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Drawing of a tunnel thruster: a tube through the bow below the waterline, the hull cut away to show the motor on top. — Our drawing of a tunnel thruster, the same for every maker. It is not VETUS’s own design.

VETUS · tunnel thruster · bow

VETUS Bow 55: specs, price and the boats it fits

Name: VETUS Bow 55
Brand: VETUS
Price: 1923.46 USD

It gives 121 to 132 lb of push, across two sizes. VETUS sells it for boats of 26 to 39 ft. It runs on 12 V or 24 V.

The unit$1,923Equipment only, Defender, read 26 October 2026

Installed by a yard, 35 ft boat$8,700 to $11,183Our estimate: the unit, labor, haul-out, battery and parts

See it at Defender$1,923 How the installed cost adds up

Haul-out to install
DIY 2 of 5: wiring prep only
3-year warranty

Choose a size

The VETUS Bow 55 comes in two 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 two sizes

Every size of the VETUS Bow 55
Size	Push	Voltage	VETUS’s boat length	Price
Bow 55 at 12 V	121 lb (55 kgf)	12 V	26 to 39 ft	$1,923
Bow 55 at 24 V	132 lb (60 kgf)	24 V	26 to 39 ft	$1,923

From the database. The figures are VETUS’s and the dealers’.

Quick stats

Thrust 121 lb 55 kgf, VETUS's rating
Boat length 26 to 39 ft VETUS's own range
Price per lb of thrust $15.90 Unit only. $72 to $92 installed
Voltage 12 V As sold
Battery at 12 V 625 CCA One battery, near the thruster
Run limit 4 min Of continuous use at 12 V
To install it Haul-out The boat comes out of the water
Anodes $76.29 A change, at Fisheries Supply

Quick stats

Thrust 132 lb 60 kgf, VETUS's rating
Boat length 26 to 39 ft VETUS's own range
Price per lb of thrust $14.57 Unit only. $67 to $85 installed
Voltage 24 V As sold
Battery at 24 V 342 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
Anodes $76.29 A change, at Fisheries Supply

About the VETUS Bow 55

The VETUS Bow 55 is a simple, dependable push-button bow thruster for cruisers and sailboats of about 26 to 39 ft. It sits in a small tube through the hull near the bow and gives 121 to 132 lb of sideways push, the higher figure on the 24 V version. It belongs to VETUS’s classic on/off range, from a Dutch maker that has built bow thrusters since 1982 and is now part of Yanmar.

US dealers sell it for $1,923, and that buys the thruster only. To finish the job you’ll also need the tube it sits in, a control panel at the helm, a main switch and a fuse, about $451 to $990 for those. VETUS wants it on its own regular starting (cranking) battery close to the bow, and our estimate for the battery, cable and charging is $586 to $820. Here’s the full list.

Installers like its single propeller: one installer called it a simpler design with less chance of jamming than twin props. The part that wears is the motor’s carbon brushes, so check them once a year along with the zinc, and keep copper-based bottom paint off the unit. Use it in short bursts: VETUS rates it for 4 minutes of running at a time, and no more than 4 minutes in any hour. The warranty is three years, claimed through your dealer.

Installing it yourself? The installer section has every spec, and the VETUS thruster review sets this model against the rest of the VETUS range.

Where this summary comes from (8 sources, read 11 October 2026)

Will the VETUS Bow 55 steer your boat?

42 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 15 kt

On a 42 ft trawler the VETUS Bow 55 (121 lb) steers her in a 15 knot breeze. Her bow needs about 118 lb from a tunnel to steer her in a 15 knot breeze.

The finder lists it for her.

A tunnel at the bow of a 42 ft trawler 118 lb ★ this unit · 1 to 3: the three cheapest others that steer her at 13 kt or more, installed

★ VETUS Bow 55 this unit 121 lb · tunnel from $8,830 Steers her at 15 kt
1 Max Power CT60 (12 V) 154 lb · tunnel from $8,816 Steers her at 17 kt
2 Max Power CT80 (12 V) 176 lb · tunnel from $8,877 Steers her at 18 kt
3 Lewmar 185TT 3.0kW 128 lb · tunnel from $8,898 Steers her at 16 kt

