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Max Power · retractable thruster
Max Power Compact Retract: specs, price and the boats it fits
It gives 154 to 220 lb of push, across three sizes. Max Power sells it for boats of 30 to 52 ft. It runs on 12 V or 24 V or 48 V.
- Haul-out to install
- DIY 2 of 5: wiring prep only
- 3-year warranty
Choose a size
The Max Power Compact Retract comes in three sizes. Each has its own price, wiring and boats it suits. Pick one and the page below shows that size.
Every size side by side
| Size | Push | Voltage | Max Power’s boat length | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact Retract 70 | 154 lb (70 kgf) | 12 V | 30 to 52 ft | $7,370 |
| Compact Retract 85 | 187 lb (85 kgf) | 24 V | 30 to 52 ft | $7,370 |
| Compact Retract 100 | 220 lb (100 kgf) | 48 V | 30 to 52 ft | No US price |
From the database. The figures are Max Power’s and the dealers’.
Quick stats
- Thrust 154 lb 70 kgf, Max Power's rating
- Boat length 30 to 52 ft Max Power's own range
- Price per lb of thrust $47.86 Unit only. $101 to $166 installed
- Voltage 12 V As sold
- Battery at 12 V 800 CCA One battery, near the thruster
- Run limit Not published Ask the maker before long use
- To install it Haul-out The boat comes out of the water
- Mounts Retractable Drops down, end not stated
Quick stats
- Thrust 187 lb 85 kgf, Max Power's rating
- Boat length 30 to 52 ft Max Power's own range
- Price per lb of thrust $39.41 Unit only. $85 to $139 installed
- Voltage 24 V As sold
- Battery at 24 V 800 CCA Two batteries, near the thruster
- Run limit Not published Ask the maker before long use
- To install it Haul-out The boat comes out of the water
- Mounts Retractable Drops down, end not stated
Quick stats
- Thrust 220 lb 100 kgf, Max Power's rating
- Boat length 30 to 52 ft Max Power's own range
- Price per lb of thrust Not worked out It needs a price and a thrust figure
- Voltage 48 V As sold
- Battery at 48 V 800 CCA Four batteries, near the thruster
- Run limit Not published Ask the maker before long use
- To install it Haul-out The boat comes out of the water
- Mounts Retractable Drops down, end not stated
About the Max Power Compact Retract
The Compact Retract is the small-boat retractable: a lightweight composite unit for yachts of 30 to 52 ft that bolts onto a flange instead of being laminated in, through what Max Power calls the smallest hull opening on the market. Several sailboat builders offer it as a factory option. Push is 154 to 220 lb across 12, 24 and 48 V.
Marinedeal lists the 12 V and 24 V units at $7,370 each, with the joystick, controls and cable in the box. Add about $336 to $815 for a main switch, a fuse and wiring. A single 800 CCA starting battery does at 12 V, and the bank, cable and charging come to about $686 to $1,904. See every part.
Read more
The motor is brushed and rated for two minutes of pushing at a time. The 48 V build’s manual allows lead-acid batteries only. Warranty: two years, by the manual.
Installers will find the wiring figures and dimensions further down. For the rest of Max Power’s line, read the Max Power thruster review.
Where this summary comes from (5 sources, read 12 October 2026)
Will the Max Power Compact Retract steer your boat?
49 FT TRAWLER · BOW · 15 KT WIND
Every knot figure here is wind speed, not boat speed or current.
On a 49 ft trawler the Max Power Compact Retract (154 lb) steers her in a 15 knot breeze. Her bow needs about 160 lb from a retractable to steer her in a 15 knot breeze. Its 154 lb lands within 15 percent of that figure, which this site counts as enough.
The finder leaves it off her list. It shows the Compact Retract 85 for her instead.
The Max Power Compact Retract on a trawler, by length
- 25 ft29 kt
- 30 ft24 kt
- 35 ft20 kt
- 40 ft18 kt
- 45 ft16 kt
- 50 ft14 kt
- 55 ft13 kt
- 60 ft12 kt
- 65 ft11 kt
- 70 ft10 kt
- 75 ft10 kt
- 80 ft9 kt
Outlined: the finder does not list it at that length (under 13 kt, far more than she needs, or outside Max Power’s own length range).
- Under 10 kt
- 10 to 15 kt
- 15 to 20 kt: the sweet spot
- Over 20 kt: more than she needs
Prices are the low end of the installed total, from our estimate. For your own boat, drive and installer, the finder prices each unit.
Is it right for your boat?
Every kind of boat it fits, by length
| Boat | Full thrust at 15 knots | Still a fit, in lighter wind |
|---|---|---|
| Pontoon & tritoon | Not listed. A retractable drops down inside the hull, and a pontoon has no hull depth to drop into. | |
| Sailboat | 35 to 49 ft | 50 to 57 ftfull thrust to about 13 knots at 57 ft |
| Houseboat | 30 to 37 ft | 38 to 42 ftfull thrust to about 13 knots at 42 ft |
| Catamaran | 39 to 56 ft | 57 ft onlyfull thrust to about 14 knots at 57 ft |
| Trawler | 34 to 49 ft | 50 to 56 ftfull thrust to about 13 knots at 56 ft |
| Motor yacht | 35 to 49 ft | 50 to 56 ftfull thrust to about 13 knots at 56 ft |
| Bass & flats | Not listed. A retractable needs hull depth to drop into, and these planing hulls have almost none forward. | |
| Wake & ski boats | Not listed. A retractable needs hull depth to drop into, and these planing hulls have almost none forward. | |
| Express cruiser | 44 to 57 ft | None |
| Center console | No length. More thrust than the boat needs. | |
The Max Power Compact Retract against each kind of boat, in a 15 knot wind. Our sizing, from the finder’s own rules.
