Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 47

This Bayliner is proudly sporting an externally-mounted thruster.
wheel. 360-degree spins are possible, as
is the ability to move the boat sideways.
Systems can be installed in a variety of
configurations, and gone are the days
of having to buy a boat with a thruster
installed by the builder; boat yards are
becoming highly adept at aftermarket
installations and some DIY projects are
well within reach.
In the golden days of shipping, port
pilots and tugboats were the normal methods
of moving large ships into tight docking
spaces for loading/unloading. In order
to reduce costs, maneuvering thrusters
became the norm. Today, what is common
amongst large ships has now been popularized
aboard pleasure craft.
When most of us imagine a bow or
stern thruster aboard a yacht, we have a
picture that includes thought-bubbles and
dollar signs. The word 'thrusters' is equivalent
to a higher price. But with the evolution
of technology, the inventive ways that
thrusters are mounted and used, and with
growing competition in the marketplace,
is this as true today as it was a decade
ago? I would argue that there's a thruster
for everyone.
This begs the question: With the obvious
advantages of maneuverability and
confidence, why doesn't every boat come
equipped with bow and stern thrusters?
When thrusters first became popular
aboard yachts, they were designed and
installed by the builder. Over time, boat
yards became adept at installing thrusters
as aftermarket add-ons, drilling a
4-8 " hole in the bow or stern below the
waterline, fibreglassing in a tunnel with
attached electric motor and impeller, and
then connecting in the battery, cables,
relays and control switches.
For many, this is a daunting DIY task
that requires specialized tools and expertise
to install well. But, with changes in
technology, the sizing and power options
are almost as numerous as the installation
and mounting methods available.
Some recent innovations mean that a
thruster is no longer just a thruster. Each
manufacturer has been trying to differentiate
themselves with differing designs
and features. I spoke with Vetus (one of
many thruster manufacturers) about some
of the innovations on the market today:
- 48V switching for greater thrust - gone
are the days of simple 12V power
- Proportional control - meaning that the
speed or force can be controlled, rather
than simply switched on and off
- Up to 400mm impeller sizes (15 ¾ " ) for
a wide range of boat sizes and types
- Brushless motors - which prevents
overheating and allows the unit to run
continuously as long as the battery is sufficient
to support the run time
Beyond some of the innovations in
CANADIANYACHTING.CA
47

http://www.CANADIANYACHTING.CA

Canadian Yachting May 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Canadian Yachting May 2022

AT THE HELM: EXAMINING THE EVOLUTION OF BOATING ENJOYMENT
SPECIAL FEATURE: HOSTING ONBOARD - THE EVOLUTION OF BOATING ENJOYMENT
CANADIAN DESTINATION: COWICHAN BAY
POWER REVIEW: X SHORE EELEX 8000
SAIL REVIEW: VIKO S35
THE PORT HOLE: MAY 2022
DIY/TECH: CHOOSING A MARINE SURVEYOR
DIY/TECH: UPGRADE BY ADDING THRUSTERS
CROSSING THE LINE: NEW KNOTS FOR A NEW WORLD
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - Intro
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - Cover1
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - Cover2
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 3
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 4
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 5
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - AT THE HELM: EXAMINING THE EVOLUTION OF BOATING ENJOYMENT
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 7
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 8
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 9
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - SPECIAL FEATURE: HOSTING ONBOARD - THE EVOLUTION OF BOATING ENJOYMENT
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 11
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 12
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 13
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 14
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 15
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 16
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 17
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - CANADIAN DESTINATION: COWICHAN BAY
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 19
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 20
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 21
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - POWER REVIEW: X SHORE EELEX 8000
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 23
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 24
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 25
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - SAIL REVIEW: VIKO S35
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 27
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 28
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 29
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 30
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - THE PORT HOLE: MAY 2022
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 32
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 33
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 34
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 35
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 36
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 37
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 38
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 39
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 40
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 41
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 42
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - DIY/TECH: CHOOSING A MARINE SURVEYOR
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 44
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 45
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - DIY/TECH: UPGRADE BY ADDING THRUSTERS
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 47
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 48
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 49
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 50
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 51
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 52
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 53
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 54
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 55
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 56
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 57
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 58
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 59
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 60
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - 61
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - CROSSING THE LINE: NEW KNOTS FOR A NEW WORLD
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - Cover3
Canadian Yachting May 2022 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/canadian-yachting-october-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/canadian-yachting-june-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/canadian-yachting-may-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/canadian-yachting-april-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/canadian-yachting-february-2023
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/canadian-yachting-december-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/canadian-yachting-october-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/canadian-yachting-june-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/canadian-yachting-may-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/canadian-yachting-april-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/canadian-yachting-february-2022
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/december2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/october2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/june2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/may2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/april2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/february2021
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/december2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/october2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/june2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/may2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/april2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/february2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/dinghiesanddavitsspring2020
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/december2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/october2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/portsandresortsspring2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/june2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/may2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/april2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/february2019
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/december2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/october2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/june2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/may2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/april2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/february2018
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/december2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/october2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/june2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/may2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/april2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/february2017
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/december2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/october2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/june2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/may2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/april2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/february2016
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/december2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/october2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/june2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/May2015
https://www.nxtbook.com/kerrwil/canadianyachting/april2015
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com