Side Thrusters

[Ddmccoy]

I have a 2005 3100SE. It has a 4' swim step so the boat is basically 35' long. I also have a side slip. I am considering adding bow and stern thrusters. Has anyone don this on a similar model? I would like to find out how difficult it is and what model thrusters were used? Would just like to hear more about the project in general.

Thanks,
Dave

[viper12161]

I have a 2400SCR and added a Sideshift bow thruster to it. Fantastic and works awesome. Easy install as it is external so only a few small holes to drill and they are above the water level. They also offer stern thrusters as well. Recommended to a friend at the docks. He has a 32' foot boat. He loves it as well. Pretty sure he added the stern and likes that one too.

[Ddmccoy]

Originally Posted by viper12161

I have a 2400SCR and added a Sideshift bow thruster to it. Fantastic and works awesome. Easy install as it is external so only a few small holes to drill and they are above the water level. They also offer stern thrusters as well. Recommended to a friend at the docks. He has a 32' foot boat. He loves it as well. Pretty sure he added the stern and likes that one too.

Hello Viper. Thanks for the info. I was also looking at the Sideshift. So you actually got it. What do you think about the quality? I assume that once you are on plane, the unit is above water so there is no drag? Any chance you could share some pics? I would love to see that. Would also love to connect with your friend who did the stern drives as well. Really appreciate you responding to me.

[viper12161]

I'll take a look and see if I can find some pics. And yep, when you are on plane it is out of the water. As long as you aren't like me and accidentally put it too low lol. I installed mine with the boat in the water (doable, but waaay easier to do out). The center of the prop needs to be 6" below the water line...not sure exactly how it happened, but somehow I ended up like 16" below. So it was in the water at times when on plane, especially if hitting a little wake, and actually caused cavitation at my prop. Luckily, I had installed it in early September, so fixed when I popped on the trailer end of October for the season. Since moving up correctly, works like a charm and no drag at all. I have the single screw option, but for yours I would say you need the double. I'll see if buddy is at the docks this weekend and see what he thinks of the stern. More of a dock friend that I see, don;t have any contact info or anything. More a friend of a friend. But I'll check for ya. From my perspective, this thing has been a life saver!! I had a hell of a time docking my boat....I have an Alpha One drive, and once the bow started swinging a little, forget it. Since I got the thruster, I can put her where ever I want. I back into my slip, and is easy as pie!!

Dave

[viper12161]

You can actually go on Sideshifts website and download the manual to see what it entails. There is an install video as well. Biggest pain for me was running the power wire. Because I have a smaller boat, and only the single motor option, I was able to tie it into my regular battery. But I had to run 25' of 1/0 cable from the bow allll the way to the stern. For yours, assuming you will need a dedicated battery, so can probably just install up front. Just check into that as I believe you have to be careful using a standard marine battery in your cabin area as they give off fumes when charging.

[Ddmccoy]

Thank you very much. I would love to hear what your dock make thinks of the stern drives. I wonder which model he used. I assume he has a twin like mine. I hear you about docking. Its hard to enjoy my time our when I am always thinking about docking when I get back to the marina. The wind does pick up at times on the bay.

[viper12161]

That is EXACTLY how I used to feel!!!! My slip is pretty neat where I am on the end and it's like a big L...but the rest of the slips are behind me. A lot of times the current gets going pretty good through there, so as I would spin around the nose would keep going stbd side and I would end up floating down the channel sideways. Would give me a friggen heart attack as it was a big ass metal wall on one side and boats on the other. I ended up coming in bow first and spinning it around manually using lines. Since the thruster, easy peasy I even docked at Newport a few weeks ago right in between two million+ boats. Didn't even sweat it lol

[Ddmccoy]

LOL, that's Awesome. Is that Newport, CA or RI

[viper12161]

That is RI

[Ddmccoy]

Nice! We are in San Diego Bay.

[viper12161]

Talked to my buddy last night. He LOVES his stern thrusters. He said he has two...one on each outdrive. (5HP) I would assume it is the ST230SD model. Along with the bow thrusters (Dual motor version), he can bring his boat in by himself and even step off onto the dock and then control both with the remote controls to bring in to the dock. High praise from him.

[Ddmccoy]

Hey, thanks so much for the information. I am going to check out the ST230SD model. Seams like that might create some drag since they would be mounted to the outdrives. May be worth it though.