The VETUS Bow 55 on a trawler, by length

25 ft25 kt
30 ft21 kt
35 ft18 kt
40 ft16 kt
45 ft14 kt
50 ft12.7 kt
55 ft12 kt
60 ft11 kt
65 ft10 kt
70 ft9 kt
75 ft9 kt
80 ft8 kt

Outlined: the finder does not list it at that length (under 13 kt, far more than she needs, or outside VETUS’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 VETUS says 26 to 39 ft The maker's own range, from its listing

What our sizing says 33 to 42 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 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	31 to 42 ft	None
Houseboat	30 to 33 ft	34 to 37 ftfull thrust to about 13 knots at 37 ft
Catamaran	35 to 42 ft	None
Trawler	31 to 42 ft	None
Motor yacht	35 to 42 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	39 to 42 ft	None
Center console	No length. More thrust than the boat needs.

The VETUS Bow 55 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 33 ft, and a sailboat to 42 ft. The maker gives one range for every boat.

The table tries the VETUS Bow 55 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 42 ft, just past VETUS’s own range (26 to 39 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.

Installed by a yard
Boat	Total installed
30 ft	$8,620 to $10,943$71 to $90 a lb of thrust
35 ft	$8,700 to $11,183$72 to $92 a lb of thrust
42 ft	$8,830 to $15,483$73 to $128 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 adds $540 to $2,030 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.

Each line of the estimate
Boat length	The unit	Yard labor	Haul-out	Batteries, cable, charger	Other parts
30 ft	$1,923	$5,120 to $5,760about 32 hours	$540 to $1,450	$586 to $820	$451 to $990
35 ft	$1,923	$5,120 to $5,760about 32 hours	$620 to $1,690	$586 to $820	$451 to $990
42 ft	$1,923	$5,120 to $9,72032 to 54 hours	$750 to $2,030	$586 to $820	$451 to $990

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 625 CCA (VETUS’s minimum), $360 for the battery; VETUS’s cable table gives 1 to 3/0 AWG, priced on 1 to 4/0 AWG, the nearest size cut to length: $80 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 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: 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 three steps

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.

Will the VETUS Bow 55 steer your boat?

42 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 42 ft trawler the VETUS Bow 55 (132 lb) steers her in a 16 knot breeze. Her bow needs about 118 lb from a tunnel to steer her in a 15 knot breeze.

The finder leaves it off her list. It shows the Bow 55 at 12 V for her instead.

A tunnel at the bow of a 42 ft trawler 118 lb ★ this unit · 1 to 3: the three cheapest others that steer her at 13 kt or more, installed

★ VETUS Bow 55 this unit 132 lb · tunnel from $8,983 Steers her at 16 kt
1 Max Power CT60 (12 V) 154 lb · tunnel from $8,816 Steers her at 17 kt
2 Max Power CT80 (12 V) 176 lb · tunnel from $8,877 Steers her at 18 kt
3 Lewmar 185TT 3.0kW 128 lb · tunnel from $8,898 Steers her at 16 kt

The VETUS Bow 55 on a trawler, by length

25 ft26 kt
30 ft22 kt
35 ft19 kt
40 ft17 kt
45 ft15 kt
50 ft13 kt
55 ft12 kt
60 ft11 kt
65 ft10 kt
70 ft10 kt
75 ft9 kt
80 ft8 kt

Outlined: the finder does not list it at that length (under 13 kt, far more than she needs, or outside VETUS’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 VETUS says 26 to 39 ft The maker's own range, from its listing

What our sizing says 34 to 42 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 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	32 to 42 ft	None
Houseboat	30 to 34 ft	35 to 39 ftfull thrust to about 13 knots at 39 ft
Catamaran	37 to 42 ft	None
Trawler	32 to 42 ft	None
Motor yacht	35 to 42 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	41 to 42 ft	None
Center console	No length. More thrust than the boat needs.

The VETUS Bow 55 against each kind of boat, in a 15 knot wind. Our sizing, from the finder’s own rules.

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 34 ft, and a sailboat to 42 ft. The maker gives one range for every boat.

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 42 ft, just past VETUS’s own range (26 to 39 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.

