VETUS BOW PRO Thrusters Integrate With Mercury Joystick Piloting

Bow-thruster control moves onto the Mercury joystick

The integration allows Mercury's Joystick Piloting system to command a compatible VETUS BOW PRO thruster as part of low-speed manoeuvring. Instead of treating the bow thruster as a separate control, the boat can combine transverse bow force with the thrust and steering available from multiple outboards.

That can be useful on leisure boats with substantial windage because the bow is often the hardest part of the boat to control during docking. The practical improvement will depend on hull shape, thruster size and the exact propulsion installation.

NMEA 2000 and CAN bus link the two systems

VETUS says its BOW PRO range uses an NMEA 2000-certified CAN bus interface, which supports the connection to Mercury's integration kit. The proportional thruster can therefore respond to joystick commands rather than operating only at a fixed on-or-off thrust level.

Proportional control is valuable because a skipper may need only a small correction rather than full thruster output. Smoother control can also reduce unnecessary noise and battery demand during repeated close-quarters manoeuvres.

Twin or multiple Verado installations are the target

The compatible Mercury system is intended for boats with twin or more Verado outboards. VETUS positions the integration as a way to increase control on boats where the propulsion package already supports Mercury Joystick Piloting but additional bow authority is desirable.

Owners considering a retrofit should confirm compatibility across the joystick system, thruster model, charging setup and software before ordering parts. A professional installation is particularly important because propulsion and thruster controls become part of one networked manoeuvring system.

BOW PRO Boosted adds charging capacity

VETUS also highlights its BOW PRO Boosted range, which combines proportional thrust with boosted charging capability intended to support repeated thruster use without overloading or overheating the system. Built-in protections are designed for more sustained operation than a simple fixed-speed thruster.

A bow thruster remains an assistance device rather than a substitute for understanding wind, current and boat momentum. Skippers should practise the integrated system in open water before relying on it in a confined marina, and know how to manoeuvre if an electronic control function becomes unavailable.

Official sources: vetus.com.