The first column is where one unit gives all the thrust the boat needs in 15 knots. The second is where the finder still lists it: the unit steers her in a 13 or 14 knot wind, within 15 percent of the 15 knot breeze this site sizes for. On a boat shorter than the first column’s shortest length, the unit is more than the boat needs.
How we size it
Our figure is the longest boat one unit can steer in a 15 knot wind. It is a range because each kind of boat catches the wind differently. Here a houseboat gets full thrust to 37 ft, and an express cruiser to 57 ft. The maker gives one range for every boat.
The table tries the Max Power Compact Retract on each kind of boat, at every length that kind of boat is built in. The wind is 15 knots and the rules are the finder’s own. A length counts as a fit when the unit gives the thrust that boat needs at the bow and the maker lists it for that length.
A boat up to 10 percent past the maker’s range still counts here, as it does in the finder. So the table runs up to 57 ft, just past Max Power’s own range (30 to 52 ft).
It is sized for six kinds of boat here. For your own boat, the finder gives an answer that also counts your drive and who does the installing. The compare page sets this unit beside others.
What it costs installed
A yard job, everything in. Our estimate.
| Boat | Total installed |
|---|---|
| 30 ft | $15,332 to $17,655$100 to $115 a lb of thrust |
| 45 ft | $15,592 to $25,575$101 to $166 a lb of thrust |
| 57 ft | $15,902 to $27,595$103 to $179 a lb of thrust |
From the shortest to the longest boat it is sized for.
What is in each total
These totals are our estimate of a yard job: the unit’s price, plus a yard’s hours at $160 to $180 an hour, plus the batteries, cable and charger, plus the other parts the box does not hold. A Lifting the boat out of the water on a travel lift or a trailer so work can be done below the waterline. It is billed separately from the job itself. adds $540 to $2,750 at these lengths, with 5 to 7 days out of the water, worked from eight yards’ own rate cards. The hours are our own estimate. The cost page builds the same figures line by line.
| Boat length | The unit | Yard labor | Haul-out | Batteries, cable, charger | Other parts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 ft | $7,370 | $6,400 to $7,200about 40 hours | $540 to $1,450 | $686 to $820 | $336 to $815 |
| 45 ft | $7,370 | $6,400 to $14,40040 to 80 hours | $800 to $2,170 | $686 to $820 | $336 to $815 |
| 57 ft | $7,370 | $6,400 to $15,84040 to 88 hours | $1,110 to $2,750 | $686 to $820 | $336 to $815 |
For every length in the table above.
How the batteries, cable and charger add up. We price a battery bank close to the thruster, as the makers recommend, with 10 to 20 ft of cable out and back: red for the positive, black for the negative, cut to length. The low end is the cheapest battery that meets the figure and the shorter run; the high end is a sealed (AGM) battery and the longer run. The charger is a NOCO GEN5X2 two-bank shore charger.
Batteries and lugs are priced at Fisheries Supply and the cable and charger at Defender, read 26 October 2026.
- At 12 V: one 12 V battery, at least 800 CCA (Max Power’s minimum), $360 for the battery; Max Power’s cable table gives 3/0 to 4/0 AWG, priced on 4/0 AWG, the nearest size cut to length: $180 to $314 for the red and black cable and the lugs; a GEN5X2 charger, $146.
The sizing and the costs on this page are estimates, for guidance only and without warranty. They are no quote, and nobody has inspected your boat. Check them against the maker’s manual and your yard before you rely on them. Terms of use.
DIY breakdown
DIY levels
- Level 5: Owner install. No yard, no electrician.
- Level 4: You install it, electrician connects. You mount and wire it; a marine electrician makes the final connections.
- Level 3: Split with the yard. The yard does the below-waterline part; you do the wiring.
- Level 2: Wiring prep only. The yard installs the unit and does the hull work; you do the wiring prep.
- Level 1: Yard job. A qualified professional does all of it.
You Yard Electrician. The bar is labor hours; a haul-out is a note.
How we rate DIYYou: 4 to 16 hours Yard: 40 to 88 hours Electrician: 2 to 4 hours Plus a haul-out.
Your part needs:Heavy battery cableCrimping big lugs
Every step, and who does it
- Cut the hull and fit the housing and mechanism Yard 40 to 88 hours Nobody publishes an hours figure. Fisheries Supply says installation is significantly more expensive than a tunnel, and that is too loose to turn into a number. So this is the tunnel’s own banded figure plus a quarter, which keeps it above a tunnel as the distributors describe it.
- Mount the battery box, switch and fuse holder; run and secure the cables You 4 to 16 hours Our estimate. No maker times this step, and a first-time owner is slower than a yard, so the range is wide.
- Final connections at the battery and the motor, load test Electrician 2 to 4 hours Our estimate. Nobody publishes a time for the final connections and test on their own.
A qualified marine electrician should make the final connections and test them before first use. Hours are labor only.
