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Quick · retractable thruster · bow
Quick BTR 185: specs, price and the boats it fits
It gives 143 to 231 lb of push, across three sizes. Quick sells it for boats of 26 to 49 ft. It runs on 12 V or 24 V.
- Haul-out to install
- DIY 1 of 5: yard job
- 3-year warranty
Choose a size
The Quick BTR 185 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 | Quick’s boat length | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BTR 185-65 | 143 lb (65 kgf) | 12 or 24 V | 26 to 36 ft | $12,436 to $13,728 |
| BTR 185-85 | 187 lb (85 kgf) | 12 or 24 V | 33 to 43 ft | $15,717 |
| BTR 185-105 | 231 lb (105 kgf) | 12 or 24 V | 39 to 49 ft | $16,295 to $17,991 |
From the database. The figures are Quick’s and the dealers’.
Quick stats
- Thrust 143 lb 65 kgf, Quick's rating
- Boat length 26 to 36 ft Quick's own range
- Price per lb of thrust $86.97 Unit only. $148 to $175 installed
- Voltage 12 V or 24 V As sold
- Battery at 12 V 550 CCA and 120 Ah One battery, near the thruster
- Run limit Not published Quick prints none for the motor. Its control panel cuts the command after about five minutes
- To install it Haul-out The boat comes out of the water
- Anodes $217.49 A change. More than twice another maker's
Quick stats
- Thrust 187 lb 85 kgf, Quick's rating
- Boat length 33 to 43 ft Quick's own range
- Price per lb of thrust $84.05 Unit only. $131 to $170 installed
- Voltage 12 V or 24 V As sold
- Battery at 12 V 1,000 CCA and 200 Ah One battery, near the thruster
- Run limit Not published Quick prints none for the motor. Its control panel cuts the command after about five minutes
- To install it Haul-out The boat comes out of the water
- Anodes $217.49 A change. More than twice another maker's
Quick stats
- Thrust 231 lb 105 kgf, Quick's rating
- Boat length 39 to 49 ft Quick's own range
- Price per lb of thrust $70.54 Unit only. $113 to $165 installed
- Voltage 12 V or 24 V As sold
- Battery at 12 V 550 CCA and 125 Ah Two batteries, near the thruster
- Run limit Not published Quick prints none for the motor. Its control panel cuts the command after about five minutes
- To install it Haul-out The boat comes out of the water
- Anodes $217.49 A change. More than twice another maker's
About the Quick BTR 185
The BTR 185 gives a sailboat a bow thruster that disappears when you don’t need it. It drops down out of the hull when you switch it on and tucks back up when you’re done, so nothing sits in the water while you sail. It’s made for boats of about 26 to 49 ft, with about 143 to 231 lb of push. Hanse installed it at the factory on its 385, 415 and 445 sailboats from 2013, and it was in Quick’s 2012 catalog.
Quick’s US store lists it from $12,436, for the thruster alone. It mounts in the hull on a flange, and the store says the flange is required and sold separately, for another $1,182. You will need to spend another $540 on the controller as it is not included in the price. Add about $1,324 to $2,771 for batteries, cable and a charger. See the cost table below.
Read more
Owners point to the moving parts as the thing to watch. Three Hanse owners have had trouble with the motor that raises and lowers it, or with its limit switches, and Quick later installed an improved version of that motor and its control box. That kit is $2,150 today. Two more owners hit the overheat cut-out after long dockings in strong crosswinds, and one waited over six months for parts.
Quick says the thruster isn’t meant for continuous use, so the panel cuts it after about 5 minutes 40 seconds of running for a 20 minute rest. Raise and lower it only at slow speed, 4 knots or less, and it retracts on its own 6 minutes after you last touch the controls.
Installing it yourself? The installer section has every spec, and the Quick thruster review sets this model against the rest of the Quick range.
Where this summary comes from (12 sources, read 11 October 2026)
- Quick USA store product page
- Quick thruster catalog, December 2012 (BTQ and BTR ranges)
- Quick BTR Series installation manual, REV002A
- Boating Industry Canada, 18 May 2023: Quick thruster production began in 2007
- Quick TCD 2022/2042 control panel manual, REV001a
- Quick USA store: thrusters, panels, tubes, fuses and spares
- Quick USA: conditions of warranty
- myHanse, Aug 2014: BTR 185 limit-switch shutdowns on a new Hanse 445
- myHanse, Jul 2016: brushes, relay and a six-month parts wait
- myHanse, Aug 2016: thruster stops after hard use in a crosswind
- myHanse, Nov 2017: BTR1808512 ram and control box, Mk 1 and Mk 2
- myHanse, Jun 2022: Quick stern thruster, brushes and the overheat lockout
Will the Quick BTR 185 steer your boat?
