Quick retractable thrusters can be installed in either the bow or stern or both, to make maneuvering in tight spaces virtually effortless. This past year Hunter Marine began offering the systems as an option on some of its larger boats. The thrusters can also be retrofitted to an existing hull. Each thruster has minimal moving parts and an overload feature that kicks in when a piece of debris stops it from opening or closing cleanly. The motor is fixed, while the drop-down propeller assembly, which is mounted in a solid, fully sealed fiberglass flange, is powered via a flexible stainless steel linkage. To minimize drag when the thruster is retracted, the hull section cut out during installation is also used as a cover plate.
From $8,200. Quick Nautical Equipment, quickusa.com
