We may earn a referral commission from some links on this page. It doesn't change your price or our recommendations.
Sleipner · tunnel thruster · bow or stern
Sleipner SEP80/185T-IP: specs, price and the boats it fits
It gives 212 lb (96 kgf) of push. Sleipner sells it for boats of 33 to 49 ft. It runs on 12 V or 24 V.
- Haul-out to install
- DIY 2 of 5: wiring prep only
- 2-year warranty
Quick stats
- Thrust 212 lb 96 kgf, Sleipner's rating
- Boat length 33 to 49 ft Sleipner's own range
- Price per lb of thrust $32.90 Unit only. $66 to $98 installed
- Voltage 12 V or 24 V As sold
- Battery at 12 V 1,045 CCA One battery, near the thruster
- Run limit 2 to 3 min Duty cycle at 20 C ambient
- To install it Haul-out The boat comes out of the water
- Anodes $28.80 A change, at Defender
About the Sleipner SEP80/185T-IP
The SEP80-IP gives gasoline-powered boats of about 33 to 49 ft twin-propeller push with speed control. Its motor is ignition protected, so it can live near fuel, and it delivers up to 212 lb on 12 V.
At $6,975 from Defender it sits above both the standard SEP80 ($5,895) and the on/off SE80-IP ($4,590). The tube, a joystick panel, a main switch and a fuse add about $541 to $1,369. Sleipner asks for a big starting battery at this size on 12 V; we put that battery, its cable and charging at $703 to $1,007. Here is the full list.
Read more
The point of speed control on a boat this size is calm. Owners who use it say partial power places the boat gently and quietly, where full power can be jerky. The controller cuts power back as the motor warms, stretching run time at low settings; flat out it is still a 2 to 3 minute motor. Two years of warranty, transferable.
The full spec sheet for a yard sits lower down, and the Sleipner (Side-Power) review covers Sleipner’s whole 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 (4 sources, read 12 October 2026)
- Sleipner product page
- Sleipner SEP80 to SEP150 installation manual, document 2728 rev 23 ("the included PPC unit", S2 rating 2 to 3 min)
- Trawler Forum, "Proportional control thrusters? Dock hold?", July 2022 (a Side-Power owner running bow and stern for long periods; partial power quiet and gentle)
- Sleipner warranty statement, effective 1 April 2022
Will the Sleipner SEP80/185T-IP 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 Sleipner SEP80/185T-IP (212 lb) steers her in a 16 knot breeze. Her bow needs about 188 lb from a tunnel to steer her in a 15 knot breeze.
The finder lists it for her.
The Sleipner SEP80/185T-IP on a trawler, by length
- 25 ft34 kt
- 30 ft28 kt
- 35 ft24 kt
- 40 ft21 kt
- 45 ft19 kt
- 50 ft17 kt
- 55 ft15 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 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?
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 pontoon has no hull body between the logs to bore a tunnel through, and nobody sells one for these boats. | |
| Sailboat | 41 to 53 ft | None |
| Houseboat | 31 to 43 ft | 44 to 49 ftfull thrust to about 13 knots at 49 ft |
| Catamaran | 46 to 53 ft | None |
| Trawler | 41 to 53 ft | None |
| Motor yacht | 41 to 53 ft | None |
| Bass & flats | Not listed. Nobody sells a tunnel kit for these hulls, and a bass boat’s shallow planing bow has almost no depth to hold one. | |
| Wake & ski boats | Not listed. Nobody sells a tunnel kit for these hulls. | |
| Express cruiser | 52 to 53 ft | None |
| Center console | No length. More thrust than the boat needs. | |
The Sleipner SEP80/185T-IP 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 43 ft, and a sailboat to 53 ft. The maker gives one range for every boat.
