Thrusterpedia

Which boat thruster, what it costs, how to get it installed

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Drawing of a retractable thruster: a door in the hull bottom, hinged at its forward edge, swung down with the thruster on it.
Our drawing of a retractable thruster, the same for every maker. It is not Sleipner’s own design.

Sleipner · retractable thruster · bow or stern

Sleipner ERV210 eVision: specs, price and the boats it fits

It gives 463 lb (210 kgf) of push. Sleipner sells it for boats of 56 to 79 ft. It runs on 24 V or 48 V.

The unit$28,545Equipment only, Imtra, read 26 October 2026
Installed by a yard, 65 ft boat$37,733 to $50,274Our estimate: the unit, labor, haul-out, battery and parts
  • Haul-out to install
  • DIY 2 of 5: wiring prep only
  • 2-year warranty

Quick stats

  • Thrust 463 lb 210 kgf, Sleipner's rating
  • Boat length 56 to 79 ft Sleipner's own range
  • Price per lb of thrust $61.65 Unit only. $81 to $109 installed
  • Voltage 24 V or 48 V As sold
  • Battery at 24 V 1,140 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, bow or stern

About the Sleipner ERV210 eVision

The ERV210 is the strongest 250 mm eVision retractable: 463 lb of push for boats of about 56 to 79 ft, at 24 or 48 V, with its brushless motor standing upright.

Imtra lists the 24 V unit at $28,545, before a separate tariff line. At 24 V the manual gives 600 A and an ANL 500 fuse, so the 48 V build, at 320 A, is much lighter to wire. See the specs.

Read more

The manual gives 2 to 3 minutes at full thrust at 20 C, where the product page says continuous. It weighs about 91 kg. Warranty: two years.

Installing it yourself? The installer section has every spec, and the Sleipner (Side-Power) review sets this model against the rest of the Sleipner range.

Sleipner sold its thrusters under the Side-Power name until 2021, and many dealers and owners still call them that. It is the same company and the same thrusters.

Where this summary comes from (5 sources, read 15 October 2026)

Will the Sleipner ERV210 eVision steer your boat?

80 FT TRAWLER · BOW · 15 KT WIND

Size forThis page always opens on Steering.

Every knot figure here is wind speed, not boat speed or current.

Steers her at 16 kt

On a 80 ft trawler the Sleipner ERV210 eVision (463 lb) steers her in a 16 knot breeze. Her bow needs about 428 lb from a retractable to steer her in a 15 knot breeze.

The finder lists it for her.

28 FT LEVER ERV210 eVision pivot

A retractable at the bow of a 80 ft trawler 428 lb ★ this unit · 1 to 2: the two cheapest others that steer her at 13 kt or more, installed

  1. ★ Sleipner ERV210 eVision this unit 463 lb · retractable from $37,983 Steers her at 16 kt
  2. 1 Quick BTR 250-240 529 lb · retractable from $37,024 Steers her at 17 kt
  3. 2 Lewmar 250VRTT Vertical Retractable 353 lb · retractable from $38,374 Steers her at 14 kt

The Sleipner ERV210 eVision on a trawler, by length

  1. 25 ft50 kt
  2. 30 ft42 kt
  3. 35 ft36 kt
  4. 40 ft31 kt
  5. 45 ft28 kt
  6. 50 ft25 kt
  7. 55 ft23 kt
  8. 60 ft21 kt
  9. 65 ft19 kt
  10. 70 ft18 kt
  11. 75 ft17 kt
  12. 80 ft16 kt

Outlined: the finder does not list it at that length (under 13 kt, far more than she needs, or outside Sleipner’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?

What Sleipner says 56 to 79 ft The maker's own range, from its listing
What our sizing says 64 to 80 ft Full thrust in 15 knots, across the kinds of boat it fits
Every kind of boat it fits, by length ten boat types
Which boats it fits, by length
Boat Full thrust at 15 knotsStill 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 60 to 80 ft None
Houseboat 51 to 64 ft 65 to 73 ftfull thrust to about 13 knots at 73 ft
Catamaran 68 to 80 ft None
Trawler 59 to 80 ft None
Motor yacht 59 to 80 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 Sleipner ERV210 eVision 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 64 ft, and a sailboat to 80 ft. The maker gives one range for every boat.