39 FT TRAWLER · BOW · 15 KT WIND
Every knot figure here is wind speed, not boat speed or current.
On a 39 ft trawler the Quick BTR 185 (143 lb) steers her in an 18 knot breeze. Her bow needs about 103 lb from a retractable to steer her in a 15 knot breeze.
The finder leaves it off her list. It shows the BTR 185-85 for her instead.
The Quick BTR 185 on a trawler, by length
- 25 ft28 kt
- 30 ft23 kt
- 35 ft20 kt
- 40 ft18 kt
- 45 ft15 kt
- 50 ft14 kt
- 55 ft12.6 kt
- 60 ft12 kt
- 65 ft11 kt
- 70 ft10 kt
- 75 ft9 kt
- 80 ft9 kt
Outlined: the finder does not list it at that length (under 13 kt, far more than she needs, or outside Quick’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 | 34 to 39 ft | None |
| Houseboat | 30 to 36 ft | 37 to 39 ftfull thrust to about 13 knots at 39 ft |
| Catamaran | 39 ft only | None |
| Trawler | 34 to 39 ft | None |
| Motor yacht | 35 to 39 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 | No length. More thrust than the boat needs. | |
| Center console | No length. More thrust than the boat needs. | |
The Quick BTR 185 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 36 ft, and a sailboat to 39 ft. The maker gives one range for every boat.
The table tries the Quick BTR 185 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 39 ft, just past Quick’s own range (26 to 36 ft).
It is sized for five 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 | $21,036 to $24,800$147 to $173 a lb of thrust |
| 35 ft | $21,116 to $25,040$148 to $175 a lb of thrust |
| 39 ft | $21,196 to $28,110$148 to $197 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 $1,880 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 | $12,436 to $13,728 | $6,400 to $7,200about 40 hours | $540 to $1,450 | $1,324 to $1,607 | $336 to $815 |
| 35 ft | $12,436 to $13,728 | $6,400 to $7,200about 40 hours | $620 to $1,690 | $1,324 to $1,607 | $336 to $815 |
| 39 ft | $12,436 to $13,728 | $6,400 to $10,08040 to 56 hours | $700 to $1,880 | $1,324 to $1,607 | $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 550 CCA and 120 Ah (Quick’s minimum), $998 for the battery; Quick’s cable table gives 3/0 to 2 x 1/0 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.
- At 24 V: two 12 V batteries in series, at least 450 CCA and 80 Ah each (Quick’s minimum), $1,147 for both; Quick’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: none Yard: 40 to 88 hours Electrician: in the yard’s hours Plus a haul-out.
Every step, and who does it
- The whole job: housing, unit and wiring 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.
Quick’s manual: “Installation and subsequent inspection or repair work must only be carried out by qualified personnel.” The manual.
Hours are labor only.
Will the Quick BTR 185 steer your boat?
47 FT TRAWLER · BOW · 15 KT WIND
Every knot figure here is wind speed, not boat speed or current.
On a 47 ft trawler the Quick BTR 185 (187 lb) steers her in a 17 knot breeze. Her bow needs about 148 lb from a retractable to steer her in a 15 knot breeze.
The finder leaves it off her list. It shows the BTR 185-105 for her instead.
The Quick BTR 185 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 Quick’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 47 ft | None |
| Houseboat | 30 to 41 ft | 42 to 46 ftfull thrust to about 13 knots at 46 ft |
| Catamaran | 43 to 47 ft | None |
| Trawler | 38 to 47 ft | None |
| Motor yacht | 38 to 47 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 | No length. More thrust than the boat needs. | |
| Center console | No length. More thrust than the boat needs. | |
The Quick BTR 185 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 sailboat to 47 ft. The maker gives one range for every boat.
The table tries the Quick BTR 185 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 down to 30 ft and up to 47 ft, just past Quick’s own range (33 to 43 ft).