The table tries the Sleipner SEP80/185T-IP 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 31 ft and up to 53 ft, just past Sleipner’s own range (33 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 |
|---|---|
| 31 ft | $13,889 to $17,386$66 to $82 a lb of thrust |
| 40 ft | $14,049 to $20,696$66 to $98 a lb of thrust |
| 53 ft | $14,379 to $25,286$68 to $119 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 $550 to $2,560 at these lengths, with 5 to 7 days out of the water, worked from eight yards’ own rate cards. The hours come from what owners and yards report. The cost page builds the same figures line by line.
| Boat length | The unit | Yard labor | Haul-out | Batteries, cable, charger | Other parts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 ft | $6,975 to $7,750 | $5,120 to $5,760about 32 hours | $550 to $1,500 | $703 to $1,007 | $541 to $1,369 |
| 40 ft | $6,975 to $7,750 | $5,120 to $8,64032 to 48 hours | $710 to $1,930 | $703 to $1,007 | $541 to $1,369 |
| 53 ft | $6,975 to $7,750 | $5,120 to $12,60032 to 70 hours | $1,040 to $2,560 | $703 to $1,007 | $541 to $1,369 |
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 570 CCA each (Sleipner’s minimum), $720 for both; Sleipner’s cable table gives 2 AWG, priced on 1 AWG, the nearest size cut to length: $80 to $141 for the red and black cable and the lugs; a GEN5X2 charger, $146.
- At 12 V: one 12 V battery, at least 1,045 CCA (Sleipner’s minimum), $443 to $552 for the battery; Sleipner’s cable table gives 2/0 AWG: $114 to $201 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: 32 to 70 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, bond and fair the tunnel; fit the gear leg, motor and propeller Yard 32 to 70 hours The low end is two crew over two days, the job as owners describe it on the forums. The high end rises with boat length between two real billed figures: 32 hours at 35 ft, and the largest invoice we hold, 70 hours at 47 ft.
- 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
Two from Sleipner’s own channel and two 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
$32.90 a lb The unit’s price over its published thrust. The bars are Sleipner’s next sizes and the nearest other makers.Controls
Proportional: the joystick sets how hard it pushes. The power controller (PPC) is included.
- Side-Power PJC211 S-Link LCD panel and joystick, one thruster (SMPJC211), $974.25 at Fisheries Supply.
Anodes
$28.80 a change- Anode (SM71190A): $14.40 at Defender, $18.01 at Fisheries Supply, and it takes two.
They sit below the waterline, so a change means a haul-out or a diver.
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 12 V it wants one battery of 1,045 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.
Gas engine room? Buy the ignition-protected Sleipner SE80/185T, $3,285.
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 tunnel bore below the waterline.
Short pushes only: Sleipner rates the motor for 2 to 3 min at a stretch.
At 12 V it draws 530 A, so the battery cable is heavy and the battery sits close to it.
Parts for the Sleipner SEP80/185T-IP
See the Sleipner SEP80/185T-IP manualThe 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
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 SEP80 to SEP120 IP installation guide, document 4498 rev 21, 2025, read 25 October 2026.
- In the box
- The guide prints no box list. It has you install the unit with the gasket and the bolts provided. It treats the PPC power controller as part of the unit, and the PPC has its own installation guide. Imtra, Sleipner's US distributor, sells each PRO unit as the thruster and a PPC together.
- Bought separately
- The ANL fuse and a main switch ("must include"), an S-Link control panel with its own guide, the S-Link cables, the tunnel and the battery cable. Imtra, Sleipner's US distributor, lists the same items to buy with a new thruster.
- 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, $541 to $1,369 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.
Tunnel tube
Fisheries Supply lists it as “Sleipner fiberglass tunnel tube, 185 mm bore, 750 mm”.
Sold in lengths from about 30 to 59 in. This is the shortest: the yard cuts the tube to the width of your hull at the thruster.
Control panel
Fisheries Supply lists it as “Side-Power PJC211 S-Link LCD panel and joystick, one thruster”.
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.
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.
S-Link T-connector
Fisheries Supply lists it as “S-Link T-connector”.
You need 3.
S-Link end terminator
Fisheries Supply lists it as “S-Link end terminator”.
