Can thrusters be installed on an existing boat?

Yes, on most existing boats. We look at the hull, the electrical capacity and the space and recommend a bow or stern thruster; a boatyard does the hull work for the tunnel, and we do the wiring, battery bank and controls.

What types of thrusters do you install?

We work on electric bow and stern thrusters such as Side-Power (Sleipner), Vetus and Lewmar. The right size depends on the boat's length, weight and windage, following the thruster maker's sizing guide.

How do I know if my thruster needs repair?

Common signs include weak thrust, unusual noises, slow response, or complete failure to engage. We check the electrical and mechanical side to find the cause and fix it.

What is included in thruster repair service?

Our repair service includes motor testing, wiring inspection, control panel checks, a check of the prop and tunnel when the boat is out of the water, and full operational testing after repairs are completed.

How long does thruster installation or repair take?

A new tunnel thruster goes in with the boat hauled out at a boatyard, which cuts and glasses the tunnel, fairs and paints it and sets that schedule; we then wire the thruster, battery bank and controls, and the yard's charges are listed on your estimate. Electrical repairs such as a solenoid, brushes or controls are often done in one visit, while prop and shear-pin work needs a haul-out or a diver. Your written estimate gives the expected time and cost.

Can bow and stern thrusters improve safety while docking?

Absolutely. Thrusters provide precise low-speed control, reducing the risk of collisions, dock damage, and stress during close-quarters maneuvering—especially in strong wind or current.

Breeze Marine technician inspecting a newly installed Side-Power bow thruster tunnel in the hull

Breeze Marine technician inspecting a newly installed Side-Power bow thruster tunnel in the hull (2)

Bow & Stern Thruster Installation & Repair

Docking in a crosswind shouldn't be terrifying. We repair bow and stern thrusters, and when you add one to an existing hull, a boatyard fits the tunnel while we wire the thruster, its battery bank and the joystick control.

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$150 /hr

Labor estimate Quoted after inspection

Book sends us a ticket; nothing is charged online. Before any work you get a written estimate for labor, parts and the trip fee, and nothing is done without your OK.

Trip fee By distance, one way: $30 in San Pedro, $50 in Long Beach

San Pedro$30
Wilmington, Terminal Island$40
Long Beach: Shoreline, Rainbow Harbor$50
Long Beach Marina, Alamitos Bay$60
Redondo Beach$60
Seal Beach, Huntington Harbour$75
Marina del Rey$85
Newport Beach$110

Farther away: $25 plus $2.50 a mile, one way from our San Pedro shop. No trip fee when the boat comes to our shop, or for plan members. The work of a visit is at least $150; the trip fee is on top.

Registered in California: Breeze Marine Boat Service LLC, San Pedro
Where we work: At your slip from Marina del Rey to Newport Beach, or in our San Pedro shop
Questions first: (213) 693-0224 or submit a ticket

About this service

Precision Maneuvering

Dock Like a Pro.
With Less Stress.

Take the stress out of crosswinds and tight fairways. We repair bow and stern thrusters, and for a retrofit we wire the thruster and its joystick control once a boatyard has fitted the tunnel.

The "Tunnel" Retrofit

Yes, a bow thruster can be added to a boat that didn't come with one. Cutting the bow and glassing in the tunnel is structural hull work, so it is done with the boat hauled out by a boatyard we work with or refer you to; the yard's charges are listed on your estimate. We do the wiring, battery bank and controls.

Heavy Electrical

Thrusters draw very high current. We rig dedicated AGM or lithium (LiFePO4, with its battery management system) battery banks, run cable sized for the thruster and the run length, and fit the fuse the thruster and battery makers specify (Class T for lithium banks) to keep voltage drop low.

Maintenance & Repair

Already have a thruster? We troubleshoot solenoid failures, replace shear pins, upgrade 4-blade props to quiet 5-blade "Q-Props," and service motor brushes. Prop and shear-pin work needs a haul-out, or a diver we refer you to who works for you directly.

The Installation.

How a retrofit comes together.

Measure & Mark

The tunnel position follows the thruster maker's installation guide: as far forward as the hull allows and deep enough below the waterline that it does not draw air. We plan it with the boatyard before any cutting.

Cut & Glass

The boatyard cuts the tunnel holes and glasses in the GRP tube, bonding it to the hull with epoxy resin and layers of fiberglass reinforcement. This is structural work, so it stays with the yard.

Fairing

To reduce drag, the boatyard fairs the tunnel openings and can shape a hydrodynamic "eyebrow" (deflector) with fairing compound, smoothing water flow past the opening.

Rigging

Once the tunnel is in, we wire the thruster to its dedicated battery bank and install the joystick control at your helm station.

Total Control.

Seamless integration with your helm.

Fiberglass bow thruster tunnel installed through the hull

Five-blade thruster propeller upgrade in the bow tunnel

Joystick thruster control at the yacht helm

Supported Brands.

We work on these brands.

Side-Power (Sleipner) SE & SEP Series

Vetus BOW & Ignition Protected

Lewmar TT Electric Thrusters

Common Questions

Will the tunnel slow my boat down?

Usually very little. When the boatyard fairs the tunnel openings properly, water flows past them with little extra drag.

Can I add a stern thruster?

Yes. Stern thruster installation is usually easier than bow thruster installation. They can be mounted externally on the transom or internally via a tunnel, depending on your drive type. The hull work is done at a boatyard, and we can do the wiring, battery bank and controls.

Spin on a Dime.

Get a quote for a custom install.

Quote Thruster Install

Bow Thruster Repair: What to Tell Us

Bow thruster repair usually starts with the symptom. A thruster that clicks but does not spin often points to the solenoid or the power supply, a motor that runs without moving the boat can mean a broken bow thruster shear pin, and weak thrust can come from voltage drop in the battery bank or cabling. We troubleshoot solenoid failures, replace shear pins, service motor brushes, and can upgrade 4-blade props to quieter 5-blade Q-Props.

When you contact us, share the thruster brand and model (for example Side-Power, Vetus or Lewmar), the age of the dedicated battery bank, and exactly what happens when you use the joystick. Photos of the motor unit and the tunnel help us plan the visit.

Searching for bow thruster repair near me in Long Beach?

A few simple checks before you call can speed things up. Make sure the thruster battery switch is on and the dedicated bank is charged. Listen for a click from the solenoid when you push the joystick, and note whether the motor runs while the bow does not move. It is also worth looking into the tunnel for rope or heavy growth on the prop.

Send us what you found, along with the thruster brand, model and battery age, and we can plan the visit around the most likely fault.