VETUS electric and hydraulic thrusters
When precise vessel control is absolutely required for cross wind or cross current docking, close quarters manoeuvring, station holding, and all the other situations where a professional Captain needs to move his vessel sideways or hold position, bow and stern thrusters are indispensable aids to safe and seamanlike operations.
Bow thrusters and stern thrusters utilize the same mechanism, but bow thrusters are installed in an athwart ship (transverse) tube, running through a forward compartment and as close as possible to the bow but with specified minimum tube submersion and length, while stern thrusters are most typically installed with an external tube secured to the transom, often with diverter shells on the tube ends to deflect the water inflow and outflow jet away from obstruction created by other transom mounted equipment. Internal tubes are formed of steel, aluminum or fiberglass and selected to match the vessel’s hull material, with fiberglass tubes used for wooden hulls.
VETUS supplies an extensive range of thrusters, in three main groups, with overlapping but clearly defined capabilities, limitations and power outputs. These groups are: Hydraulic thrusters, DC thrusters and DC extended runtime thrusters, and are described in detail on this website.
Hydraulic thrusters
These are the thrusters for the most demanding of work situations and are available in power outputs of
55 kilograms force (kgf), 95kgf, 160kgf, 230kgf, 310kgf, 410kgf and 550kgf. They operate in hydraulic systems delivering flow rates ranging from 13lt/3.4 US gallons per minute to 91lt/24 US gallons per minute, at pressures ranging from 165bar/2,393 psi to 2870bar/4,061 psi, all depending on thruster model selected.
DC (direct current) electric thrusters
DC electric thrusters are available in power outputs of
95kgf (kilograms force), 125kgf, 160kgf, 220kgf and 285kgf, and in voltages, depending on the thruster model, of 12, 24 or 48V. Of the three groups, these are the least expensive thrusters to install. They are typically powered from a dedicated battery bank, often with a dedicated charger, located as near to the thruster as possible, to minimize cabling costs and energy losses.
DC extended runtime thrusters
These thrusters are available in power outputs of
95 kilograms force (kgf), 125kgf, 160kgf and 220kgf, at 24V. To some extent, these extended runtime thrusters bridge the capability and cost gap between standard
DC thrusters and hydraulic thrusters.
BOW PRO Boosted series
At the top of the advanced BOW PRO thrusters range, VETUS offers the BOW PRO Boosted series (BOWB) – innovative and significantly different from existing thrusters. It has all the features of the amazing BOW PRO with an added bonus: a third connection on the motor. This extra connection permits charging of the 24V battery bank from a 12V charging source, such as the alternator. Connecting the BOW PRO Boosted directly to a 24V charging source is also possible of course. The built-in charger recharges your battery bank when the thruster is not in use, doubling the value of having the BOW PRO Boosted thruster on your boat.