Installed by a yard
Boat	Total installed
30 ft	$8,773 to $10,923$66 to $83 a lb of thrust
35 ft	$8,853 to $11,163$67 to $85 a lb of thrust
42 ft	$8,983 to $15,463$68 to $117 a lb of thrust

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

What is in each total five lines

Each line of the estimate
Boat length	The unit	Yard labor	Haul-out	Batteries, cable, charger	Other parts
30 ft	$1,923	$5,120 to $5,760about 32 hours	$540 to $1,450	$739 to $800	$451 to $990
35 ft	$1,923	$5,120 to $5,760about 32 hours	$620 to $1,690	$739 to $800	$451 to $990
42 ft	$1,923	$5,120 to $9,72032 to 54 hours	$750 to $2,030	$739 to $800	$451 to $990

For every length in the table above.

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 342 CCA each (VETUS’s minimum), $513 for both; VETUS’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.

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: 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 three steps

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.

Know before you buy

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

Price per pound of thrust

$15.90 a lb

Bow 45, 99 lb $17.51
Bow 55, 121 lb $15.90
Bow 60, 132 lb $15.29
Sleipner SE50/140S, 136 lb $15.88
Lewmar 185TT GEN 2 Package, 128 lb $17.49

The unit’s price over its published thrust, on the smallest size. The bars are VETUS’s next sizes and the nearest other makers.

Controls

The solenoid switches and the 5 A control fuse are on the motor. The panel, its cable, the main fuse and switch are bought.

VETUS push-button thruster panel with time delay (BPSE2), $228.37 at Fisheries Supply.
VETUS bow thruster control cable, 6 m (BP29), $86.58 at Fisheries Supply.

Anodes

$76.29 a change

Zinc anode (SET0149): $76.29 at Fisheries Supply.

They sit below the waterline, so a change means a haul-out or a diver.

Service and warranty

VETUS gives 3 years, or 1 for professional use, and it transfers to the next owner. Claims go through the dealer only. It is void unless an authorized VETUS dealer does the periodic maintenance, and transport, labor and lifting are excluded.

See VETUS’s warranty VETUS's warranty policy.

Special mentions

Battery: at 12 V it wants one battery of 625 CCA or more, VETUS's figure. The cheapest that meets it is the Optima BlueTop SC27DM Group 27 AGM, $359.99. Check your own bank.

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

Gas engine room? Buy the ignition-protected VETUS Bow 55 Ignition Protected, $2,349.

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: VETUS rates the motor for 4 min at a stretch.

Parts for the VETUS Bow 55

See the VETUS Bow 55 manual

Search 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.

Find a part

For the install what the box leaves you to buy

15 parts

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

From VETUS’s BOW55D installation manual 020522.11 r8, May 2026, read 25 October 2026.

In the box: The manual prints no box list. It says the thruster is supplied with a zinc anode and has you drill with the template that comes with it.
Bought separately: The tunnel, the main switch (BATSW250 or BATSW600), the main fuse (ZE) and holder (ZEHC100), the cable, the control panel and its cable.
Charging: The manual wants the thruster on its own battery or batteries, close by so the power cables stay short, and sealed batteries if they share its compartment. Its wiring diagram shows an alternator and a battery separator, and it says nothing more about charging.

The manual’s words, page 22: “We also recommend that each bow thruster is powered by its own separate battery or batteries.”

The “other parts” line in the estimate above covers these parts as a range, $451 to $990 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 “VETUS fiberglass tunnel tube, 150 mm bore, 30 in”.

Sold in lengths from about 30 to 60 in. This is the shortest: the yard cuts the tube to the width of your hull at the thruster.

Part number BP150G75

See it at Fisheries Supply$122.26 Price read 26 Oct 2026

Control panel

Fisheries Supply lists it as “VETUS push-button thruster panel with time delay”.

Part number BPSE2

See it at Fisheries Supply$228.37 Price read 26 Oct 2026

Control cable, panel to thruster

Fisheries Supply lists it as “VETUS bow thruster control cable, 6 m”.

Sold in lengths from 6 to 20 m. This is the shortest: measure the run from the helm to the thruster and buy the length that reaches.

Part number BP29

See it at Fisheries Supply$86.58 Price read 26 Oct 2026

Main fuse

Ask for 250 A (VETUS ZE250). This one is for the 12 V version.

A VETUS strip fuse in its own holder (VETUS ZEHC100). Not listed at Fisheries Supply; ask a VETUS dealer.

Part number See the line above.

