Stern thruster for a GB36?

[Aussie]

Hello all,
I have a 1980 GB 36 Classic 120 Lehman single with bow thruster. Being senior and navigating solo I feel it would add an element of safety and convenience to add a stern thruster. The local boat yard suggest a Side Power (Sleipner) SE180/185T 12V. I have approx. 12 inches of transom depth of water. I am told this setup would be a better choice over an "external thruster " (one tacked on the stern) and I tend to agree.
Has anyone a Grand Banks 36 or similar size added a stern thruster, suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you for your time,
Aussie

 

[Comodave]

Welcome aboard. I put a Sidepower stern thruster on our last boat and loved it. It was a pretty easy install. A friend an I put did the install in about a day and a half. Just measure carefully before you cut the 8” hole, in my case. I use 2 rare earth magnets and tape one to the hull inside. Then go outside and use the second magnet to find the first one. Mark the location and then layout the cut. The transom had a slight camber so I had to make the area flat. I drilled the top and bottom hole. Then slathered the area with thickened epoxy. Then put wax paper over the epoxy and bolted the tunnel to the hull with the top and bottom bolts. Cleaned up the squeeze out. I had to sand the thickened epoxy where the tunnel had a groove for the caulk. The second photo of the hole shows the epoxy on the hull.

If the thruster isn’t deep enough they make some clamshell like pieces to direct the thrust down and to help stop ventilation from the surface.

 

[Aussie]

Hello,
Thanks for the info. and the photos are a big help. What is the weight of your boat?

Aussie

 

[Comodave]

We have since sold the boat. It was a President 41 and weighed approximately 25,000 pounds as I remember.