It is sized for five 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 | $24,317 to $27,638$130 to $148 a lb of thrust |
| 40 ft | $24,487 to $31,718$131 to $170 a lb of thrust |
| 47 ft | $24,717 to $37,098$132 to $198 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 $2,270 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 | $15,717 | $6,400 to $7,200about 40 hours | $540 to $1,450 | $1,324 to $2,456 | $336 to $815 |
| 40 ft | $15,717 | $6,400 to $10,80040 to 60 hours | $710 to $1,930 | $1,324 to $2,456 | $336 to $815 |
| 47 ft | $15,717 | $6,400 to $15,84040 to 88 hours | $940 to $2,270 | $1,324 to $2,456 | $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 1,000 CCA and 200 Ah (Quick’s minimum), $998 for the battery; Quick’s cable table gives 2 x 1/0 to 2 x 3/0 AWG, priced on 4/0 to 2 x 4/0 AWG, the nearest size cut to length: $180 to $629 for the red and black cable and the lugs; a GEN5X2 charger, $146.
- At 24 V: two 12 V batteries in series, at least 800 CCA and 150 Ah each (Quick’s minimum), $1,996 for both; Quick’s cable table gives 3/0 to 2 x 1/0 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: none Yard: 40 to 88 hours Electrician: in the yard’s hours Plus a haul-out.
Every step, and who does it
- The whole job: housing, unit and wiring 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.
Quick’s manual: “Installation and subsequent inspection or repair work must only be carried out by qualified personnel.” The manual.
Hours are labor only.
Will the Quick BTR 185 steer your boat?
53 FT TRAWLER · BOW · 15 KT WIND
Every knot figure here is wind speed, not boat speed or current.
On a 53 ft trawler the Quick BTR 185 (231 lb) steers her in a 17 knot breeze. Her bow needs about 188 lb from a retractable to steer her in a 15 knot breeze.
The finder lists it for her.
The Quick BTR 185 on a trawler, by length
- 25 ft35 kt
- 30 ft29 kt
- 35 ft25 kt
- 40 ft22 kt
- 45 ft20 kt
- 50 ft18 kt
- 55 ft16 kt
- 60 ft15 kt
- 65 ft14 kt
- 70 ft12.5 kt
- 75 ft12 kt
- 80 ft11 kt
Outlined: the finder does not list it at that length (under 13 kt, far more than she needs, or outside Quick’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 53 ft | None |
| Houseboat | 36 to 45 ft | 46 to 51 ftfull thrust to about 13 knots at 51 ft |
| Catamaran | 48 to 53 ft | None |
| Trawler | 42 to 53 ft | None |
| Motor yacht | 42 to 53 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 ft only | None |
| Center console | No length. More thrust than the boat needs. | |
The Quick BTR 185 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 45 ft, and a sailboat to 53 ft. The maker gives one range for every boat.
The table tries the Quick BTR 185 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 down to 36 ft and up to 53 ft, just past Quick’s own range (39 to 49 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 |
|---|---|
| 36 ft | $25,993 to $31,237$113 to $135 a lb of thrust |
| 45 ft | $26,153 to $38,147$113 to $165 a lb of thrust |
| 53 ft | $26,393 to $39,977$114 to $173 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 $640 to $2,560 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 ft | $16,295 to $17,991 | $6,400 to $7,92040 to 44 hours | $640 to $1,740 | $2,322 to $2,771 | $336 to $815 |
| 45 ft | $16,295 to $17,991 | $6,400 to $14,40040 to 80 hours | $800 to $2,170 | $2,322 to $2,771 | $336 to $815 |
| 53 ft | $16,295 to $17,991 | $6,400 to $15,84040 to 88 hours | $1,040 to $2,560 | $2,322 to $2,771 | $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: two 12 V batteries side by side (in parallel), at least 550 CCA and 125 Ah each (Quick’s minimum), $1,996 for both; Quick’s cable table gives 2 x 3/0 to 2 x 4/0 AWG, priced on 2 x 4/0 AWG, the nearest size cut to length: $360 to $629 for the red and black cable and the lugs; a GEN5X2 charger, $146.
- At 24 V: two 12 V batteries in series, at least 800 CCA and 150 Ah each (Quick’s minimum), $1,996 for both; Quick’s cable table gives 3/0 to 2 x 1/0 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: none Yard: 40 to 88 hours Electrician: in the yard’s hours Plus a haul-out.
Every step, and who does it
- The whole job: housing, unit and wiring 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.