See it in the VETUS manual No US price found

Main fuse

Ask for 125 A (VETUS ZE125). This one is for the 24 V version.

A VETUS strip fuse in its own holder (VETUS ZEHC100). Not listed at Fisheries Supply; ask a VETUS dealer.

Part number See the line above.

See it in the VETUS manual No US price found

Fuse holder

Ask for VETUS ZEHC100 strip fuse holder.

Ask a VETUS dealer.

Part number See the line above.

See it in the VETUS manual No US price found

Battery switch

Fisheries Supply lists it as “m-Series 300 A battery switch, on/off”. This one is for the 12 V version.

Rated at or above the 250 A main fuse. If your manual names its own switch, use that one.

Part number 2306

See it at Fisheries Supply$35.40 Price read 26 Oct 2026

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 125 A main fuse. If your manual names its own switch, use that one.

Part number 2306

See it at Fisheries Supply$35.40 Price read 26 Oct 2026

Batteries

Fisheries Supply lists it as “Optima BlueTop SC27DM Group 27 AGM”. This one is for the 12 V version.

One at 625 CCA or more. The cheapest listing that meets it.

Part number BAT SC27DM

See it at Fisheries Supply$359.99 Price read 26 Oct 2026

Batteries

Fisheries Supply lists it as “Lifeline GPL-1400T AGM starting”. This one is for the 24 V version.

You need 2, each at 342 CCA or more, in series for 24 V. The cheapest listing that meets it.

Part number LFL GPL-1400T

See it at Fisheries Supply$256.72 Price read 26 Oct 2026

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 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.

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

See it at Defender$5.95 a foot Price read 26 Oct 2026

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.

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

See it at Defender$5.95 a foot Price read 26 Oct 2026

Cable lugs

Fisheries Supply lists it as “Tin-plated starter lugs, 1 AWG, bag of 10”. This one is for the 12 V version.

This is the short run. A longer run takes heavier cable: the wiring calculator sizes yours. The listing runs $20.52 to $22.06 by stud size. Eight ends on one run, with two spare.

Part number 91066-P10

See it at Fisheries Supply$20.52 Price read 26 Oct 2026

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.

Part number 91066-P10

See it at Fisheries Supply$20.52 Price read 26 Oct 2026

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.

Part number GEN5X2

See it at Fisheries Supply$146.41 Price read 26 Oct 2026

Outside the hull replacement parts in the water

6 parts

Zinc anode

The metal that wears away in the water so the drive does not. VETUS calls it “Zincanode c/w screws”.

From VETUS manual 020522.10.

Part number SET0149

See it at Fisheries Supply$76.29 Price read 29 Oct 2026

Propeller

The propeller on the drive. VETUS calls it “Propeller c/w drive pin and mounting set”.

From VETUS manual 020522.10.

Part number SET0087

See it at Fisheries Supply$99.07 Price read 29 Oct 2026

Drive pins, pack of 5

The pin that locks the propeller to its shaft. VETUS calls it “Propeller pins, 5 pcs”.

From VETUS manual 020522.10.

Part number BP1129

See it in the VETUS manual No US price found

Gear leg gasket, 1 mm

The leg under the motor that turns the propeller. VETUS calls it “Gasket 1 mm”.

From VETUS manual 020522.10.

Part number BP1021

See it in the VETUS manual No US price found

Gear leg gasket, 2 mm

The leg under the motor that turns the propeller. VETUS calls it “Gasket”.

From VETUS manual 020522.10. The manual lists two of these.

Part number BP1020

See it in the VETUS manual No US price found

Tailpiece (gear leg), complete

The leg under the motor that turns the propeller. VETUS calls it “Tailpiece compl.”.

From VETUS manual 020522.10.

Part number SET0078

See it in the VETUS manual No US price found

Inside the boat replacement parts on board

13 parts

Flexible coupling

VETUS calls it “Coupling”.

From VETUS manual 020522.10.

Part number BP1202

See it in the VETUS manual No US price found

Intermediate flange

VETUS calls it “Intermediate flange”.

From VETUS manual 020522.10.

Part number BP1272B

See it in the VETUS manual No US price found

Motor brush kit

Carbon brushes inside the motor. They wear down with use. VETUS calls it “Set of 8 pcs of carbon brushes for BOW5512D”. It fits the 12V size on this page.

From VETUS manual 020522.10.