Will the Max Power Compact Retract steer your boat?
54 FT TRAWLER · BOW · 15 KT WIND
Every knot figure here is wind speed, not boat speed or current.
On a 54 ft trawler the Max Power Compact Retract (187 lb) steers her in a 15 knot breeze. Her bow needs about 195 lb from a retractable to steer her in a 15 knot breeze. Its 187 lb lands within 15 percent of that figure, which this site counts as enough.
The finder leaves it off her list. It shows the Compact Retract 100 for her instead.
The Max Power Compact Retract on a trawler, by length
- 25 ft31 kt
- 30 ft26 kt
- 35 ft23 kt
- 40 ft20 kt
- 45 ft18 kt
- 50 ft16 kt
- 55 ft14 kt
- 60 ft13 kt
- 65 ft12 kt
- 70 ft11 kt
- 75 ft11 kt
- 80 ft10 kt
Outlined: the finder does not list it at that length (under 13 kt, far more than she needs, or outside Max Power’s own length range).
- Under 10 kt
- 10 to 15 kt
- 15 to 20 kt: the sweet spot
- Over 20 kt: more than she needs
Prices are the low end of the installed total, from our estimate. For your own boat, drive and installer, the finder prices each unit.
Is it right for your boat?
Every kind of boat it fits, by length
| Boat | Full thrust at 15 knots | Still a fit, in lighter wind |
|---|---|---|
| Pontoon & tritoon | Not listed. A retractable drops down inside the hull, and a pontoon has no hull depth to drop into. | |
| Sailboat | 38 to 55 ft | 56 to 57 ftfull thrust to about 14 knots at 57 ft |
| Houseboat | 30 to 41 ft | 42 to 46 ftfull thrust to about 13 knots at 46 ft |
| Catamaran | 43 to 57 ft | None |
| Trawler | 38 to 54 ft | 55 to 57 ftfull thrust to about 14 knots at 57 ft |
| Motor yacht | 38 to 54 ft | 55 to 57 ftfull thrust to about 14 knots at 57 ft |
| Bass & flats | Not listed. A retractable needs hull depth to drop into, and these planing hulls have almost none forward. | |
| Wake & ski boats | Not listed. A retractable needs hull depth to drop into, and these planing hulls have almost none forward. | |
| Express cruiser | 48 to 57 ft | None |
| Center console | No length. More thrust than the boat needs. | |
The Max Power Compact Retract against each kind of boat, in a 15 knot wind. Our sizing, from the finder’s own rules.
The first column is where one unit gives all the thrust the boat needs in 15 knots. The second is where the finder still lists it: the unit steers her in a 13 or 14 knot wind, within 15 percent of the 15 knot breeze this site sizes for. On a boat shorter than the first column’s shortest length, the unit is more than the boat needs.
How we size it
Our figure is the longest boat one unit can steer in a 15 knot wind. It is a range because each kind of boat catches the wind differently. Here a houseboat gets full thrust to 41 ft, and a catamaran to 57 ft. The maker gives one range for every boat.
The table tries the Max Power Compact Retract on each kind of boat, at every length that kind of boat is built in. The wind is 15 knots and the rules are the finder’s own. A length counts as a fit when the unit gives the thrust that boat needs at the bow and the maker lists it for that length.
A boat up to 10 percent past the maker’s range still counts here, as it does in the finder. So the table runs up to 57 ft, just past Max Power’s own range (30 to 52 ft).
It is sized for six kinds of boat here. For your own boat, the finder gives an answer that also counts your drive and who does the installing. The compare page sets this unit beside others.
What it costs installed
A yard job, everything in. Our estimate.
| Boat | Total installed |
|---|---|
| 30 ft | $15,607 to $18,015$83 to $96 a lb of thrust |
| 45 ft | $15,867 to $25,935$85 to $139 a lb of thrust |
| 57 ft | $16,177 to $27,955$87 to $149 a lb of thrust |
From the shortest to the longest boat it is sized for.
What is in each total
These totals are our estimate of a yard job: the unit’s price, plus a yard’s hours at $160 to $180 an hour, plus the batteries, cable and charger, plus the other parts the box does not hold. A Lifting the boat out of the water on a travel lift or a trailer so work can be done below the waterline. It is billed separately from the job itself. adds $540 to $2,750 at these lengths, with 5 to 7 days out of the water, worked from eight yards’ own rate cards. The hours are our own estimate. The cost page builds the same figures line by line.
| Boat length | The unit | Yard labor | Haul-out | Batteries, cable, charger | Other parts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 ft | $7,370 | $6,400 to $7,200about 40 hours | $540 to $1,450 | $961 to $1,180 | $336 to $815 |
| 45 ft | $7,370 | $6,400 to $14,40040 to 80 hours | $800 to $2,170 | $961 to $1,180 | $336 to $815 |
| 57 ft | $7,370 | $6,400 to $15,84040 to 88 hours | $1,110 to $2,750 | $961 to $1,180 | $336 to $815 |
For every length in the table above.
How the batteries, cable and charger add up. We price a battery bank close to the thruster, as the makers recommend, with 10 to 20 ft of cable out and back: red for the positive, black for the negative, cut to length. The low end is the cheapest battery that meets the figure and the shorter run; the high end is a sealed (AGM) battery and the longer run. The charger is a NOCO GEN5X2 two-bank shore charger.