Quick’s manual: “Installation and subsequent inspection or repair work must only be carried out by qualified personnel.” The manual.
Hours are labor only.
Related videos
One from Quick’s own channel and one from other channels. Each one is labeled. They play from YouTube only when you tap. Take any claim in a video back to the figures on this page, which are the ones we checked.
Know before you buy
What sets this model apart, what it costs to keep, and what to weigh.
Price per pound of thrust
$86.97 a lb The unit’s price over its published thrust, on the smallest size. The bars are Quick’s next sizes and the nearest other makers.Controls
The thruster, a drilling template, gasket and O-ring. The TCD panel and the fuse holder are bought.
- Quick TCD 2062, no US price found.
- The control cable your manual names, no US price found.
Pricey wear part: anodes
$217.49 a change- Anode (FVSGANBTR18AA00): $217.49 at Quick USA.
A change costs $217.49. That is over ten times the $20.89 for Lewmar’s anode on the same 185 mm tunnel (589350, Fisheries Supply). An anode is a plain block of metal that wears away by design, so you will buy it again.
They sit below the waterline, so a change means a haul-out or a diver.
Service and warranty
Quick gives at least 3 years from purchase, with repair or replacement at Quick's discretion. It is void if maintenance is done by anyone Quick has not authorized, or with parts that are not original. Removal and reinstalling are at your cost.
See Quick’s warranty Quick USA's conditions of warranty.Special mentions
Battery: at 12 V it wants one battery of 550 CCA and 120 Ah or more, Quick's figure. The cheapest that meets it is the Odyssey Extreme PC1800-FT start / deep cycle, $998.12.
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 Quick BTR 185
See the Quick BTR 185 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 Quick’s BTR Series installation manual REV 002A, read 16 October 2026.
- In the box
- The retractable thruster, its O-ring, hinge, hatch bracket and steel wire rope, with the manual and the warranty terms.
- Bought separately
- The counter flange, a TCD control panel, a TSC or TMS line switch, the PSS parallel battery switch, the TFH fuse holder and its fuse, a battery switch and the cable. The closing hatch is made from the piece cut out of the hull.
- Charging
- The manual gives a battery table by model, in amp-hours and cold cranking amps, and a diagram with the panel on the service battery. It says nothing about how the thruster bank is charged.
In Quick’s words, from its BTQ Series installation manual REV 005A and the TCD control manual, page 10: “Standard supply and material included in the package: Thruster, Drilling template, Gasket, O-ring, Installation and use manual, Conditions of warranty.”
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.
Control panel
Ask for Quick TCD 2062.
Not sold at Fisheries Supply. Ask a Quick dealer.
Control cable, panel to thruster
Ask for The control cable your manual names.
Not sold at Fisheries Supply. Ask the panel dealer.
Main fuse
Ask for 275 A CNL DIN fuse. This one is for the BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 12 V version.
Quick's figure for the BTR 185-65 (BTR manual, REV 002A). Quick lists its TFH holders for it. Not listed at Fisheries Supply; ask a Quick dealer.
Main fuse
Ask for 175 A CNL DIN fuse. This one is for the BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 24 V version.
Quick's figure for the BTR 185-65 (BTR manual, REV 002A). Quick lists its TFH holders for it. Not listed at Fisheries Supply; ask a Quick dealer.
Main fuse
Ask for 400 A CNL DIN fuse. This one is for the BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 12 V version.
Quick's figure for the BTR 185-85 (BTR manual, REV 002A). Quick lists its TFH holders for it. Not listed at Fisheries Supply; ask a Quick dealer.
Main fuse
Ask for 275 A CNL DIN fuse. This one is for the BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 24 V version.
Quick's figure for the BTR 185-85 (BTR manual, REV 002A). Quick lists its TFH holders for it. Not listed at Fisheries Supply; ask a Quick dealer.
Main fuse
Ask for 400 A CNL DIN fuse. This one is for the BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 12 V version.
Quick's figure for the BTR 185-105 (BTR manual, REV 002A). Quick lists its TFH holders for it. Not listed at Fisheries Supply; ask a Quick dealer.
Main fuse
Ask for 275 A CNL DIN fuse. This one is for the BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 24 V version.
Quick's figure for the BTR 185-105 (BTR manual, REV 002A). Quick lists its TFH holders for it. Not listed at Fisheries Supply; ask a Quick dealer.
