
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We wouldn't pay money to have a bow or stern thruster (or both) installed on our boat but if it had them we'd use them. The GB36 we chartered was a single with a bow thruster and we had no qualms about using it despite the gravel-in-a-cuisinart sound. Of course we were much newer to this type of boat than we are now, but as Ron says a tool that makes it faster, better, easier, or safer is worth using.

We've been in plenty of situations over the last 14 years with our twin engine boat where, while we have always been able to deal with them using thrust and rudder, it would have been easier if not faster to simply hit a button or move a lever.

The original poster made a point that everyone seems to be overlooking and that is that the addition of a stern thruster to his boat will enable his wife to enjoy her boating experience that much more. And that, boys and girls, is what it's all about.

If one's boating partner is less than enthusiastic about going out on the boat, to my way of thinking that sort of defeats the whole bit about getting a boat.

My wife is more confident and relaxed with two engines under the cabin sole. She knows all the "less cost" reasons for having a single but she prefers a twin. This plus the fact I like running multiple engines means we will never own a single engine boat.

So I see no fault in the OP's desire for a stern thruster even if he himself is confident running a single without one. The fact that other boaters don't like or want one is sort of irrelevant.
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Old 08-01-2012, 02:58 PM   #17
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We wouldn't pay money to have a bow or stern thruster (or both) installed on our boat but if it had them we'd use them. The GB36 we chartered was a single with a bow thruster and we had no qualms about using it despite the gravel-in-a-cuisinart sound.

......snip...

himself is confident running a single without one. The fact that other boaters don't like or want one is sort of irrelevant.
I would never say don't have one, don't buy one, don't use one...they make recreational boating more fun for many by making a really frustrating part of boating less stressful...

I do somewhat raise an eyebrow at adding a stern thruster when one already has a bow thruster...again...not really a big deal...but after several decades of teaching hands on boating/docking...I worry that if somene's skill level is that low, (self perceived or by SO) maybe spending the equivalent on training (for both) in the long run may make their boating safer and less stressful.
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Old 08-01-2012, 03:10 PM   #18
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There can be some situations-- as have been related in this forum from time to time when the stern thruster topic has come up--- in which the ability to move the stern with a thruster can be beneficial. Without knowing the OP's specific situation it's impossible to judge if a stern thruster would make a challenging task less challenging in his case.

But it's not uncommon for marinas in this area to have adverse currents and winds throw a monkey wrench into the most skilled skipper's intentions. The few boaters I've met who had stern thrusters installed all said, as I recall, they installed them to deal with a very specific situation they regularly encountered, like getting into their own slip.
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Old 08-01-2012, 03:37 PM   #19
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There can be some situations-- as have been related in this forum from time to time when the stern thruster topic has come up--- in which the ability to move the stern with a thruster can be beneficial. Without knowing the OP's specific situation it's impossible to judge if a stern thruster would make a challenging task less challenging in his case.

But it's not uncommon for marinas in this area to have adverse currents and winds throw a monkey wrench into the most skilled skipper's intentions. The few boaters I've met who had stern thrusters installed all said, as I recall, they installed them to deal with a very specific situation they regularly encountered, like getting into their own slip.
I hear everyone loud and clear...it's not hard to figure out...especially for someone that teaches docking regularly...often in a place many on here said they wouldn't even call a marina due to the current...

For me it still boils down to improving basic skills...not avoiding them....there are many times I won't take a boat to a particular point in space due to adverse something...but that changes relatively fast with a change in wind, tide, mechanical, etc...so I go there when things change.

But I can honestly say I have NEVER...even when holding barges motionless in tide/current against bridge pilings...I have NEVER needed to move a boat sideways. There is always something easy to do to get the bow or stern over, spring line or not, always something ANY boater should be able to do.

Bow or stern thruster yes...both seems overkill.
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Old 08-01-2012, 03:40 PM   #20
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To me, thrusters are somewhat like our propulsion engines except that it moves a vessel sideways as opposed to forward and backward. I wonder how the "set-in-their-ways" type people felt when engines were first introduced into boating. Did they say that it was a crutch, and that one will not sail or paddle very well when the engine fails? Just wondering.
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