MOST POPULAR
BOW PRO
Brushless and fully proportional. Dial in exactly the thrust you need, with 6 to 10 minutes at full power.
- THRUST
- 30-76 kgf
- BOATS
- 5-14 m
Authorised distributor
Genuine VETUS, Victoria
Sized the VETUS way
Wind, windage and boat length
Checked by a person
Before you spend a dollar
Mornington for 60+ years
Call in, or call us
HOW SIZING WORKS
It's not horsepower. It's the wind on your topsides.
VETUS sizes a thruster by the force it has to beat. Wind presses on your boat's side profile and swings the bow around the stern. The thruster has to push back harder than that, from the far end of the boat.
- 1Windage area (A). The side profile of hull and superstructure above the water, in m².
- 2Wind pressure (q). Beaufort 5 (about 60 N/m²) is the VETUS standard for most boats.
- 3Leverage (B). The further forward the tunnel sits from the pivot, the less thrust you need.
F = (q × A × 0.75 × ½L) ÷ B
VETUS worked example: an 11 m boat with 18 m² of windage in Beaufort 5 needs about 42 kgf, so a 45 kgf class thruster. A stern thruster can be one model smaller.
THE VETUS THRUSTER RANGE
From 5 m runabouts to 40 m motor yachts
COMING SOON
Retractable BOW PRO for sailing yachts and shallow hulls
Deploys below the hull, retracts when you're done. 57-90 kgf for 8-17 m boats.
THE BIG DECISION
BOW PRO or DC?
Both are excellent VETUS thrusters. The difference is how you dock: little nudges and long holds, or a few short bursts.
| BOW PRO PROPORTIONAL | DC ON/OFF | |
|---|---|---|
| Control | Fully proportional, any thrust from a whisper to full | Full thrust or nothing, port or starboard |
| Full-power runtime | 6-10 min (model dependent), far longer at part power | 2-4 min continuous or combined per hour |
| Motor | Brushless induction, maintenance-free | Brushed DC with integrated thermal switch |
| Hold alongside | Lock-and-hold panels keep you on the dock while you handle lines | Short bursts as needed |
| Engine joysticks | Yamaha, Mercury, Yanmar, Honda, Suzuki | VETUS EZDOCK2 twin-joystick panel |
| Battery | Sized by capacity (Ah, C20) | Sized by cranking amps (CCA) |
| Best for | Single-handers, tight marinas, joystick boats, frequent use | Occasional docking and value-focused refits |
WHY BUY THROUGH LUXFORDS
A calculator gets you close. We get it right.
The number is only half the job. Tunnel position, hull thickness, battery bank, cabling and the control panel all decide whether a thruster works the way you hoped. That's the conversation we have with you before you order.
The authorised VETUS distributor for Victoria
Complete kits: thruster, tunnel, panel, stern kit and battery advice
Upgrades from older thrusters, often in the same tunnel size
Showroom at 2/19 Bennetts Road, Mornington
- 01
Size it online
Five quick questions about your boat give you a calculated thrust and a model.
- 02
Talk it through
Call or email. We check the model, tunnel, battery bank and panel against your boat.
- 03
Get a written quote
Every part itemised, so you and your installer know exactly what's in the box.
- 04
Supply and fit-out advice
Collect from Mornington or arrange delivery, with installation guidance from our team.
ENGINE JOYSTICK READY
One joystick for engines and thruster
BOW PRO plugs into the joystick systems of five engine makers. Pick yours to see how it works, how good it is and what you'll need.
How joystick docking worksQUESTIONS WE GET EVERY WEEK
Thruster FAQ
What size bow thruster do I need?
Size comes from required thrust in kgf, not motor power. VETUS works it out from your boat's length, side windage area and the wind you want to handle. The size finder does the maths; we then check tunnel position and battery with you.
Do I need a stern thruster as well?
A bow thruster alone transforms docking. Add a stern thruster and you can walk the boat sideways onto a berth or turn it on the spot. VETUS's rule of thumb is that the stern unit can be one model smaller than the bow.
Can I run a 24 V thruster on my 12 V boat?
Yes. That's what BOW PRO Boosted is for. Its built-in three-stage charger keeps a dedicated 24 V thruster bank topped up from your existing 12 V system.
My boat has a petrol engine. Can I fit an electric thruster?
Yes, but it must be ignition protected to ISO 8846. VETUS ignition protected DC thrusters (25-160 kgf) and the RIMDRIVE meet that standard.
How big a battery bank does a thruster need?
DC thrusters are sized by cranking amps (CCA), from about 333 CCA for the smallest model. BOW PRO and RIMDRIVE are sized by capacity in amp-hours. Every model page lists VETUS's minimum.
What does it cost to fit a bow thruster?
Two parts: the thruster kit and the installation. The kit depends on thrust class and type; installation depends on your hull and where the tunnel goes. Send us your boat details for a written quote.