2021 Supra Stern Thruster option

Working on a 2021 SA build and originally laughed at the $8700 ish stern thruster option.......

After thinking about some of my summer docking situations the last 3 years with a V drive, it’s starting to become more appealing.

I frequent one lake where the dock is in a sheltered bay and docking is a breeze even on a windy day, however, the other lake I frequent is unprotected, busy docks and fully exposed to lake traffic that sends rollers right into the docks.

I also currently limit myself to docking on the left side, thrusters would give me the option of docking on the right side.

Does anyone have a 21 yet with the thruster option, what do you think of it.


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I haven't driven one with a thruster but it's certainly a worthwhile upgrade if you don't mind the expense. If financing it won't make that much difference in payment and the 8700 is MSRP it's likely really more like 5k.

Why do you dock on the left side? I always go right (starboard, driver) that way when you come in to dock you can go forward and back on the throttle and slowly pull yourself into the dock.

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Originally Posted by SONIC

I haven't driven one with a thruster but it's certainly a worthwhile upgrade if you don't mind the expense. If financing it won't make that much difference in payment and the 8700 is MSRP it's likely really more like 5k.

Why do you dock on the left side? I always go right (starboard, driver) that way when you come in to dock you can go forward and back on the throttle and slowly pull yourself into the dock.

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That’s what I meant, the boat is on the left side of dock.


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Not sure many people are using b/c it just came out in July 2020. Boats are hitting the showroom now.

The local dealer has a 2021 SE with them, but the last time I spoke to them they did not get enough time to 'play' with them. Looks cool.

Agree, would be a cool function, but need to know more. Could you use it when surfing for turning around? Are there limits on the speed getting low enough to use? Etc.

I also see the down side, it's new. Does it really work? Do we have to wait for Thrusters 2.0 or 3.0 if there are any bugs.
BTW - is Nautique having issues with them? Notice a pic on social media and looking like the controller in the engine compartment was melted.

I thought they would be bigger, but they sit under the swim platform pretty well.

Get this instead and save $8700
Works awesome for me!

EVERSPROUT Telescopic Boat Hook | Floating, Heavy-Duty Design | Non-Slip EVA Foam Hand Grips | Lightweight, Rust-Resistant Aluminum, 3-Stage Pole (Length: 13 Feet, 19 Feet, 25 Feet) https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B07HHKRF..._0ZUmFb3778S4R


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a guy I know has a tige with factory thrusters. he has had the boat for a few months.
the little we have spoken, he liked the option. 23ft boat.

the only way I would spend the coin would be the ease of teaching the gf how to dock but in 13 years of owning and running wakeboats in different docks/lakes and weather I haven't had a situation that would prompt me to drop another 5-8k on them nor would it command a premium in my eyes on the used market BUT I know others that would search this feature out 100% if it becomes mainstream.

I assume supra is using the same setup as the other brands which is this one:
https://www.ezdrivethruster.com/

I am sure it’s an EZ Drive system, however the throttle integration might be SC proprietary.

This system looks better than bu or Nautique as it’s two units outboard of the exhaust so the thruster don’t get cavitated with exhaust air.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...14dfcb36d6.jpg


It has a dock hold feature and yes, it’s supposed to be useful picking up your down rider.

Resale is interesting, in 3 years thrusters will have been on all the premium boat brands. Will it be expected in 3 years?

Will it be like the power tower? They are nice but now most say a requirement for resale.

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Pic from onlyinboard today. MO dealer.

Attachment 28888

At the rate boats sales are going and all the damn newbies buying expensive Boats they have no clue how to drive....I would say it can’t hurt your resale value.


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Originally Posted by jcarter20

At the rate boats sales are going and all the damn newbies buying expensive Boats they have no clue how to drive....I would say it can’t hurt your resale value.


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Not going to lie, I really want to get my wife and teen son docking capable. I don’t trust them with a V drive.

Does a 22.5 boat need thrusters? No, but I need to see a demo of the Supra version. It looks slick.


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Originally Posted by larry_arizona

Not going to lie, I really want to get my wife and teen son docking capable. I don’t trust them with a V drive.

Does a 22.5 boat need thrusters? No, but I need to see a demo of the Supra version. It looks slick.