You need 2.
S-Link power cable, 8 ft
Fisheries Supply lists it as “S-Link power cable, 8 ft”.
Main fuse
Fisheries Supply lists it as “Side-Power ANL fuse 250 A”. This one is for the 24 V version.
The maker's figure: ANL 250.
Main fuse
Fisheries Supply lists it as “Side-Power ANL fuse 400 A”. This one is for the 212 lb at 12 V version.
The maker's figure: ANL 400.
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 24 V version.
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 212 lb at 12 V version.
Battery switch
Fisheries Supply lists it as “m-Series 300 A battery switch, on/off”. This one is for the 24 V version.
Rated at or above the 250 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 212 lb at 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 2 A fuse on the control supply.
Batteries
Fisheries Supply lists it as “Optima BlueTop SC27DM Group 27 AGM”. This one is for the 24 V version.
You need 2, each at 570 CCA or more, in series for 24 V. The cheapest listing that meets it.
Batteries
Fisheries Supply lists it as “Dyno Group 8D heavy duty marine starting (flooded)”. This one is for the 212 lb at 12 V version.
One at 1,045 CCA or more. The cheapest listing that meets it.
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 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 2/0 AWG, cut to length, red or black”. This one is for the 212 lb at 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.
Cable lugs
Fisheries Supply lists it as “Tin-plated starter lugs, 1 AWG, bag of 10”. This one is for the 24 V version.
The listing runs $20.52 to $22.06 by stud size. Eight ends on one run, with two spare.
Cable lugs
Fisheries Supply lists it as “Tin-plated starter lugs, 2/0 AWG, bag of 10”. This one is for the 212 lb at 12 V version.
The listing runs $27.96 to $29.36 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.
Outside the hull replacement parts in the water
Anode (takes two)
The metal that wears away in the water so the drive does not. Sleipner calls it “Anode, aluminium SE60/80/100”.
Propeller (185 mm)
The propeller on the drive. Sleipner calls it “Propeller SE80/100 5bl Q-Prop™”.
Drive pin (the pin that drives the propeller)
The pin that locks the propeller to its shaft. Sleipner calls it “Drive pin propeller SE60/80/100 (4/6/7HP)”.
Gear leg gasket
The leg under the motor that turns the propeller. Sleipner calls it “Gasket kit for gearleg/tunnel”.
Gear leg, complete
The leg under the motor that turns the propeller. Sleipner calls it “Gearleg SE80/100”.
Sleipner describes it as the complete gearbox.
Inside the boat replacement parts on board
Main fuse
The main fuse at the battery, in the rating the maker gives. Sleipner calls it “Recommended fuse A”. It fits the 212 lb size on this page.
The rating on Sleipner's product page for this model.
Main fuse
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 on Sleipner's product page for this model.
Control panel, proportional dual joystick with display
The control at the helm. Sleipner calls it “Dual joystick speed control panel with display, S-Link”.
Runs a bow and a stern proportional thruster.
Control panel, proportional joystick with display
The control at the helm. Sleipner calls it “Single speed control panel with display, S-Link”.
For one proportional thruster on S-Link.
Replacement motor
The electric motor that turns the propeller. Sleipner calls it “Electric motor SEP80 12V IP”. It fits the 212 lb size on this page.
Replacement motor
The electric motor that turns the propeller. Sleipner calls it “Electric motor SEP80 24V IP”. It fits the 24V size on this page.
No part matches. Try the number without spaces, or the part’s name.
