True World Marine contacted me and asked If I could install a Bow Thruster on one of their 28 Ft. Sport Fisherman Boats. I agreed and they invited me to the their Factory to show me a Bow Thruster that they had someone else install. I couldn’t believe what I saw. The Bow Thruster was installed crooked, they didn’t refinish & seal the inside of the compartment to make it a cofferdam and if anything happened to the unit, like if it developed a leak, this boat could sink. A Cofferdam is a safety precaution to stop the boat from sinking if the unit develops any leaks.

The last six Blue Hull photos (# 39,40,41,42,43,44) are of a brand new boat that some other manufacturer was selling at the Atlantic City Boat Show. They all had a Bow Thruster installed in them. Take a close look at how they refinished the gel coat. This boat was selling for $250,000.00, that job is, in my opinion, unacceptable.

Photo (# 45,46,47) is the Bow Thruster on the True World boat that someone else installed.

You can see how lumpy they laid up the fiberglass on the inside compartment. Also look at the holes in the bulkhead, they removed the foam and let it be, also check out the cut liner, all crooked. On the outside they just covered up the cutout and painted the whole bottom with bottom paint, which hides many imperfections.

Now check out how I did this job and you be the judge. (Note: This hull is a Planning Hull so the thruster opening didn’t have to be flared off to redirect the water flow.)