"DSK" wrote in message

We are putting on a bow thruster because we would like to be able to move
the boat into & out of tight places under a wider range of conditions, and
do less warping.

Contrary to what some here might claim, there is nothing unmanly or
unseamanlike about a bow thruster. It's simply another tool in the
mariner's tool box for those who wish to make their voyages efficacious and
more hassle-free. One doesn't *need* GPS, a knot meter, a depth sounder, or
even a compass, but they make the job more efficient and enjoyable, and
that's what it's all about, no?

Max