Retractable BOW PRO Thrusters
Total control at your fingertips, even when your hull is too shallow for a tunnel thruster. Built on the proven BOW PRO platform, the retractable series swings out below the hull during use and retracts afterward — proportional control with no added drag. For vessels from 25 to 55 feet.
When a tunnel isn't an option
For optimal performance, a thruster's propeller and tunnel must be properly submerged. Otherwise the thruster creates a whirlpool on its suction side and pumps a mixture of air and water — with a great reduction in thrust. Shallow-draft boats, sailing yachts with a cutaway forefoot and raised stern, and fast planing hulls often simply can't submerge a tunnel deep enough.
The retractable BOW PRO solves this by pivoting the whole thruster out below the hull on a permanently lubricated bearing. The propeller revolves in a short duct for focused flow, the hull plate is attached directly to the duct (no extra closing mechanism), and the unit deploys and retracts automatically with the control panel — retracting itself if unused for a while.
Retracted, it creates far less drag than a tunnel — a significant gain on a sailing boat — while still giving you award-winning proportional BOW PRO control when you need it.
- Proportional control with automatic deployment and retraction
- Built on the proven, maintenance-free BOW PRO platform
- Swing mechanism with minimum moving parts
- Hull plate attached directly to the duct — no separate mechanism
- Improved electronic sensors protect actuator and swing mechanism
- Unlimited runtime at reduced power settings
- V-CAN connected — same panels and joystick options as BOW PRO
Retractable range (announced)
| Model | Thrust | Voltage | Power | Advised boat length | Tunnel Ø | Runtime* | Battery guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOWAR0571Coming soon | 57 kgf | 12 V | 2.7–3.7 kW | 26–39 ft (8–12 m) | 150 mm | 6 min | 1× 185 Ah (C20) |
| BOWAR0651Coming soon | 65 kgf | 12 V | 2.7–3.7 kW | 27–40 ft (8–12.5 m) | 185 mm | 10 min | 1× 170 Ah (C20) |
| BOWAR0761Coming soon | 76 kgf | 12 V | 2.7–3.7 kW | 30–45 ft (10–14 m) | 185 mm | 6 min | 1× 200 Ah (C20) |
| BOWBR090Coming soon | 90 kgf | 12/24 V | 5.7–8 kW | 36–55 ft (11.5–17 m) | 185 mm | 10 min | 2× 145 Ah (C20) |
The retractable BOW PRO series has been announced by VETUS and is coming soon — specifications may be refined before release. Register your interest below and Luxfords will contact you with availability and pricing the moment it lands in Australia.
Be first in line
Register your interest in the retractable BOW PRO and we'll confirm specs, pricing and availability as soon as VETUS releases them — with no obligation.
Luxfords Marine is the authorised Victorian Vetus distributor — we confirm thrust sizing, specify the battery bank and cabling, and supply everything from the tunnel to the control panel.
(03) 5973 6444