Fuse holder
Ask for Quick TFH fuse holder for the CNL fuse.
Ask the dealer who sells the fuse.
Battery switch
Fisheries Supply lists it as “m-Series 300 A battery switch, on/off”. This one is for the BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 12 V and BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 24 V and BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 24 V version.
Rated at or above the 275 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 BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 24 V version.
Rated at or above the 175 A main fuse. If your manual names its own switch, use that one.
Battery switch
Fisheries Supply lists it as “HD-Series 600 A battery switch, on/off”. This one is for the BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 12 V and BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 12 V version.
Rated at or above the 400 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 a 4 A fast-blow fuse on the control supply, with a switch.
Actuator fuse holder
Fisheries Supply lists it as “Waterproof in-line ATO/ATC fuse holder”.
The BTR wiring diagram feeds the actuator board from the services battery through a 10 A fast-blow fuse and a switch.
Batteries
Ask for 1 at 550 CCA and 120 Ah or more. This one is for the BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 12 V version.
No listing at Fisheries Supply meets this in stock.
Batteries
Fisheries Supply lists it as “Odyssey Extreme G27 starting / deep cycle”. This one is for the BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 24 V version.
You need 2, each at 450 CCA and 80 Ah or more, in series for 24 V. The cheapest listing that meets it.
Batteries
Ask for 1 at 1,000 CCA and 200 Ah or more. This one is for the BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 12 V version.
No listing at Fisheries Supply meets this in stock.
Batteries
Ask for 2 at 800 CCA and 150 Ah or more, in series for 24 V. This one is for the BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 24 V and BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 24 V version.
You need 2. No listing at Fisheries Supply meets this in stock.
Batteries
Ask for 2 at 550 CCA and 125 Ah or more, in parallel. This one is for the BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 12 V version.
You need 2. No listing at Fisheries Supply meets this in stock.
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 BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 12 V and BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 24 V and BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 24 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 BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 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 4/0 AWG, cut to length, red or black”. This one is for the BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 12 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 4/0 AWG, cut to length, red or black”. This one is for the BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 12 V version.
You need 10 ft of each color, twice over (20 ft of each). 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.
Cable lugs
Fisheries Supply lists it as “Tin-plated starter lugs, 4/0 AWG, bag of 10”. This one is for the BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 12 V and BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 24 V and BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 24 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 BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 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, 4/0 AWG, bag of 10”. This one is for the BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 12 V version.
This is the short run. A longer run takes heavier cable: the wiring calculator sizes yours. 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, 4/0 AWG, bag of 10”. This one is for the BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 12 V version.
You need 2 bags. The listing runs $47.52 to $49.44 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”.
Or a DC-to-DC charger from the house system: ask the electrician.
Counter flange
Ask for Quick counter flange: stainless steel, aluminum alloy or GRP.
Sold separately from the thruster; the yard laminates or welds it into the hull. Ask a Quick dealer.
Line switch
Ask for Quick TMS line switch.
The TCD 2062 control works only with a TMS line switch. Not included.
Outside the hull replacement parts in the water
Anode
The metal that wears away in the water so the drive does not. Quick calls it “BTR Anodes, Model 185”.
Read on Quick USA, Quick's own US store; Quick's manual site could not be opened.
Propeller, left hand
The propeller on the drive. Quick calls it “Propellers, Model BTQ/BTR 185, Prop Side Left”.
Read on Quick USA, Quick's own US store; Quick's manual site could not be opened. Quick USA lists right and left hand props for the 185. Double propeller units take one of each; check which hand a single propeller unit takes before ordering.
Propeller, right hand
The propeller on the drive. Quick calls it “Propellers, Model BTQ/BTR 185, Prop Side Right”.
Read on Quick USA, Quick's own US store; Quick's manual site could not be opened. Quick USA lists right and left hand props for the 185. Double propeller units take one of each; check which hand a single propeller unit takes before ordering.
Inside the boat replacement parts on board
Retract control board
Quick calls it “OSP RTC BOARD BTR REPLACEMENT, BTR 185, 12V”. This one is for the 12 V version. It fits the BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 12V and BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 12V and BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 12V sizes on this page.
Read on Quick USA, Quick's own US store; Quick's manual site could not be opened.
