GL: Bow Thruster vs. Stern Thruster?

[Jim Ague]

I had a Vetus 5512 Bowthruster installed on Derreen, a Monk 36, so therefore 
I think a bowthruster is a better choice than a stern thruster. The 5512 is 
probably a little underpowered for a Monk 36, but price savings and the 
intent not to be out when coming in will require a thruster, weighed into 
the decision.

Since a Derreen, and probably most Monks, walks to starboard in reverse, you 
will soon learn to use that in docking and in doing 180 or 360 manuevers, 
counterclockwise only, without using the bowthruster. In fact in practice, 
as well as for practice, the thruster was never used, unless extreme 
circumstances demanded it.

Now I have seen a situation where a stern thruster makes more sense than one 
at the bow. For some reason on the East coast everyone pulls into slips 
stern first (we didn't). A stern thruster makes this manuever simpler.

-- Jim Ague