Batteries and lugs are priced at Fisheries Supply and the cable and charger at Defender, read 26 October 2026.
- At 24 V: two 12 V batteries in series, at least 800 CCA each (Max Power’s minimum), $720 for both; Max Power’s cable table gives 1/0 to 3/0 AWG, priced on 1/0 to 4/0 AWG, the nearest size cut to length: $95 to $314 for the red and black cable and the lugs; a GEN5X2 charger, $146.
The sizing and the costs on this page are estimates, for guidance only and without warranty. They are no quote, and nobody has inspected your boat. Check them against the maker’s manual and your yard before you rely on them. Terms of use.
DIY breakdown
DIY levels
- Level 5: Owner install. No yard, no electrician.
- Level 4: You install it, electrician connects. You mount and wire it; a marine electrician makes the final connections.
- Level 3: Split with the yard. The yard does the below-waterline part; you do the wiring.
- Level 2: Wiring prep only. The yard installs the unit and does the hull work; you do the wiring prep.
- Level 1: Yard job. A qualified professional does all of it.
You Yard Electrician. The bar is labor hours; a haul-out is a note.
How we rate DIYYou: 4 to 16 hours Yard: 40 to 88 hours Electrician: 2 to 4 hours Plus a haul-out.
Your part needs:Heavy battery cableCrimping big lugs
Every step, and who does it
- Cut the hull and fit the housing and mechanism Yard 40 to 88 hours Nobody publishes an hours figure. Fisheries Supply says installation is significantly more expensive than a tunnel, and that is too loose to turn into a number. So this is the tunnel’s own banded figure plus a quarter, which keeps it above a tunnel as the distributors describe it.
- Mount the battery box, switch and fuse holder; run and secure the cables You 4 to 16 hours Our estimate. No maker times this step, and a first-time owner is slower than a yard, so the range is wide.
- Final connections at the battery and the motor, load test Electrician 2 to 4 hours Our estimate. Nobody publishes a time for the final connections and test on their own.
A qualified marine electrician should make the final connections and test them before first use. Hours are labor only.
Will the Max Power Compact Retract steer your boat?
57 FT TRAWLER · BOW · 15 KT WIND
Every knot figure here is wind speed, not boat speed or current.
On a 57 ft trawler the Max Power Compact Retract (220 lb) steers her in a 15 knot breeze. Her bow needs about 218 lb from a retractable to steer her in a 15 knot breeze.
The finder lists it for her.
The Max Power Compact Retract on a trawler, by length
- 25 ft34 kt
- 30 ft29 kt
- 35 ft24 kt
- 40 ft22 kt
- 45 ft19 kt
- 50 ft17 kt
- 55 ft16 kt
- 60 ft14 kt
- 65 ft13 kt
- 70 ft12 kt
- 75 ft11 kt
- 80 ft11 kt
Outlined: the finder does not list it at that length (under 13 kt, far more than she needs, or outside Max Power’s own length range).
- Under 10 kt
- 10 to 15 kt
- 15 to 20 kt: the sweet spot
- Over 20 kt: more than she needs
Prices are the low end of the installed total, from our estimate. For your own boat, drive and installer, the finder prices each unit.
Is it right for your boat?
Every kind of boat it fits, by length
| Boat | Full thrust at 15 knots | Still a fit, in lighter wind |
|---|---|---|
| Pontoon & tritoon | Not listed. A retractable drops down inside the hull, and a pontoon has no hull depth to drop into. | |
| Sailboat | 42 to 57 ft | None |
| Houseboat | 31 to 44 ft | 45 to 50 ftfull thrust to about 13 knots at 50 ft |
| Catamaran | 47 to 57 ft | None |
| Trawler | 41 to 57 ft | None |
| Motor yacht | 41 to 57 ft | None |
| Bass & flats | Not listed. A retractable needs hull depth to drop into, and these planing hulls have almost none forward. | |
| Wake & ski boats | Not listed. A retractable needs hull depth to drop into, and these planing hulls have almost none forward. | |
| Express cruiser | 53 to 57 ft | None |
| Center console | No length. More thrust than the boat needs. | |
The Max Power Compact Retract against each kind of boat, in a 15 knot wind. Our sizing, from the finder’s own rules.
The first column is where one unit gives all the thrust the boat needs in 15 knots. The second is where the finder still lists it: the unit steers her in a 13 or 14 knot wind, within 15 percent of the 15 knot breeze this site sizes for. On a boat shorter than the first column’s shortest length, the unit is more than the boat needs.
How we size it
Our figure is the longest boat one unit can steer in a 15 knot wind. It is a range because each kind of boat catches the wind differently. Here a houseboat gets full thrust to 44 ft, and a sailboat to 57 ft. The maker gives one range for every boat.
The table tries the Max Power Compact Retract on each kind of boat, at every length that kind of boat is built in. The wind is 15 knots and the rules are the finder’s own. A length counts as a fit when the unit gives the thrust that boat needs at the bow and the maker lists it for that length.
A boat up to 10 percent past the maker’s range still counts here, as it does in the finder. So the table runs up to 57 ft, just past Max Power’s own range (30 to 52 ft).
It is sized for six kinds of boat here. For your own boat, the finder gives an answer that also counts your drive and who does the installing. The compare page sets this unit beside others.