The table tries the Sleipner ERV210 eVision 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 51 ft and up to 80 ft, just past Sleipner’s own range (56 to 79 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.

Installed by a yard
Boat Total installed
51 ft $37,503 to $49,594$81 to $107 a lb of thrust
65 ft $37,733 to $50,274$81 to $109 a lb of thrust
80 ft $37,983 to $50,994$82 to $110 a lb of thrust

From the shortest to the longest boat it is sized for.

What is in each total five lines

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 $1,010 to $3,860 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.

Each line of the estimate
Boat length The unit Yard labor Haul-out Batteries, cable, charger Other parts
51 ft $28,545 $6,400 to $15,84040 to 88 hours $1,010 to $2,460 $1,212 to $1,934 $336 to $815
65 ft $28,545 $6,400 to $15,84040 to 88 hours $1,240 to $3,140 $1,212 to $1,934 $336 to $815
80 ft $28,545 $6,400 to $15,84040 to 88 hours $1,490 to $3,860 $1,212 to $1,934 $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 1,140 CCA each (Sleipner’s minimum), $886 to $1,104 for both; Sleipner’s cable table gives 3/0 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 48 V: four 12 V batteries in series, at least 608 CCA each (Sleipner’s minimum), $1,440 for all four; Sleipner’s cable table gives 2/0 AWG: $114 to $201 for the red and black cable and the lugs; two GEN5X2 chargers, $293.

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 2 of 5: Wiring prep only. The yard installs the unit and does the hull work; you do the wiring prep.

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 DIY

You: 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 three steps
  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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

Two of Sleipner’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.

Solo Sailing Made Easy: X-Yachts Reviews Sleipner's ERV100 Retract Thrusters on the XC-47Maker Sleipner’s own channel
Sleipner Retract Installation guide for the SRV and SRL models (2019).Maker Sleipner’s own channel

Know before you buy

What sets this model apart, what it costs to keep, and what to weigh.

Price per pound of thrust

$61.65 a lb The unit’s price over its published thrust. The bars are Sleipner’s next sizes and the nearest other makers.

Controls

A brushless eVision motor on S-Link control. The panel, fuse and main switch are bought.

  • Sleipner PJC2xx, no US price found.

Service and warranty

Sleipner gives 2 years for leisure use and 1 for commercial use. It transfers to the next owner, and it starts no later than 18 months after the boat's first launch.

See Sleipner’s warranty Sleipner's warranty statement, effective 1 April 2022.

Special mentions

Battery: at 24 V it wants two batteries of 1,140 CCA or more, Sleipner's figure. The cheapest that meets it is the Dyno Group 8D heavy duty marine starting (flooded), $443.02. A sealed one is the Lifeline GPL-3100HC Group 31 AGM starting, $551.95. Check your own bank.

Charger: a NOCO GEN5X2 two-bank shore charger, $146.41. It is the one our estimate prices.

Sleipner sells it for either end, so it can go at the bow or the stern.

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 Sleipner ERV210 eVision

See the Sleipner ERV210 eVision manual

The US dealer number comes first, then Sleipner’s own. 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

22 parts

The manual button above opens it on the maker's product page. It has the hull, wiring and fuse figures for this model.

From Sleipner’s eVision retract installation manuals, documents 7444 rev 13 and 7241 rev 22, 2025 and 2026, read 16 October 2026.

In the box
The manuals print no box list. They do not say whether the SRF flange or the controller is in the box.
Bought separately
The battery, the ANL fuse, a main switch (manual or Sleipner's automatic one), the battery cable, the control panel, and the S-Link cables with their T-connectors and end terminators.
Charging
The word "charging" is not in any of the Sleipner guides we read. The battery is sized by cold cranking amps, and a battery near the thruster is suggested. How it gets charged is left to you and your installer.

In Sleipner’s words, from its SE80 to SE150 installation guide, document 2687 rev 30, page 19: “For installations on large vessels with bow and stern thrusters or catamarans a dedicated battery for each thruster should be considered.”