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Agreed, it is great for that also. Just venting my frustration with more idiots at the docks this year then I have ever seen. Ha ha. If the question is about resale, I certainly think it would be a good selling point in the future. Not sure it will net you an extra $5k, but if I was looking at the exact same used boat and one had it and one didn’t.... I would get the one with thrusters. I don’t need them, but my wife and two young kids who will eventually be learning to drive could certainly benefit. Which means I can sit back and relax at some point in my life. [emoji6]


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Originally Posted by jcarter20

Agreed, it is great for that also. Just venting my frustration with more idiots at the docks this year then I have ever seen. Ha ha. If the question is about resale, I certainly think it would be a good selling point in the future. Not sure it will net you an extra $5k, but if I was looking at the exact same used boat and one had it and one didn’t.... I would get the one with thrusters. I don’t need them, but my wife and two young kids who will eventually be learning to drive could certainly benefit. Which means I can sit back and relax at some point in my life. [emoji6]


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Idiots is a strong word, but I have seen a bunch of threads on different brand pages of people buying new Moomba, Axis, Nautique as their first boat. Not even first wakeboat, first boat! I think a lot of it has to do with surfing and how it is so much less intimidating for newbies. I don’t like the extra people on the lake and I’m not a fan of the rising prices, but it’s working out for boat sales. And surfing is really taking over as the main “tow” sport.

I will say the lakes have been noticeably busier this year, the sand bar we frequent went from 10-12 boats on a weekend to 20-25, it’s noticeable.

That said, yet another use for thrusters, weaving to get out of the sand bar traffic.


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24 months there is going to be a flood of used boats hitting the market with varying degrees of care. I see more abused boats than cared for.
once kids are able to be back in sports and the novelty of boating wears off, it'll be a bad year to be building new tow boats.

Not gonna lie, if I had the coin I would option for a thruster. Not sure about 8 G's though but a couple grand I would for sure get one. The cabin we recently rented always seemed to have a stiff crosswind every time we came back to the cabin from a day of boating and I had to abort a few docking attempts because my angle would get messed up from the wind changing as we approached the dock. Not to say I haven't learned a lot about driving and docking these boats and that I'm more than comfortable docking (at least always to starboard lol) but I would like a thruster just to help steer the stern any direction without gear changes. I imagine picking up a downed rider would be even easier and faster as well. Maybe one day I'll get that option years down the road when the tech feature hype dies down a little bit.

Thruster? Yes, all the way. I have owned a V-drive for 5 seasons and no matter how much experienced I've gained and how adept I am at driving my V-drive, I would take a thruster in a heart beat, at the right price. 8700$ no, but 3-4k yes. I just don't see how a small electric motor, some cabling and a controller can be that expensive. I know this is an oversimplification but, you get the idea.
But, if 8700$ is no issue for you, then by all means, I know I would if I had that money burning a hole in my pocket.

Technically it’s $8700 MSRP, but who has paid MSRP for a tow boat?


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Originally Posted by Isaguel

I just don't see how a small electric motor, some cabling and a controller can be that expensive. I know this is an oversimplification but, you get the idea.

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same reason that a tower for a towboat cost north of 15k. or clamping boardracks are 4k. or a bimini is 2k. or a paragon is 275k.

makes no sense but we all line up to spend our hard earned monies......

OK, I just submitted a request for a quote on ezdrive for the Horizontal classic. I'll let u all know what the quote comes at. Then installation will be separate. Doing this just out of curiosity. My wife just said: "We are not getting a thruster!". Oh well.

It includes all components, mounting hardware and breaker.

Does the EZ Drive Thruster install void the hull warranty? I swear I read that somewhere??


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I'm glad I'm not the only one slightly irritated about the extra water traffic. There are boats everywhere this year! Not just play boats either. Prob double the fishing boats and paddle board/kayakers. Seen alot of sketchy situations. On the other hand it's been entertaining at the ramp. Watched a guy run his AR 190 into the dock no bumpers then when loading came in a little hot panicked at the last min threw it in reverse got it sideways and ran up on the trailer fender then almost hit a BU picking up at the dock.

Back on topic, I think the thrusters are pretty cool. Not 8k cool but I could see where it could help someone new learning to maneuver these boats around in tight spots. Tying back up at the dock was my biggest anxiety when we first got the boat. Would have been nice to have a little more control in the beginning.