What it costs installed
No US dollar price is published for the Max Power Compact Retract, so we build no total for it. The yard’s share of the job is on the cost page.
The sizing and the costs on this page are estimates, for guidance only and without warranty. They are no quote, and nobody has inspected your boat. Check them against the maker’s manual and your yard before you rely on them. Terms of use.
DIY breakdown
DIY levels
- Level 5: Owner install. No yard, no electrician.
- Level 4: You install it, electrician connects. You mount and wire it; a marine electrician makes the final connections.
- Level 3: Split with the yard. The yard does the below-waterline part; you do the wiring.
- Level 2: Wiring prep only. The yard installs the unit and does the hull work; you do the wiring prep.
- Level 1: Yard job. A qualified professional does all of it.
You Yard Electrician. The bar is labor hours; a haul-out is a note.
How we rate DIYYou: 4 to 16 hours Yard: 40 to 88 hours Electrician: 2 to 4 hours Plus a haul-out.
Your part needs:Heavy battery cableCrimping big lugs
Every step, and who does it
- Cut the hull and fit the housing and mechanism Yard 40 to 88 hours Nobody publishes an hours figure. Fisheries Supply says installation is significantly more expensive than a tunnel, and that is too loose to turn into a number. So this is the tunnel’s own banded figure plus a quarter, which keeps it above a tunnel as the distributors describe it.
- Mount the battery box, switch and fuse holder; run and secure the cables You 4 to 16 hours Our estimate. No maker times this step, and a first-time owner is slower than a yard, so the range is wide.
- Final connections at the battery and the motor, load test Electrician 2 to 4 hours Our estimate. Nobody publishes a time for the final connections and test on their own.
A qualified marine electrician should make the final connections and test them before first use. Hours are labor only.
Related videos
One of Max Power’s own videos, from its YouTube channel. They play only when you tap. A maker’s video is its pitch, so take any claim back to the figures on this page.
Know before you buy
What sets this model apart, what it costs to keep, and what to weigh.
Price per pound of thrust
$47.86 a lb The unit’s price over its published thrust, on the smallest size. The bars are Max Power’s next sizes and the nearest other makers.Controls
Delivered without accessories: the fuse, holder and control panel are bought.
- Control panel, retractable joystick (318206), $428.75 at MarineDeal.
Service and warranty
Max Power's website gives 3 years. Its manual gives 2, and 1 more if the warranty is registered within 3 months of installation. Outside pleasure craft it is 6 months. It transfers to the next owner, and the first year covers up to 2 hours of labor in the field.
See Max Power’s warranty Max Power's warranty conditions.Special mentions
Battery: at 12 V it wants one battery of 800 CCA or more, Max Power's figure. The cheapest that meets it is the Optima BlueTop SC27DM Group 27 AGM, $359.99. Check your own bank.
Charger: a NOCO GEN5X2 two-bank shore charger, $146.41. It is the one our estimate prices.
Dealer prices at Fisheries Supply, read 26 October 2026.What to weigh
The boat comes out of the water to install it: it needs a large hull opening below the waterline.
Parts for the Max Power Compact Retract
See the Max Power Compact Retract manualSearch for the number as printed here, with no spaces. Prices are each dealer’s on the day shown, before shipping and tax. Check the plate on your motor before you order: some parts change with the tunnel size, the voltage or the year.
For the install what the box leaves you to buy
The manual button above opens it on the maker's site. It has the hull, wiring and fuse figures for this model.
From Max Power’s Compact Retract installation manual, read 16 October 2026.
- In the box
- The thruster with its motor, the up and down motor, the leg and propellers, the closing plate support kit, the relay box, the control box, the control panel and 25 m of control cable.
- Bought separately
- The main fuse and its holder, a manual battery isolator, an electric battery isolator, the battery cable and the batteries. The manual does not list the mounting base as supplied.
- Charging
- Max Power is the one maker that asks for both: the engine's alternator and a charger. A dedicated bank is optional and goes "as close as possible to the thruster". It wants starting-type batteries with high cold cranking amps.
In Max Power’s words, from its CT100 and CT125 installation manual, page 3: “The batteries used by the thruster must be charged by both the main engine's alternator and an appropriate battery charger.”
The “other parts” line in the estimate above covers these parts as a range, $336 to $815 at Fisheries Supply’s prices on 30 September 2026 and 26 October 2026, because the exact items depend on your boat. The batteries, cable and charger have a line of their own. The cost page has what every maker says about each part.
Main fuse
Ask for 200 A ceramic (Max Power 35020). This one is for the Compact Retract 70, 12 V version.
Max Power's figure for the Compact Retract at 12 V, with its own fuse and holder part numbers. Max Power sizes the fuse on the cable, not the motor's draw. Not listed at Fisheries Supply; ask a Max Power dealer.
Main fuse
Ask for 125 A ceramic (Max Power 35021). This one is for the Compact Retract 85, 24 V version.
Max Power's figure for the Compact Retract at 24 V, with its own fuse and holder part numbers. Max Power sizes the fuse on the cable, not the motor's draw. Not listed at Fisheries Supply; ask a Max Power dealer.
Main fuse
Ask for ANL 63 A. This one is for the Compact Retract 100, 48 V version.
Not listed at Fisheries Supply at this rating.
