RIMDRIVE RD160
If you treasure peace, perfect quiet on calm waters — or need to move with stealth — the world's quietest thruster is for you. The propeller itself is the rotor of a permanent-magnet motor built into the tunnel: no gears, virtually no cavitation, practically no noise. 160 kgf at 48 VDC for boats from 44 to 65 feet.
Why it's so quiet — and why that matters
Conventional thrusters make noise in two ways: the gearbox between motor and propeller, and cavitation at the blade tips. RIMDRIVE eliminates both. The propeller forms the rotating part (rotor) of the electric motor while the fixed winding (stator) sits in the tunnel — so there are no gears at all. A ring mounted around the propeller prevents it from cavitating.
The result is docking so quiet that early-morning departures and late-night arrivals stop being a neighbourhood event. On a sailing yacht it preserves the silence you sail for; on a motor yacht it removes the harsh thruster growl entirely.
Because the permanent-magnet motor is so efficient, runtime is limited only by the supply bank — easily extended by adding battery capacity — and there are no carbon brushes or gears to ever maintain.
- Permanent magnet motor — no carbon brushes
- No gears, virtually cavitation-free propeller
- Proportional control as standard via V-CAN
- Lock the thrust at any speed and hold the boat alongside
- IP67 top cover, ISO 8846 ignition protection compliant
- Suitable for aluminium, steel and GRP boats
- Can also be used as a stern thruster
- Same control wiring and panels as BOW PRO — joystick-integration ready
RIMDRIVE specifications
| Model | Thrust | Voltage | Power | Advised boat length | Tunnel Ø | Runtime* | Battery guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RD160 | 160 kgf | 48 V | 9.5–12.9 kW | 44–65 ft (15–20 m) | 250 mm | Bank-limited | 4× 145 Ah (C20) |
Thrust output is unaffected by voltage drop while operating within 41–60 VDC. Control panel ordered separately — RIMDRIVE uses the same V-CAN panels as BOW PRO.
Bring the quiet aboard
Tell us your boat and electrical system and we'll confirm RIMDRIVE suitability, the 48 V bank required, and quote the complete installation.
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