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
- Size down Sleipner SEP60/185S-IP 161 lb · $5,895 to $6,210
- Size up Sleipner SEP100/185T-IP 256 lb · $8,190
- On/off (SE), not ignition-protected Sleipner SE80/185T 212 lb · $3,285
- On/off (SE) Sleipner SE80/185T-IP 212 lb · $4,590
- Not ignition-protected Sleipner SEP80/185T 212 lb · $5,895
- Other maker Max Power CT100-IP 212 lb · $4,237
- Other maker Lewmar 185TT GEN 2 five sizes, 128 to 214 lb · $1,912 to $4,825
- Other maker Quick BTQ 185 six sizes, 121 to 209 lb · $3,476 to $7,511
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 | 212 lb (96 kgf) As printed: 212 lbs (96 kg) at 12V DC |
| Thrust under load | 176 lb at 10.5 V |
| Motor | 4.4 kW |
| Voltage | 12 V or 24 V |
| Run limit | 2 to 3 min duty cycle at 20 C ambient |
| Installation | |
| Type | Tunnel, fixed mount |
| End of the boat | Bow or stern |
| Tunnel diameter | 185 mm |
| What it does to the hull | Tunnel bore below the waterline |
| Haul-out to install it | Yes |
| Maker’s boat length | 33 to 49 ft |
| Price and ordering | |
| Price | $6,975 to $7,750 equipment only, a dealer's price, defender.com, 26 October 2026 |
| Part number | 88348812 V SEP80/185T-2IP24 V, 24 V DC (nominal 21 V DC) |
| Documents | |
| Manual | Installation manualon the maker's product page |
| The site’s review | Sleipner (Side-Power) review |
Every published figure the site holds for the Sleipner SEP80/185T-IP, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 V | 530 Anominal draw | 2/0 AWG for up to 22 ft of cable counted out and back. Longer runs take heavier cableinstallation guide | ANL 400installation guide | 550 CCA DIN minimumSleipner installation guide, SEP-IP80 and SEP-IP120, document 4498 rev 21 (2025) | 2 to 3 min duty cycle at 20 C ambientproduct page, "Motor cycle duty" |
| 24 V | 280 Anominal draw | 2 AWG for up to 22 ft of cable counted out and back. Longer runs take heavier cableinstallation guide | ANL 250installation guide | 300 CCA DIN minimumSleipner installation guide, SEP-IP80 and SEP-IP120, document 4498 rev 21 (2025) | 2 to 3 min duty cycle at 20 C ambientproduct page, "Motor cycle duty" |
The Sleipner SEP80/185T-IP’s draw, cable, fuse, battery and run limit, as the maker publishes them.
- At 12 V: size the cable for your run, or check the battery you have.
- At 24 V: size the cable for your run, or check the battery you have.
The tunnel: length and depth rules
Tunnel length. Avoid a tunnel longer than four times its diameter. Friction inside a long tube slows the water and cuts thrust. Too short, and the flow reaches the propeller before it has straightened, which the manual says causes cavitation and noise. The propeller must sit entirely inside the tube. Sleipner’s installation manual.
Depth below the waterline. As deep as possible under the waterline, and as far forward as possible. The depth for a given model is in that model’s own measurements. Deeper prevents air being sucked in from the surface and raises the water pressure at the propeller. SE20 to SE40 installation guide, 5611 rev 25 (2025).
Our notes from the manual and listings
In the box: Proportional: the joystick sets how hard it pushes. The power controller (PPC) is included.
212 lb
The ignition-protected build, for a boat with gasoline engines or tanks in the same space. PRO means proportional: the joystick sets how hard it pushes. The 2026 catalog says to expect close to continuous run time at half power or less. Twin props in a 185 mm tunnel for boats of 35 to 48 ft.
The maker's page gives 530 A at 12 V, an ANL 400 fuse and a minimum battery of 550 cold cranking amps DIN (1,045 SAE, 940 EN). The page text mentions a 24 V version. The page rates the brushed motor for two to three minutes' running at 20 C. The control panel switches itself off after about six minutes unused. Sleipner's FAQ wants the tunnel at least three quarters of its diameter below the surface, never less than half.
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 12 V and at 24 V.The maker's and dealers' listings
- Sleipner also prints a second, lower thrust figure for when the battery sags under load: 176 lb at 10.5 V.The maker's published rating
- The boat comes out of the water to install it: it needs a tunnel bore 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.