Fuse holder
Ask for Max Power fuse holder 35017. This one is for the Compact Retract 70, 12 V and Compact Retract 85, 24 V version.
Ask the dealer who sells the fuse.
Fuse holder
Fisheries Supply lists it as “ANL compact fuse block, 35 to 300 A, cable up to 2/0, with cover”. This one is for the Compact Retract 100, 48 V version.
Battery switch
Fisheries Supply lists it as “m-Series 300 A battery switch, on/off”. This one is for the Compact Retract 70, 12 V version.
Rated at or above the 200 A main fuse. If your manual names its own switch, use that one.
Battery switch
Fisheries Supply lists it as “m-Series 300 A battery switch, on/off”. This one is for the Compact Retract 85, 24 V version.
Rated at or above the 125 A main fuse. If your manual names its own switch, use that one.
Battery switch
Fisheries Supply lists it as “m-Series 300 A battery switch, on/off”. This one is for the Compact Retract 100, 48 V version.
Rated at or above the 63 A main fuse. If your manual names its own switch, use that one.
Control-circuit fuse holder
Fisheries Supply lists it as “Waterproof in-line ATO/ATC fuse holder”.
The maker asks for an 8 A fuse on the control supply.
Batteries
Fisheries Supply lists it as “Optima BlueTop SC27DM Group 27 AGM”. This one is for the Compact Retract 70, 12 V version.
One at 800 CCA or more. The cheapest listing that meets it.
Batteries
Fisheries Supply lists it as “Optima BlueTop SC27DM Group 27 AGM”. This one is for the Compact Retract 85, 24 V version.
You need 2, each at 800 CCA or more, in series for 24 V. The cheapest listing that meets it.
Batteries
Fisheries Supply lists it as “Optima BlueTop SC27DM Group 27 AGM”. This one is for the Compact Retract 100, 48 V version.
You need 4, each at 800 CCA or more, in series for 48 V. The cheapest listing that meets it.
Battery cable, red and black
Defender lists it as “Ancor tinned battery cable 4/0 AWG, cut to length, red or black”. This one is for the Compact Retract 70, 12 V version.
You need 10 ft of each color. For about 20 ft of cable in all, out and back. Measure your run and check it against the cable table in the manual: never go smaller than it asks for.
Battery cable, red and black
Defender lists it as “Ancor tinned battery cable 1/0 AWG, cut to length, red or black”. This one is for the Compact Retract 85, 24 V version.
This is the short run. A longer run takes heavier cable: the wiring calculator sizes yours. You need 5 ft of each color. For about 10 ft of cable in all, out and back. Measure your run and check it against the cable table in the manual: never go smaller than it asks for.
Battery cable, red and black
Defender lists it as “Ancor tinned battery cable 1 AWG, cut to length, red or black”. This one is for the Compact Retract 100, 48 V version.
This is the short run. A longer run takes heavier cable: the wiring calculator sizes yours. You need 5 ft of each color. For about 10 ft of cable in all, out and back. Measure your run and check it against the cable table in the manual: never go smaller than it asks for.
Cable lugs
Fisheries Supply lists it as “Tin-plated starter lugs, 4/0 AWG, bag of 10”. This one is for the Compact Retract 70, 12 V version.
The listing runs $47.52 to $49.44 by stud size. Eight ends on one run, with two spare.
Cable lugs
Fisheries Supply lists it as “Tin-plated starter lugs, 1/0 AWG, bag of 10”. This one is for the Compact Retract 85, 24 V version.
This is the short run. A longer run takes heavier cable: the wiring calculator sizes yours. The listing runs $23.74 to $28.04 by stud size. Eight ends on one run, with two spare.
Cable lugs
Fisheries Supply lists it as “Tin-plated starter lugs, 1 AWG, bag of 10”. This one is for the Compact Retract 100, 48 V version.
This is the short run. A longer run takes heavier cable: the wiring calculator sizes yours. The listing runs $20.52 to $22.06 by stud size. Eight ends on one run, with two spare.
Charger
Fisheries Supply lists it as “GEN5X2 on-board charger, 10 A, 2 banks”. This one is for the Compact Retract 70, 12 V and Compact Retract 85, 24 V version.
Or a DC-to-DC charger from the house system: ask the electrician.
Charger
Fisheries Supply lists it as “GEN5X2 on-board charger, 10 A, 2 banks”. This one is for the Compact Retract 100, 48 V version.
You need 2. Or a DC-to-DC charger from the house system: ask the electrician.
Mounting base
Ask for Max Power aluminum flange 311362 or GRP mounting base 313760.
The data sheet: the mounting base "must be ordered separately". The yard bonds it into the hull.
Outside the hull replacement parts in the water
Propeller
The propeller on the drive. Max Power calls it “Propeller”.
Max Power prints two 185 mm propellers: 35040 and 636576 (Nut Version). Check which one your drive leg takes before ordering. The CT100 and CT125 manual for serials 42250 to 83327 prints 35040.
Drive leg (complete)
The leg under the motor that turns the propeller. Max Power calls it “Composite Leg”.
Inside the boat replacement parts on board
Battery isolator
Max Power calls it “Electric Battery Isolator (same for 12V & 24V units)”. It fits the Compact Retract 70, 12V and Compact Retract 85, 24V sizes on this page.
Battery isolator
Max Power calls it “Electric Battery Isolator (same for 12V & 24V units)”. It fits the Compact Retract 100, 48V size on this page.
