Frequently Asked Questions

We ship FedEx Worldwide at the following rates:

Canada/US – $150 per thruster kit via Fedex ground. 

Europe/Australia/Rest of World – $250 per thruster kit via Fedex International Priority.

SS/ST series bow and stern thrusters are shipped individually in a 29″x23″x13″ box and weigh between 50-57LBS.  PT/HB series thrusters are shipped individually in a 37″x26″x13″ box and weigh between 85-90LBS

Yes! Sideshift’s bow and stern thrusters are very intuitive and easy to use. Just toggle left or toggle right on the joystick for immediate response and control. With a bit of practice  you will quickly learn to maneuver your boat using the thruster along with your main engines for precise control in any situation.

All our thruster motors stay in a fixed position and do not rotate. The propellers reverse direction using the joystick control to move the boat left or right. 

Sideshift thrusters have a very immediate response time, and you will achieve optimal results by operating the thruster in short bursts of 5-10 seconds at a time to maintain control of your boat.  Our thrusters are not designed to be run continuously(for example holding against a dock for long periods), and we recommend a maximum run time of 30 seconds with at least a 10 second cool down. 

Our thruster motors are sealed and require zero maintenance. You should change the anodes once per year(more often if pitting is detected) to protect your investment from corrosion. Ensure that the mounting system is properly secured to the boat and tighten any loose fasteners. As required or when you repaint the hull, paint the unit with a good quality anti-fouling paint… That’s it!

Our PT/HB series thrusters for houseboats and pontoon boats are fully retractable. Our SS/ST series thrusters do not retract or deploy. They are permanently fixed to the hull and rise out of the water when the boat planes.

All Sideshift thrusters are manufactured using only high quality cast aluminum, extruded aluminum and stainless steel components. We use no plastic or composite materials on any major components of our system. Our unique three point mounting system creates an extremely strong attachment to the hull. Our bow thrusters have been used in some of the harshest environments around the world. Boats that are used in rough water should add checking to ensure all points of installation are secure on a regular basis as part of their maintenance program.

Sideshift thrusters are a permanent mount. However, they can be removed and reinstalled on your next boat. They can also add value to your boat if you sell it.

Sideshift thrusters are silent and vibration-free since they are mounted on the exterior of the hull.

Trailers do not typically interfere with our bow thrusters.  Just ensure that you to drive the trailer deep enough in the water and load the boat carefully to ensure the bow thruster clears any interference from the trailer.  

All Sideshift systems include our wireless remote key-fob as standard equipment. Our wireless remote can control either a single thruster or both bow and stern thrusters from anywhere on the boat or dock. It’s the perfect solution for operating your thruster from a second station.  The wireless key fob is a great safety feature when you are single-handing, as you can maintain control of your boat while stepping onto the dock.

You can purchase additional wireless joysticks for your extra stations or you can choose to use the included wireless remote key-fob.

Absolutely! Our thrusters are an ideal solution for trawlers and any displacement type hull.  Our thruster motors are very compact and will create no noticeable drag when underway.

Sideshift bow and stern thrusters are very ruggedly built from high-grade aluminum and stainless steel to withstand the harshest environments and weather conditions. The Sideshift universal mounting system provides incredible strength that can actually protect the bow of your boat from logs and debris in the water.  

We have bow and stern thruster solutions for monohull boats up to 50′, and up to 75’+ for houseboats (for houseboats greater than 75′, contact the factory).

Unlike traditional thru-hull thrusters, Sideshift Bow and Stern Thrusters create zero drag while the boat is on plane. Displacement or semi-displacement speeds create very minimal drag that will be unnoticeable when underway.