Part number SET0126

See it in the VETUS manual No US price found

Motor brush kit

Carbon brushes inside the motor. They wear down with use. VETUS calls it “Set of 4 pcs of carbon brushes for BOW5524D”. It fits the 24V size on this page.

From VETUS manual 020522.10.

Part number SET0127

See it in the VETUS manual No US price found

Replacement motor (comes with solenoids)

The heavy switch that sends battery power to the motor. VETUS calls it “Electromotor 3 kW - 12 V for BOW5512D c/w solenoid switches”. It fits the 12V size on this page.

From VETUS manual 020522.10.

Part number SET0060

See it at Fisheries Supply$1,410.45 Price read 29 Oct 2026

Replacement motor (comes with solenoids)

The heavy switch that sends battery power to the motor. VETUS calls it “Electromotor for 3 kW - 24 V BOW5524D c/w solenoid switches”. It fits the 24V size on this page.

From VETUS manual 020522.10.

Part number SET0108

See it in the VETUS manual No US price found

Solenoid set (the motor switch)

The heavy switch that sends battery power to the motor. VETUS calls it “Set of solenoid switches 12 V for BOW5512D”. It fits the 12V size on this page.

From VETUS manual 020522.10.

Part number SET0015

See it in the VETUS manual No US price found

Solenoid set (the motor switch)

The heavy switch that sends battery power to the motor. VETUS calls it “Set of solenoid switches 24 V for BOW5524D”. It fits the 24V size on this page.

From VETUS manual 020522.10.

Part number SET0020

See it in the VETUS manual No US price found

Control circuit fuse, 5 A

The main fuse at the battery, in the rating the maker gives. VETUS calls it “Spare fuse 5 A”.

From VETUS manual 020522.10.

Part number BP256

See it in the VETUS manual No US price found

Main fuse

The main fuse at the battery, in the rating the maker gives. VETUS calls it “Fuse slow blow, Vetus art. code ZE250”.

From VETUS manual 020522.10. The manual's battery and cable table prints ZE250 for both the 12 V and 24 V models. VETUS's 2022 spare parts guide lists ZE125 for the BOW5524D. Fuse holder ZEHC100.

Part number ZE250

See it at Fisheries Supply$25.22 Price read 29 Oct 2026

Thermal protection switch

It cuts the motor out when it runs too hot. VETUS calls it “Thermal Protection”.

From VETUS manual 020522.10.

Part number TS110

See it in the VETUS manual No US price found

Control panel, on/off dual joystick (bow and stern)

The control at the helm. VETUS calls it “Dual joystick panel with time delay”.

Runs a bow and a stern thruster.

Part number BPJDE2

See it at Fisheries Supply$562.93 Price read 29 Oct 2026

Control panel, on/off joystick

The control at the helm. VETUS calls it “Joystick panel with time delay”.

For one thruster.

Part number BPJE2

See it at Defender$347.81 Price read 29 Oct 2026

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

Spare part numbers come from VETUS’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	121 lb (55 kgf) As printed: Thrust (in lbs force): 121
Motor	3 kW
Voltage	12 V
Run limit	4 min of continuous use at 12 V
Installation
Type	Tunnel, fixed mount
End of the boat	Bow
Tunnel diameter	150 mm
What it does to the hull	Tunnel bore below the waterline
Haul-out to install it	Yes
Maker’s boat length	26 to 39 ft
Price and ordering
Price	$1,923 equipment only, a dealer's price, defender.com, 26 October 2026
Part number	BOW5512D12 V BOW5524D24 V
Documents
Manual	Installation manual (PDF)on the maker's site
The site’s review	VETUS thruster review

Every published figure the site holds for the VETUS Bow 55, with where each came from.

Draw, cable, fuse and battery at each voltage 12 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
12 V	375 Anominal draw	2 AWG for up to 7 ft of cable counted out and back. Longer runs take heavier cableinstallation manual 020522.11, r08, May 2026	250 Ainstallation manual 020522.11, r08, May 2026	625 CCA minimum, 1,250 CCA maximumVETUS installation manual 020522.11, r08, May 2026	4 min of continuous use at 12 Vinstallation manual 020522.11, r08, May 2026

The VETUS Bow 55’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.

Our notes from the manual and listings

In the box: The solenoid switches and the 5 A control fuse are on the motor. The panel, its cable, the main fuse and switch are bought.