Relay box
A small switch in the motor’s control circuit. Max Power calls it “Thruster Relay Box (same for 12V & 24V units)”. It fits the Compact Retract 70, 12V and Compact Retract 85, 24V sizes on this page.
Relay box
A small switch in the motor’s control circuit. Max Power calls it “Thruster Relay Box (same for 12V & 24V units)”. It fits the Compact Retract 100, 48V size on this page.
Controller (control box)
The electronics that run the motor when you press the panel. Max Power calls it “Thruster Control Box (same for 12V & 24V units)”. It fits the Compact Retract 70, 12V and Compact Retract 85, 24V sizes on this page.
Controller (control box)
The electronics that run the motor when you press the panel. Max Power calls it “Thruster Control Box (same for 12V & 24V units)”. It fits the Compact Retract 100, 48V size on this page.
Main fuse (125 A)
The main fuse at the battery, in the rating the maker gives. Max Power calls it “Fuse CT80 24V 125A”. It fits the Compact Retract 85, 24V size on this page.
Max Power names this 125 A fuse for the CT80 24 V, but its pages and manuals give it for each model here. The holder is 35017.
Main fuse (200 A)
The main fuse at the battery, in the rating the maker gives. Max Power calls it “Fuse CT125 24V 200A”. It fits the Compact Retract 70, 12V size on this page.
The holder is 35017. The VIP150 manual prints the older code OPTI 3112 for its 24 V fuse; Max Power's CT100 and CT125 manual gives 35020 as the new code for OPTI 3112.
Main fuse holder
The main fuse at the battery, in the rating the maker gives. Max Power calls it “Fuse Holder T1”. It fits the Compact Retract 70, 12V and Compact Retract 85, 24V sizes on this page.
Control panel, retractable joystick
The control at the helm. Max Power calls it “Joystick for VIP and Compact retractables, black”.
Replacement motor
The electric motor that turns the propeller. Max Power calls it “Electric Motor 12V”. It fits the Compact Retract 70, 12V size on this page.
Replacement motor
The electric motor that turns the propeller. Max Power calls it “Electric Motor 24V”. It fits the Compact Retract 85, 24V size on this page.
Up/down motor (raises and lowers the thruster)
The electric motor that turns the propeller. Max Power calls it “Up/Down Motor (same for 12V & 24V units)”. It fits the Compact Retract 70, 12V and Compact Retract 85, 24V sizes on this page.
Up/down motor (raises and lowers the thruster)
The electric motor that turns the propeller. Max Power calls it “Up/Down Motor (same for 12V & 24V units)”. It fits the Compact Retract 100, 48V size on this page.
No part matches. Try the number without spaces, or the part’s name.
The install parts are matched to Max Power’s own figures and priced at Fisheries Supply, with the battery cable at Defender, cut to length.
Spare part numbers come from Max Power’s parts pages and manuals. A dealer may sell a part we have not priced. Search for the number.
Other sizes and close alternatives
- Size up Max Power VIP 150 three sizes, 212 to 254 lb · $8,598 to $8,698
- Other maker Sleipner ERV100 eVision 220 lb · $14,500
- Other maker Lewmar RT185 MX Gen 2 214 lb · $8,687 to $9,034
- Other maker Quick BTR 185 six sizes, 143 to 231 lb · $12,436 to $17,991
The other makers listed are the nearest match each makes, of the same style and for the same end, within a quarter of its thrust. The compare page lists every model, and the thruster index lists every model with a page here.
For the yard and the installer
Every published figure, with its source.
Full spec sheet
| Thrust and motor | |
|---|---|
| Thrust | 154 lb (70 kgf) As printed: 70(kg) / 154(lbs) |
| Motor | 4.79 kW |
| Voltage | 12 V |
| Run limit | Not published |
| Installation | |
| Type | Retractable, drops down |
| End of the boat | Not stated |
| Tunnel diameter | 185 mm |
| What it does to the hull | Large hull opening below the waterline |
| Haul-out to install it | Yes |
| Maker’s boat length | 30 to 52 ft |
| Price and ordering | |
| Price | $7,370 equipment only, a dealer's price, marinedeal.com, 26 October 2026 |
| Part number | 317821Compact Retract 70, 12 V 317822Compact Retract 85, 24 V 600128Compact Retract 100, 48 V |
| Documents | |
| Manual | Installation manual (PDF)on the maker's site |
| The site’s review | Max Power thruster review |
Every published figure the site holds for the Max Power Compact Retract, with where each came from.
Our notes from the manual and listings
In the box: Delivered without accessories: the fuse, holder and control panel are bought.
Compact Retract 70, 12 V
A compact, lightweight retractable in a composite body, built for yachts of 30 to 52 ft by Max Power's page and installed as an option by a number of sailboat builders. It bolts onto a flange rather than being laminated into the hull, and has the smallest hull opening on the market by the maker's claim. The box holds the joystick, the control system, the cable and the support.
A brushed motor rated S2, two minutes at a stretch. At 12 V the manual names one example starting battery, 800 cold cranking amps and 50 Ah.
Compact Retract 85, 24 V
At 24 V it takes two of the manual's example starting batteries in series.