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Originally Posted by larry_arizona

Does the EZ Drive Thruster install void the hull warranty? I swear I read that somewhere??


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yup. you are correct.

Would be interested in what an EZ Drive system runs?

Are they like $2000? $3000? $4000?

Also the Supra dual thruster outboard of the exhaust stream makes sense. Does the Supra system have any more features than the EZD?


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Yep. Looks like they won’t give me an estimate without talking directly. Gotta make that sale, right!. Too bad. I gave them my boat model and which thruster I wanted so it should have been pretty straight forward, just send me the cost, it’s a standard kit in a box!
.This is their answer:
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...ec7eb141f0.jpg


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Get ready for high pressure sales.


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I couldn't resist. I submitted a response for a quote. We'll see. I'll let u know what I get quoted at. Depending on price, there might be some turbulence brewing at the Isaguel's residence. My wife already gave that look of " we are NOT spending any more money on that boat!. "

I will predict $5000 installed.


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That'll be a good one to take a poll on.

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Originally Posted by Surgical_ass

I'm glad I'm not the only one slightly irritated about the extra water traffic. There are boats everywhere this year! Not just play boats either. Prob double the fishing boats and paddle board/kayakers. Seen alot of sketchy situations. On the other hand it's been entertaining at the ramp. Watched a guy run his AR 190 into the dock no bumpers then when loading came in a little hot panicked at the last min threw it in reverse got it sideways and ran up on the trailer fender then almost hit a BU picking up at the dock.

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Seems like over the last month or so the amount of traffic on our lake has tripled. Every wanna-be Bill Dance must have used their stimulus check to buy a bass boat they can drive at 80 MPH while they talk to the passengers. And damn pontoon boats. Its like a freaking armada every day ready to retake Omaha Beach. Talk about inattentive drivers.
I have seen some very nice new wake boats though. The guy 2 houses up just bought a Paragon that I got to drive the other day. I'll stick with my little ol Moomba. Speaking of which, they have boomed in popularity this year. The last few years it was all Malibus and Nats. Got a little Moomba posse going on which is fun.

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Originally Posted by Jimm

And damn pontoon boats. Its like a freaking armada every day ready to retake Omaha Beach.

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Hahaha this is the truth! Literally made me laugh out loud because you nailed what it looks like every time I fall and look behind me while my wife is bringing the boat around.

Back on topic. I hope SC starts showing demos on their integrated thrusters, odds are there will not be a boat show season this year and it would be nice to see and hear a product description to help understand if it’s worth an $8700 option.


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There’s no way on earth I’d pay almost $9000 for that option. Talk about a preposterous markup. I’ll stick with my $30 boat pole.

Wake me up when it’s a $2000 option (still too much IMO)


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Originally Posted by Stazi

There’s no way on earth I’d pay almost $9000 for that option. Talk about a preposterous markup. I’ll stick with my $30 boat pole.

Wake me up when it’s a $2000 option (still too much IMO)


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I won’t argue the cost is high and yes, the boat poles work great, as I took your advice a couple years ago.

Maybe I have dreams of my wife dropping me off at the dock to get the truck and trailer, backing the trailer in the water and having her float the boat onto the trailer as I ratchet it up and pull to the tie down lane.......lol

After discounts the cost looks better but still high, I really want to understand the full integrated features of the thrusters.


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Compared to other factory thruster prices, it's actually a pretty good value. And you get two...

You twist the top of the throttle to turn and there's also some software updates that allow you to "Dock Hold" the boat with the thruster through the dash. Basically, it'll keep the boat pushed up against the dock while you tie it off

Dealers have them and can help more, but they're a really cool addition.

Thanks Drew.

Will there be a YouTube video forthcoming?

Does the dock hold on hold the boat horizontally or does it control fore/aft?


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There will be videos coming soon.

You can select which side (port/starboard) that you want the boat to hold to and it'll adjust

FWIW, I drove a G25 this weekend with the Stern Thruster. Game changer for a boat that size, and not for docking... I put it on Auto mode and loved it when I was picking up the surfer. It just flat out works REALLY well, esp in the wind.

Good feedback, not sure if Supras is steering integrated, but if it’s on the throttle handle, and you can turn on a dime, you wouldn’t have to wait for the wake to pass you to get your rider.


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not worth the almost $9000...maybe $800.00. That price is completely offensive.