It isn’t until the first sea trial that the realization you might have to dock a much larger boat than you are used to, finally sets in. An unfamiliar boat in an unfamiliar slip can be frightening
By Jake Warren
News & Articles
The joy of boating comes in many forms. Pulling the winter cover off and splashing for the first time in the Spring. Watching the kids giggle and grin while racing down the dock to climb aboard with their new water toys. Heading out in a warm breeze with the sun on your face. Listening to the water rushing past the hull, or the sounds of wildlife at a calm anchorage.
The only question you keep asking yourself about boating… why can’t docking be easier? How do some people make it look so easy? You’ve heard about bow thrusters. You may even know someone that has one. Thruster prices at the last boat show aren’t out of reach, but the high cost of installation is a bridge too far.
The benefits of a bow thruster seem obvious to anyone who has seen one in action. Push the operational joystick left or right, and the bow of your boat will move in the desired direction. But bow thrusters are not always practical on every style or model of boat.