Compact Retract 100, 48 V
The 48 V build; its own manual (May 2026) measures about 105 A at 45.6 V, wants four starting batteries in series, and allows lead-acid only. Max Power publishes no price and sells through dealers.
Where each point above comes from
- The boat comes out of the water to install it: it needs a large hull opening below the waterline.The mounting: a bore through the hull, or a housing recessed into it
For the yard and the installer
Every published figure, with its source.
Full spec sheet
| Thrust and motor | |
|---|---|
| Thrust | 187 lb (85 kgf) As printed: 85(kg) / 187(lbs) |
| Motor | 5.28 kW |
| Voltage | 24 V |
| Run limit | Not published |
| Installation | |
| Type | Retractable, drops down |
| End of the boat | Not stated |
| Tunnel diameter | 185 mm |
| What it does to the hull | Large hull opening below the waterline |
| Haul-out to install it | Yes |
| Maker’s boat length | 30 to 52 ft |
| Price and ordering | |
| Price | $7,370 equipment only, a dealer's price, marinedeal.com, 26 October 2026 |
| Part number | 317821Compact Retract 70, 12 V 317822Compact Retract 85, 24 V 600128Compact Retract 100, 48 V |
| Documents | |
| Manual | Installation manual (PDF)on the maker's site |
| The site’s review | Max Power thruster review |
Every published figure the site holds for the Max Power Compact Retract, with where each came from.
Our notes from the manual and listings
In the box: Delivered without accessories: the fuse, holder and control panel are bought.
Compact Retract 70, 12 V
A compact, lightweight retractable in a composite body, built for yachts of 30 to 52 ft by Max Power's page and installed as an option by a number of sailboat builders. It bolts onto a flange rather than being laminated into the hull, and has the smallest hull opening on the market by the maker's claim. The box holds the joystick, the control system, the cable and the support.
A brushed motor rated S2, two minutes at a stretch. At 12 V the manual names one example starting battery, 800 cold cranking amps and 50 Ah.
Compact Retract 85, 24 V
At 24 V it takes two of the manual's example starting batteries in series.
Compact Retract 100, 48 V
The 48 V build; its own manual (May 2026) measures about 105 A at 45.6 V, wants four starting batteries in series, and allows lead-acid only. Max Power publishes no price and sells through dealers.
Where each point above comes from
- The boat comes out of the water to install it: it needs a large hull opening below the waterline.The mounting: a bore through the hull, or a housing recessed into it
For the yard and the installer
Every published figure, with its source.
Full spec sheet
| Thrust and motor | |
|---|---|
| Thrust | 220 lb (100 kgf) As printed: 100(kg) / 220(lbs) |
| Motor | 6 kW |
| Voltage | 48 V |
| Run limit | Not published |
| Installation | |
| Type | Retractable, drops down |
| End of the boat | Not stated |
| Tunnel diameter | 185 mm |
| What it does to the hull | Large hull opening below the waterline |
| Haul-out to install it | Yes |
| Maker’s boat length | 30 to 52 ft |
| Price and ordering | |
| Price | No US price published |
| Part number | 317821Compact Retract 70, 12 V 317822Compact Retract 85, 24 V 600128Compact Retract 100, 48 V |
| Documents | |
| Manual | Installation manual (PDF)on the maker's site |
| The site’s review | Max Power thruster review |
Every published figure the site holds for the Max Power Compact Retract, with where each came from.
Draw, cable, fuse and battery at each voltage
These are the maker’s own figures, at each voltage it is sold at. The cable is the size for the shortest run in the maker’s table. A longer run may need heavier cable, and the wiring calculator works that out for your own boat.
| Voltage | Draw | Maker’s cable | Fuse | Battery | Run limit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 V | 105 Anominal draw | 1 AWG for up to 16 ft of cable counted out and back. Longer runs take heavier cableCompact Retract 48V installation manual | 50 A ceramic or 63 A ANLCompact Retract 48V manual | The manual names the example starting battery, four in series, lead-acid onlyMax Power installation manual Compact Retract 48V, May 2026 | Not published |
The Max Power Compact Retract’s draw, cable, fuse, battery and run limit, as the maker publishes them.
- At 48 V: size the cable for your run, or check the battery you have.
Our notes from the manual and listings
In the box: Delivered without accessories: the fuse, holder and control panel are bought.
Compact Retract 70, 12 V
A compact, lightweight retractable in a composite body, built for yachts of 30 to 52 ft by Max Power's page and installed as an option by a number of sailboat builders. It bolts onto a flange rather than being laminated into the hull, and has the smallest hull opening on the market by the maker's claim. The box holds the joystick, the control system, the cable and the support.
A brushed motor rated S2, two minutes at a stretch. At 12 V the manual names one example starting battery, 800 cold cranking amps and 50 Ah.
Compact Retract 85, 24 V
At 24 V it takes two of the manual's example starting batteries in series.
Compact Retract 100, 48 V
The 48 V build; its own manual (May 2026) measures about 105 A at 45.6 V, wants four starting batteries in series, and allows lead-acid only. Max Power publishes no price and sells through dealers.
Where each point above comes from
- The boat comes out of the water to install it: it needs a large hull opening below the waterline.The mounting: a bore through the hull, or a housing recessed into it
- No US dollar price is published for it, so we can work out no installed cost.The maker and the dealers the database reads
Not sure this is the one? The thruster finder asks about your boat and prices every unit that fits.