Retract control board
Quick calls it “OSP RTC BOARD BTR REPLACEMENT, BTR 185, 24V”. This one is for the 24 V version. It fits the BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 24V and BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 24V and BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 24V sizes on this page.
Read on Quick USA, Quick's own US store; Quick's manual site could not be opened.
Retract control board and lift actuator kit
Quick calls it “Quick OSP Kit with RTC and Actuator, BTR 185, 12V”. This one is for the 12 V version. It fits the BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 12V and BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 12V and BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 12V sizes on this page.
Read on Quick USA, Quick's own US store; Quick's manual site could not be opened.
Retract control board and lift actuator kit
Quick calls it “Quick OSP Kit with RTC and Actuator, BTR 185, 24V”. This one is for the 24 V version. It fits the BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 24V and BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 24V and BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 24V sizes on this page.
Read on Quick USA, Quick's own US store; Quick's manual site could not be opened.
No part matches. Try the number without spaces, or the part’s name.
The install parts are matched to Quick’s own figures and priced at Fisheries Supply, with the battery cable at Defender, cut to length.
Spare part numbers come from Quick’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 Quick BTR 250 three sizes, 265 to 529 lb · $23,840 to $26,476
- Other maker Max Power Compact Retract three sizes, 154 to 220 lb · $7,370
- Other maker Sleipner ERV100 eVision 220 lb · $14,500
- Other maker Lewmar RT185 MX Gen 2 214 lb · $8,687 to $9,034
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 | 143 lb (65 kgf) As printed: 65 kgf (143.3 lbs) |
| Motor | 3.3 kW |
| Voltage | 12 V or 24 V |
| Run limit | Not published |
| Installation | |
| Type | Retractable, drops down |
| End of the boat | Bow |
| 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 | 26 to 36 ft |
| Price and ordering | |
| Price | $12,436 to $13,728 equipment only, the maker's own price, quickusastore.com, 26 October 2026 |
| Part number | FGBTR1806512T00BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 12 V FGBTR1806524T00BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 24 V FGBTR1808512T00BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 12 V FGBTR1808524T00BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 24 V FGBTR1810512T00BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 12 V FGBTR1810524T00BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 24 V |
| Documents | |
| Manual | Installation manual (PDF)on the maker's site |
| The site’s review | Quick thruster review |
Every published figure the site holds for the Quick BTR 185, with where each came from.
Our notes from the manual and listings
In the box: The thruster, a drilling template, gasket and O-ring. The TCD panel and the fuse holder are bought.
BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 12 V
A retractable: the unit lives in a housing let into the hull and drops when used. It is a bigger yard job than a tunnel, with an actuator, limit switches and a control box to keep working. Twin counter-rotating propellers in bronze and stainless. The 65 kgf version, the same 3.3 kW motor as the BTQ 185 DP 65.
The category page puts the BTR 185 series on boats of 29 to 52 ft. The band here is the US store's. No product page gives a run time. The installation manual says the unit is not designed for continuous use and leaves the limit to the control panel. The panel's own manual cuts the command after about five minutes and resets it after a cool-down the panel computes.
The warranty runs three years from purchase, with repair or replacement at Quick's discretion. The warranty is void for maintenance by anyone Quick has not authorized or for non-original parts. Removal and reinstalling are at your cost. The price is Quick's US store's own for this size at 12 V, read 12 October.
BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 24 V
The price is Quick's US store's own for this size at 24 V, read 12 October.
BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 12 V
The 85 kgf version, the same 4.3 kW motor as the BTQ 185 DP 85. Quick announced a brushless QSY range in September 2026, rated for ten minutes' continuous running. The QSY range will sit beside this brushed line.
BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 12 V
The 105 kgf version, the same 6.3 kW motor as the BTQ 185 DP 105.
Where each point above comes from
- It is sold at 12 V and at 24 V.The maker's and dealers' listings
- 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 kgf (187.4 lbs) |
| Motor | 4.3 kW |
| Voltage | 12 V or 24 V |
| Run limit | Not published |
| Installation | |
| Type | Retractable, drops down |
| End of the boat | Bow |
| 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 | 33 to 43 ft |
| Price and ordering | |
| Price | $15,717 equipment only, the maker's own price, quickusastore.com, 26 October 2026 |
| Part number | FGBTR1806512T00BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 12 V FGBTR1806524T00BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 24 V FGBTR1808512T00BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 12 V FGBTR1808524T00BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 24 V FGBTR1810512T00BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 12 V FGBTR1810524T00BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 24 V |
| Documents | |
| Manual | Installation manual (PDF)on the maker's site |
| The site’s review | Quick thruster review |
Every published figure the site holds for the Quick BTR 185, with where each came from.