12 V

A 150 mm tunnel. The manual gives 375 A, a battery of 625 to 1250 cold cranking amps and a 250 A fuse. For cable it gives 4 AWG to 7.5 ft of total run (positive plus negative), and 4/0 to 36.1 ft. The motor is brushed. The manual rates it for 4 minutes at a time, or 4 per hour, at 375 A.

Brushes and anode are checked yearly, and no copper-based antifouling goes on the unit. The May 2026 manual cut the minimum battery from 700 cold cranking amps to 625 and dropped the amp-hour column. The product page prints 350 A where the manual says 375. Defender sells the 12 V and 24 V versions as one listing at one price.

The warranty runs three years and is claimed through the dealer only. It is void unless an authorized VETUS dealer does the periodic maintenance, and labor, transport and lifting are excluded.

24 V

The 24 V BOW55 on two 12 V batteries in series. The manual gives 205 A, a battery of 342 to 683 cold cranking amps and a 125 A fuse. For cable it gives 4 AWG to 27.6 ft of total run (positive plus negative), and 4/0 to 131.6 ft. At 24 V the cable bands run almost four times as far as the 12 V unit's. The manual rates it for 4 minutes at a time, or 4 per hour, at 205 A.

Where each point above comes from

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

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	132 lb (60 kgf) As printed: Thrust (in lbs force): 132
Motor	3 kW
Voltage	24 V
Run limit	Not published
Installation
Type	Tunnel, fixed mount
End of the boat	Bow
Tunnel diameter	150 mm
What it does to the hull	Tunnel bore below the waterline
Haul-out to install it	Yes
Maker’s boat length	26 to 39 ft
Price and ordering
Price	$1,923 equipment only, a dealer's price, defender.com, 26 October 2026
Part number	BOW5512D12 V BOW5524D24 V
Documents
Manual	Installation manual (PDF)on the maker's site
The site’s review	VETUS thruster review

Every published figure the site holds for the VETUS Bow 55, with where each came from.

Our notes from the manual and listings

In the box: The solenoid switches and the 5 A control fuse are on the motor. The panel, its cable, the main fuse and switch are bought.

12 V

The warranty runs three years and is claimed through the dealer only. It is void unless an authorized VETUS dealer does the periodic maintenance, and labor, transport and lifting are excluded.

24 V

Where each point above comes from

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.

Where to go next

Which thruster does your boat need? Seven to nine questions: the thrusters that fit your boat, with costs.
Compare thrusters side by side Pick up to four tunnel, retractable or external units and see specs, price and fit together.
VETUS thruster review Run time per model, the length chart beside our sizing, dealer prices, owner reports.

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.

VETUS Bow 55: specs, price and the boats it fits

Choose a size

Quick stats

Quick stats

About the VETUS Bow 55

Will the VETUS Bow 55 steer your boat?

Is it right for your boat?

What it costs installed

DIY breakdown

Will the VETUS Bow 55 steer your boat?

Is it right for your boat?

What it costs installed

DIY breakdown

Related videos

Know before you buy

Price per pound of thrust

Controls

Anodes

Service and warranty

Special mentions

What to weigh

Parts for the VETUS Bow 55

For the install what the box leaves you to buy

Tunnel tube

Control panel

Control cable, panel to thruster

Main fuse

Main fuse

Fuse holder

Battery switch

Battery switch

Batteries

Batteries

Battery cable, red and black

Battery cable, red and black

Cable lugs

Cable lugs

Charger

Outside the hull replacement parts in the water

Zinc anode

Propeller

Drive pins, pack of 5

Gear leg gasket, 1 mm

Gear leg gasket, 2 mm

Tailpiece (gear leg), complete

Inside the boat replacement parts on board

Flexible coupling

Intermediate flange

Motor brush kit

Motor brush kit

Replacement motor (comes with solenoids)

Replacement motor (comes with solenoids)

Solenoid set (the motor switch)

Solenoid set (the motor switch)

Control circuit fuse, 5 A

Main fuse

Thermal protection switch

Control panel, on/off dual joystick (bow and stern)

Control panel, on/off joystick

Other sizes and close alternatives

For the yard and the installer

12 V

24 V

For the yard and the installer

12 V

24 V

Where to go next