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 Sleipner PJC2xx.

Not sold at Fisheries Supply. Ask a Sleipner dealer. For eVision, a PJC2xx panel needs hardware V3.000 or newer and firmware V3.018 or newer; the PJC3xx does not work with it.

Part number See the line above.

S-Link backbone cable

Fisheries Supply lists it as “S-Link backbone cable, 0.2 m”.

Sold in lengths from 0.2 to 20 m. This is the shortest: measure the run from the helm to the thruster and buy the length that reaches.

Part number SM61320-0.2M

S-Link spur cables

Fisheries Supply lists it as “S-Link spur cable, 0.4 m”.

Sold in lengths from 0.4 to 5 m. This is the shortest: measure the run from the helm to the thruster and buy the length that reaches. You need 2.

Part number SM61321-0.4M

S-Link T-connector

Fisheries Supply lists it as “S-Link T-connector”.

You need 3.

Part number SM61326

S-Link end terminator

Fisheries Supply lists it as “S-Link end terminator”.

You need 2.

Part number SM61327

S-Link power cable, 8 ft

Fisheries Supply lists it as “S-Link power cable, 8 ft”.

Part number SM61328

Main fuse

Fisheries Supply lists it as “Side-Power ANL fuse 500 A”. This one is for the 24 V version.

The maker's figure: ANL 500.

Part number SMANL500

Main fuse

Fisheries Supply lists it as “Side-Power ANL fuse 300 A”. This one is for the 48 V version.

The maker's figure: ANL 300.

Part number SMANL300

Fuse holder

Fisheries Supply lists it as “ANL fuse block, 35 to 750 A, cable up to 4/0, with cover”. This one is for the 24 V version.

Part number 3903

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 48 V version.

Part number 3803

Battery switch

Fisheries Supply lists it as “HD-Series 600 A battery switch, on/off”. This one is for the 24 V version.

Rated at or above the 500 A main fuse. If your manual names its own switch, use that one.

Part number 3000

Battery switch

Fisheries Supply lists it as “m-Series 300 A battery switch, on/off”. This one is for the 48 V version.

Rated at or above the 300 A main fuse. If your manual names its own switch, use that one.

Part number 2306

Control-circuit fuse holder

Fisheries Supply lists it as “Waterproof in-line ATO/ATC fuse holder”.

The maker asks for a 2 A fuse on the control supply.

Part number 5065

Batteries

Fisheries Supply lists it as “Dyno Group 8D heavy duty marine starting (flooded)”. This one is for the 24 V version.

You need 2, each at 1,140 CCA or more, in series for 24 V. The cheapest listing that meets it.

Part number DNO 8DC

Batteries

Fisheries Supply lists it as “Optima BlueTop SC27DM Group 27 AGM”. This one is for the 48 V version.

You need 4, each at 608 CCA or more, in series for 48 V. The cheapest listing that meets it.

Part number BAT SC27DM

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 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.

Part number None on the listing. Order it by name.

Battery cable, red and black

Defender lists it as “Ancor tinned battery cable 2/0 AWG, cut to length, red or black”. This one is for the 48 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.

Part number None on the listing. Order it by name.

Cable lugs

Fisheries Supply lists it as “Tin-plated starter lugs, 4/0 AWG, bag of 10”. This one is for the 24 V version.

The listing runs $47.52 to $49.44 by stud size. Eight ends on one run, with two spare.

Part number 91066-P10

Cable lugs

Fisheries Supply lists it as “Tin-plated starter lugs, 2/0 AWG, bag of 10”. This one is for the 48 V version.

The listing runs $27.96 to $29.36 by stud size. Eight ends on one run, with two spare.

Part number 91066-P10

Charger

Fisheries Supply lists it as “GEN5X2 on-board charger, 10 A, 2 banks”. This one is for the 24 V version.

Or a DC-to-DC charger from the house system: ask the electrician.

Part number GEN5X2

Charger

Fisheries Supply lists it as “GEN5X2 on-board charger, 10 A, 2 banks”. This one is for the 48 V version.