Our notes from the manual and listings
In the box: The thruster, a drilling template, gasket and O-ring. The TCD panel and the fuse holder are bought.
BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 12 V
A retractable: the unit lives in a housing let into the hull and drops when used. It is a bigger yard job than a tunnel, with an actuator, limit switches and a control box to keep working. Twin counter-rotating propellers in bronze and stainless. The 65 kgf version, the same 3.3 kW motor as the BTQ 185 DP 65.
The category page puts the BTR 185 series on boats of 29 to 52 ft. The band here is the US store's. No product page gives a run time. The installation manual says the unit is not designed for continuous use and leaves the limit to the control panel. The panel's own manual cuts the command after about five minutes and resets it after a cool-down the panel computes.
The warranty runs three years from purchase, with repair or replacement at Quick's discretion. The warranty is void for maintenance by anyone Quick has not authorized or for non-original parts. Removal and reinstalling are at your cost. The price is Quick's US store's own for this size at 12 V, read 12 October.
BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 24 V
The price is Quick's US store's own for this size at 24 V, read 12 October.
BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 12 V
The 85 kgf version, the same 4.3 kW motor as the BTQ 185 DP 85. Quick announced a brushless QSY range in September 2026, rated for ten minutes' continuous running. The QSY range will sit beside this brushed line.
BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 12 V
The 105 kgf version, the same 6.3 kW motor as the BTQ 185 DP 105.
Where each point above comes from
- It is sold at 12 V and at 24 V.The maker's and dealers' listings
- 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 | 231 lb (105 kgf) As printed: 105 kgf (231.5 lbs) |
| Motor | 6.3 kW |
| Voltage | 12 V or 24 V |
| Run limit | Not published |
| Installation | |
| Type | Retractable, drops down |
| End of the boat | Bow |
| 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 | 39 to 49 ft |
| Price and ordering | |
| Price | $16,295 to $17,991 equipment only, the maker's own price, quickusastore.com, 26 October 2026 |
| Part number | FGBTR1806512T00BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 12 V FGBTR1806524T00BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 24 V FGBTR1808512T00BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 12 V FGBTR1808524T00BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 24 V FGBTR1810512T00BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 12 V FGBTR1810524T00BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 24 V |
| Documents | |
| Manual | Installation manual (PDF)on the maker's site |
| The site’s review | Quick thruster review |
Every published figure the site holds for the Quick BTR 185, with where each came from.
Our notes from the manual and listings
In the box: The thruster, a drilling template, gasket and O-ring. The TCD panel and the fuse holder are bought.
BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 12 V
A retractable: the unit lives in a housing let into the hull and drops when used. It is a bigger yard job than a tunnel, with an actuator, limit switches and a control box to keep working. Twin counter-rotating propellers in bronze and stainless. The 65 kgf version, the same 3.3 kW motor as the BTQ 185 DP 65.
The category page puts the BTR 185 series on boats of 29 to 52 ft. The band here is the US store's. No product page gives a run time. The installation manual says the unit is not designed for continuous use and leaves the limit to the control panel. The panel's own manual cuts the command after about five minutes and resets it after a cool-down the panel computes.
The warranty runs three years from purchase, with repair or replacement at Quick's discretion. The warranty is void for maintenance by anyone Quick has not authorized or for non-original parts. Removal and reinstalling are at your cost. The price is Quick's US store's own for this size at 12 V, read 12 October.
BTR 185-65, 65 KGF, 24 V
The price is Quick's US store's own for this size at 24 V, read 12 October.
BTR 185-85, 85 KGF, 12 V
The 85 kgf version, the same 4.3 kW motor as the BTQ 185 DP 85. Quick announced a brushless QSY range in September 2026, rated for ten minutes' continuous running. The QSY range will sit beside this brushed line.
BTR 185-105, 105 KGF, 12 V
The 105 kgf version, the same 6.3 kW motor as the BTQ 185 DP 105.
Where each point above comes from
- It is sold at 12 V and at 24 V.The maker's and dealers' listings
- 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
Not sure this is the one? The thruster finder asks about your boat and prices every unit that fits.