Bow Thruster Etiquette

Today, single engine boat owners love their bow thrusters. These handy devices make maneuvering a single-engine boat as easy as a twin-screw boat, maybe even easier. Thrusters are especially helpful when backing into a tight slip. Just hit the thruster for a few short blasts to move the bow in the direction you want, line up your boat parallel to the pilings or finger pier, and then gently back her down. It’s never been easier.

But there are a number of reasons why you should also learn to maneuver your True North without using the thruster. For one, it will give you greater confidence in your boat handling skills. Two, while today’s thrusters are extremely reliable, you should be prepared to handle your boat just in case it fails. Three, in case of an extremely windy day or strong current, you may need to give your thruster some assistance. And four, the noise of a bow thruster is simply not pleasant, especially to those sitting nearby on land or on their boat in a marina.

In fact we’ve been awakened more than once in the wee hours of the morning while staying overnight on one of our True North 38s. That grinding, rattling sound of a thruster is simply a characteristic of all makes and models, but it’s a lousy way to wake up. When we looked out, we often saw a boat leaving a slip that was perfectly easy to exit without the use of the thruster. So don’t overdo it. Use the thruster when you really need it.

And besides, it’s fun to show off how good you are at handling your boat. Think of the New England lobster boats and the Chesapeake Bay oyster boats and how these captains can maneuver their boats into incredibly tight spots using their prop wash and the “back ‘n fill” technique.

Your True North 38 is wonderfully responsive. Here are a few tips on how to maneuver it without the thruster.

Like most inboards, the True North uses right-hand prop, meaning that it turns clockwise looking at it from behind. At idle speed, the prop has a “walking” effect that will inch your stern to starboard when in forward, and to port when in reverse. Learn the extent of this effect by trial and error.

Because the rudder is located aft of the prop, you can easily “shove’ the stern in either direction by turning your helm hard over, putting the gear in forward, and then giving your throttle a momentary goose. Try this technique of using your prop wash, and you’ll begin to see how easy it is to turn the boat in its own length. Just give it enough throttle to change direction, but not enough to gain forward momentum. Then, as the boat turns, back down gently until the turning stops. You don’t have to turn the rudder when in reverse, because it has very little effect going backwards unless you have momentum. Repeat this process over and over. Hard over helm, goose the throttle in forward, gently back down until the turning stops, and repeat. Because of the right hand prop, turns to starboard will be easier than turns to port.

So the next time you approach a dock, try coming in the old-fashioned way. It’s more polite. But in case it gets sticky, remember where that trustworthy thruster control is. It’s not polite to crash into other boats!