Bow thruster

Author

Message

Topic Search

Topic Options

berberan

Sub Lieutenant

Joined: 21 December 2024
Location: Cascais
Status: Offline
Points: 6

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote berberan

Report Post

Thanks(0)

Quote

Topic: Bow thruster
Posted: 25 August 2025 at 21:22

Good day. Has anyone installed a tunnel bow thruster on a 388?

Antonio Berberan

AndyS

Captain

Joined: 14 June 2016
Location: River Dunes, NC
Status: Offline
Points: 206

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote AndyS

Report Post

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: 26 August 2025 at 02:48

I have not, but we did install a YachtThruster (Simplex Thruster) pod on our 385 and it is great. You can place it more forward on the hull which makes it even more effective than a tunnel thruster in my opinion. I highly recommend these, and all you need are three small holes in the hull.

Andy
Moonraker
River Dunes, NC

berberan

Sub Lieutenant

Joined: 21 December 2024
Location: Cascais
Status: Offline
Points: 6

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote berberan

Report Post

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: 09 March 2026 at 18:04

Thank you for your comment and sorry for my late reply. The installer said that the external bow thruster couldn't be installed on my boat because of the system dimensions versus the available space. He suggested the SE100 tunnel bow/stern thruster 12V which he has already started installing. What is the power of your bow thruster and what are the basic electrical specifications (wire dimensions connecting to the batteries, number of batteries, fuse, etc.)? António

Antonio Berberan

AndyS

Captain

Joined: 14 June 2016
Location: River Dunes, NC
Status: Offline
Points: 206

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote AndyS

Report Post

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: 10 March 2026 at 10:40

Antonio:
I did not install it myself, but rather had the boat yard do it. I can tell you that it is 24 volts and we have two 12 volt batteries forward of the water tank that power it. We have a DC to DC charger that keeps the batteries topped off. I am not sure what gauge wire was used but it seems like a robust system. I hope your install turns out as well as ours!

Andy
Moonraker
River Dunes, NC

berberan

Sub Lieutenant

Joined: 21 December 2024
Location: Cascais
Status: Offline
Points: 6

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote berberan

Report Post

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: 10 March 2026 at 11:07

Hi Andy, thanks for your reply. From what I've read in the relevant literature, you have a system that's more advisable than mine: dedicated batteries near the 24V bow thruster! In my case, it's a 12V bow thruster and the batteries aren't dedicated, they're two service batteries (AGM 12V 165Ah from Victron Energy) located 3.5 meters away. I was worried about the size of the cables connecting the bow thruster to the batteries, but the installer has already informed me that he'll use not one but two 50mm² cables, given the distance mentioned.

Antonio Berberan

Fendant

Admiral

Joined: 03 November 2012
Location: Switzerland
Status: Offline
Points: 1671

Post Options

Post Reply

Quote Fendant

Report Post

Thanks(0)

Quote

Posted: 10 March 2026 at 15:49

Antonio.

I have the same installation:

-external bow thruster

- 90 Ah battery forward fresh water tank

- 12V bat-bat charger in the AGM 145A battery compartement nex to landline batt charger

- wired remote joy stick control at helm station

- wireless remote control also connecting to the anchor winch

Everthing was factory installed in Greifswald, organized by my dealer

Advantages:

- great performance and efficiency

- silent operation ( neighbours next are not woken up )

Frank



Welcome to myHanse.com the forum for Hanse Yachts owners throughout the world.

Author	Message Topic Search Topic Options Post Reply Create New Topic Printable Version Translate Topic
berberan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 21 December 2024 Location: Cascais Status: Offline Points: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote berberan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: Bow thruster Posted: 25 August 2025 at 21:22
	Good day. Has anyone installed a tunnel bow thruster on a 388?
	Antonio Berberan

AndyS Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Captain Joined: 14 June 2016 Location: River Dunes, NC Status: Offline Points: 206	Post Options Post Reply Quote AndyS Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 26 August 2025 at 02:48
	I have not, but we did install a YachtThruster (Simplex Thruster) pod on our 385 and it is great. You can place it more forward on the hull which makes it even more effective than a tunnel thruster in my opinion. I highly recommend these, and all you need are three small holes in the hull.
	Andy Moonraker River Dunes, NC

berberan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 21 December 2024 Location: Cascais Status: Offline Points: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote berberan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 09 March 2026 at 18:04
	Thank you for your comment and sorry for my late reply. The installer said that the external bow thruster couldn't be installed on my boat because of the system dimensions versus the available space. He suggested the SE100 tunnel bow/stern thruster 12V which he has already started installing. What is the power of your bow thruster and what are the basic electrical specifications (wire dimensions connecting to the batteries, number of batteries, fuse, etc.)? António
	Antonio Berberan

AndyS Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Captain Joined: 14 June 2016 Location: River Dunes, NC Status: Offline Points: 206	Post Options Post Reply Quote AndyS Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 March 2026 at 10:40
	Antonio: I did not install it myself, but rather had the boat yard do it. I can tell you that it is 24 volts and we have two 12 volt batteries forward of the water tank that power it. We have a DC to DC charger that keeps the batteries topped off. I am not sure what gauge wire was used but it seems like a robust system. I hope your install turns out as well as ours!
	Andy Moonraker River Dunes, NC

berberan Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Sub Lieutenant Joined: 21 December 2024 Location: Cascais Status: Offline Points: 6	Post Options Post Reply Quote berberan Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 March 2026 at 11:07
	Hi Andy, thanks for your reply. From what I've read in the relevant literature, you have a system that's more advisable than mine: dedicated batteries near the 24V bow thruster! In my case, it's a 12V bow thruster and the batteries aren't dedicated, they're two service batteries (AGM 12V 165Ah from Victron Energy) located 3.5 meters away. I was worried about the size of the cables connecting the bow thruster to the batteries, but the installer has already informed me that he'll use not one but two 50mm² cables, given the distance mentioned.
	Antonio Berberan

Fendant Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 03 November 2012 Location: Switzerland Status: Offline Points: 1671	Post Options Post Reply Quote Fendant Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 10 March 2026 at 15:49
	Antonio. I have the same installation: -external bow thruster - 90 Ah battery forward fresh water tank - 12V bat-bat charger in the AGM 145A battery compartement nex to landline batt charger - wired remote joy stick control at helm station - wireless remote control also connecting to the anchor winch Everthing was factory installed in Greifswald, organized by my dealer Advantages: - great performance and efficiency - silent operation ( neighbours next are not woken up )
	Frank