If you own a yacht and are considering adding a thruster, you might wonder how hard it is to install one aftermarket. If the work is too complex, you may ask yourself if it’s really worth it. There are different types of aftermarket thrusters available, such as tunnel thrusters and external thrusters. Both types have different factors that will contribute to the complexity of installation, such as what structural modifications need to be done to the yacht to install the thruster, what additional power requirements are needed, plus what control integration needs to be done once the thruster is installed. Let’s look at the differences between these types of aftermarket thrusters to see what makes the most sense for your yacht.
The first type of thruster is a tunnel thruster. To install this type of thruster, first the yacht will need to be hauled out of the water and dry-docked for several days or even weeks depending on the size. Next, tunnel thrusters require cutting a large hole (or holes) through the yacht’s hull, which involves significant structural modification. They also require hull reinforcement to maintain the structural integrity of the yacht and to prevent leaks. The placement must be precise to ensure optimal performance without compromising the hull’s hydrodynamics or strength.
Additionally, if there are any tight spaces in the yacht, it can make the thruster installation much more time consuming. All of these factors will result in the installation of a tunnel thruster being a very complex process. You will need to make sure that the person installing your aftermarket thruster is experienced in structural fiberglass work and has all of the proper tools necessary to cut the hull, install the tunnel, and ensure proper alignment. The added cost of fiberglass materials and increased labor hours needed to install a tunnel thruster must be considered when planning out your thruster project.
However, an externally mounted thruster does not require any major hull modifications, as it is mounted outside of the vessel, on either the bow or the stern of the yacht, or both. This means that installation is much less invasive and doesn’t require any significant structural changes to your yacht. All that’s needed to install an external thruster from Yacht Thruster™ is drilling a 50 mm diameter hole through the hull of your yacht. Our S/S through-hull fitting, which is attached to the external thruster, is supplied with a watertight seal, thus eliminating the need for additional fiberglass work. We also supply S/S rods in our installation kit, which are bolted through two 18 mm pre-drilled holes. These rods also include watertight seals to ensure ultimate security and rigidity of your E-Thrust thruster from Yacht Thruster™.
Yet another difference between a tunnel and external thruster is the battery requirement. Most tunnel thrusters, due to their traditional brush and winding motor design, will draw very high amperage while operating, requiring the installation of a large battery bank to power the unit. Yacht Thruster™ motors are engineered using high quality rare earth magnets which are the strongest of its kind and extremely efficient. This allows Yacht Thruster™ to generate an enormous amount of thrust with just a fraction of the amperage draw, thus requiring smaller batteries to operate the unit.
You will also need to take into account the additional space required for the motor, batteries and electronic systems inside the hull when installing a tunnel thruster. Yacht Thruster™, with its low battery consumption and simple plug and play controls, requires far less space inside the hull providing you much more room for storage and cargo.
The ease of maintaining your external thruster is also something to consider. With a tunnel thruster, maintaining it might require removing the thruster from the tunnel for maintenance as well as seasonal inspections of gear oil and internal brushes, all which may require hauling your yacht. An external thruster from Yacht Thruster™ is easy to maintain, as it only requires a routine cleaning of the housing to keep it free of barnacles and marine growth and a periodic inspection of the integrated sacrificial anode, all of which can be done with the boat in the water.
Lastly, and perhaps the most important factor to consider when buying an aftermarket thruster is the additional cost involved. Installing a tunnel thruster can cost you from $10,000.00 to $25,000.00 or more depending on your yachts’ size and the complexity of the installation, as you are having to hire and pay for a skilled laborer to structurally modify your yacht. By installing an E-Thrust thruster from Yacht Thruster™, you can avoid these unnecessary costs. You won’t need to hire a skilled laborer to drill large holes in the hull of your yacht, plus you’ll avoid risking potentially damaging the structural integrity of your yacht.
After seeing the differences between tunnel thrusters and external thrusters, the choice seems pretty clear. There is no need to add a far more expensive tunnel thruster with its invasive, time consuming and complex installation process, especially when the structural integrity of your yacht can be seriously compromised. With an E-Thrust thruster from Yacht Thruster™, you will save time and money with our quick and easy installation process, plus the peace of mind knowing that your yacht is structurally sound.