SCHIEDAM – VETUS used the mid-November Metstrade show to unveil a new industry standard in DC thruster power with the launch of its first BOW PRO Boosted units for 400mm tunnels.
Expanding the VETUS line-up of advanced BOW PRO models, VETUS’ BOW PRO Boosted 385 and BOW PRO Boosted 420 are the most powerful fully proportional brushless thrusters on the market with 48VDC compatibility.
The latest models bring the benefits of VETUS BOW PRO thrusters to owners and operators of larger boats, with installations ideal for vessels from 25m to 40m (82ft to 131ft).
Offering a power output up to 385kgf and 420kgf at 48V, the two new units feature innovations that set VETUS BOW PRO apart from conventional units. Skippers and crew will have precision proportional control and can extensively use their thruster system when docking or maneuvering without overheating issues.
All BOWB units have an intelligent motor controller with integrated boost function; charging the bow thruster’s batteries using VETUS’s internal three-stage 24V power supply connection enables connection to a 24V power supply to recharge the 48V battery bank to keep the thruster batteries at their optimum level.
The launch of the VETUS’ BOW PRO Boosted 385 and 420 expands the BOW PRO family to 24 thrusters with units for 400mm tunnels.
Thijs Boegheim, Director Sales EMEA VETUS-Maxwell, says the BOWB385 and the BOWB420 “make life easier on board … answering the demand for powerful, reliable, and efficient bow thrusters which offer built-in safety features and easy integration with 48V platforms.”
he proprietary VETUS motor controller regulates the maintenance-free brushless induction motors, ensuring the thrusters are very efficient and quiet. Active heat control and a low power consumption give the BOWB thrusters a runtime only limited by the size of the battery pack installed – a unique feature for DC thrusters.
Installation and maintenance of these thrusters are safe, fast, and easy, with the units integrating seamlessly with the proprietary VETUS V-CAN system for plug-and-play convenience. The BOWB 400 series can be used with VETUS’s standard proportional control panels – the BPPPA single thruster paddle panel, the BPPJA single thruster joystick panel with hold-to-dock functionality and the DBPPJA 360-degree double thruster joystick panel.
As the BOW PRO is V-CAN controlled with CAN-bus protocol operation, the thrusters also offer interaction with other compatible devices, such as docking systems, for optimal performance. The BOWB 400 series follows the introduction of three models in the BOWB 300 series for 300-mm tunnels.
VETUS designs and manufactures complete boat systems —including engines, generators, bow thrusters and control panels—for recreational and small commercial vessels. It has a 4,000+ product lineup. The company is based in the Netherlands, has subsidiaries in 17 other countries, and has an extensive global distribution and service network.