You need 2. Or a DC-to-DC charger from the house system: ask the electrician.

Part number GEN5X2

Retract controller

Ask for Sleipner retract controller 150000, firmware V1.036 or newer.

Set to ERV/ERL; the older 6 1242 controller will not work with eVision. The manual does not say whether it comes with the thruster.

Part number See the line above.

Inside the boat replacement parts on board

4 parts

Main fuse (300 A)

The main fuse at the battery, in the rating the maker gives. Sleipner calls it “Recommended fuse A”. It fits the 48V size on this page.

The rating Sleipner prints on the own page of each model listed here; read on each page.

Part number SMANL300 Sleipner ANL300

Main fuse (500 A)

The main fuse at the battery, in the rating the maker gives. Sleipner calls it “Recommended fuse A”. It fits the 24V size on this page.

The rating Sleipner prints on the own page of each model listed here; read on each page.

Part number SMANL500 Sleipner ANL500

Replacement motor

The electric motor that turns the propeller. Sleipner calls it “E210 Motor 24V”. It fits the 24V size on this page.

Part number E210-24VSPR
See it at Sleipner No US price found

Replacement motor

The electric motor that turns the propeller. Sleipner calls it “E210 Motor 48V”. It fits the 48V size on this page.

Part number E210-48VSPR
See it at Sleipner No US price found

The install parts are matched to Sleipner’s own figures and priced at Fisheries Supply, with the battery cable at Defender, cut to length.

Spare part numbers come from Sleipner’s parts pages and manuals. A dealer may sell a part we have not priced. Search for the number.

Other sizes and close alternatives

Compare them side by side

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, motor, mounting, price, part number, documents
Full spec sheet
Thrust and motor
Thrust 463 lb (210 kgf) As printed: 210 kg
Motor10.4 kW
Voltage24 V or 48 V
Run limitNot published
Installation
TypeRetractable, drops down
End of the boatBow or stern
Tunnel diameter250 mm
What it does to the hullLarge hull opening below the waterline
Haul-out to install itYes
Maker’s boat length56 to 79 ft
Price and ordering
Price $28,545 equipment only, a dealer's price, imtra.com, 26 October 2026
Part number ERV210/250TC-24V24 V, 24 V DC (nominal 21 V DC)
ERV210/250TC-48V48 V, 48 V DC (nominal 42 V DC)
Documents
Manual Installation manualon the maker's product page
The site’s reviewSleipner (Side-Power) review

Every published figure the site holds for the Sleipner ERV210 eVision, with where each came from.

Draw, cable, fuse and battery at each voltage 24 V and 48 V

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.

Draw, cable, fuse and battery
Voltage Draw Maker’s cable Fuse Battery Run limit
24 V 600 Anominal draw 3/0 AWG for up to 22 ft of cable counted out and back. Longer runs take heavier cableinstallation guide ANL 500installation guide 600 CCA DIN minimumSleipner installation guide, ERL and ERV 130 to 210 eVision, document 7241 rev 22 (2025) Not published
48 V 320 Anominal draw 2/0 AWG for up to 22 ft of cable counted out and back. Longer runs take heavier cableinstallation guide ANL 300installation guide 320 CCA DIN minimumSleipner installation guide, ERL and ERV 130 to 210 eVision, document 7241 rev 22 (2025) Not published

The Sleipner ERV210 eVision’s draw, cable, fuse, battery and run limit, as the maker publishes them.

Our notes from the manual and listings

In the box: A brushless eVision motor on S-Link control. The panel, fuse and main switch are bought.

24 V

This retractable lives in a housing let into the hull through a large opening, and drops when used. It is a bigger yard job than a tunnel. It also has a mechanism to keep in order. The brushless eVision 210 kg retractable, vertical motor.

Where each point above comes from
  • Sleipner sells it for either end, so it can go at the bow or the stern.The maker's listing
  • It is sold at 24 V and at 48 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.

Where to go next

The specs are the maker’s and the dealers’, on the dates shown. The sizing and the costs are our arithmetic, done without seeing your boat.