Vetus is a Dutch marine equipment company based in Schiedam, part of the Yanmar Group since 2013. Besides engines, exhaust parts and Maxwell windlasses, it makes a full thruster range: on/off BOW units, proportional BOW PRO and BOW PRO Boosted, the RIMDRIVE, swing-type retractables and hydraulic thrusters. US sales and support run through VETUS America in Hanover, Maryland.
| BOW (standard DC) | On/off tunnel thrusters, 25-285 kgf, 12V/24V/48V |
|---|---|
| Extended runtime and ignition-protected BOW | Longer-running DE models and DI/EI/FI ignition-protected versions |
| BOW PRO | Brushless proportional thrusters, 30-76 kgf, 12V or 48V |
| BOW PRO Boosted | Brushless proportional, 57-420 kgf, 12/24V or 24/48V, built-in DC-DC charger |
| RIMDRIVE | RD160 rim-drive thruster, 160 kgf, 48V, 250 mm tunnel |
| STE retractable | Swing-type retractable thrusters, 55-95 kgf, 12V |
| Hydraulic | BOW HMD range 55-310 kgf plus BOWH410 and BOWH550 |
Plenty of boat owners first meet Vetus through something other than a thruster: an exhaust system, a water strainer, a diesel engine. That breadth is the brand's character. Thrusters are one product group in a big catalog, but it is a serious product group with one of the more interesting proportional ranges on the market.
The company
Vetus started in 1964, when Willem den Ouden began a wholesale business from his home in Rotterdam under the name Vetus den Ouden. A new headquarters and warehouse opened in Schiedam in 1972, and a US branch followed in 1973. The name changed to Vetus in 2004. In 2008 the Maxwell and Marex brands joined the group, and in 2013 Vetus became part of the Yanmar Group.
Today Vetus sells diesel engines, electric propulsion, thrusters, exhaust systems, Maxwell windlasses and a long list of other boat equipment for leisure and light commercial craft.
US presence
VETUS America is at 7251 National Drive in Hanover, Maryland. Trade press reported in 2019 that the Maryland site was expanded with a larger warehouse and a training center for dealers, with BOW PRO thrusters among the products covered. Vetus recommends going back to your selling dealer first for service questions and offers a dealer locator.
The thruster lines
BOW standard DC
The BOW range covers on/off tunnel thrusters from the 25 kgf BOW2512E to the 285 kgf BOW28548D on 48V. Composite propellers, six-blade designs and spiral gears are standard. Extended-runtime and ignition-protected versions are listed too.
BOW PRO and BOW PRO Boosted
The BOW PRO uses a brushless induction motor with Vetus's MCV controller and V-CAN control. The standard range covers 30-76 kgf on 12V or 48V. The Boosted range goes from 57 to 420 kgf and includes a built-in DC-DC charger, so a 24V thruster bank can be charged from a 12V system (or 48V from 24V). Most models are listed for 10 minutes of continuous running.
RIMDRIVE
The RD160 is a rim-drive design: the propeller is the rotor of the motor, and the stator sits in the tunnel wall. There is no gearbox. Vetus lists it at 160 kgf, 48V, in a 250 mm tunnel, proportional over V-CAN, with ignition protection to ISO 8846 and run time limited only by the battery supply. It is a niche product, but an interesting one.
Retractable and hydraulic
The STE swing thrusters are 12V retractables from 55 to 95 kgf, aimed at sailboats and shallow hulls. The hydraulic range covers 55 to 310 kgf in the BOW HMD models, with larger BOWH410 and BOWH550 units in a 400 mm tunnel.
How Vetus thrusters fit an install
A few practical points come up again and again on Vetus jobs. Vetus publishes drill patterns for each tunnel size and separate installation manuals per model, which makes replacing an old Vetus unit in its existing tunnel fairly predictable. The larger 12V BOW models draw a lot of current (the BOW12512D is listed at 800 A), so a 12V boat stepping up in size should consider a 24V BOW model or a Boosted BOW PRO instead. And because BOW PRO and the retractables use V-CAN, it is worth planning the control panels and any joystick or outboard integration at the start, not after the thruster is in.
Strengths and weak spots
Strengths: BOW PRO is a well-thought-out proportional system with genuinely useful touches like the built-in charger. Tunnels are offered in GRP, steel and aluminum. Vetus says BOW PRO fits tunnel sizes used by many other brands, which helps with upgrades.
Weak spots: The retractable range is small and 12V only. Some extended-runtime BOW models now show as discontinued. And because Vetus sells so many product types, make sure your dealer knows thrusters specifically, not just the catalog.
Our take
Vetus is the natural alternative to Sleipner, especially for owners who want proportional control on a 12V boat or are drawn to BOW PRO Boosted. Read Sleipner vs Vetus for a direct comparison, or contact us to have a Vetus thruster fitted or an older unit upgraded.
Questions people ask
Who owns Vetus?
Vetus says it joined the Yanmar Group in 2013. It was founded in 1964 as Vetus den Ouden and changed its name to Vetus in 2004.
Where do I get Vetus thruster support in the US?
VETUS America is at 7251 National Drive, Hanover, Maryland. Vetus also recommends going back to the dealer you bought from first, and runs a dealer locator on its site.
Is Maxwell part of Vetus?
Yes. Vetus says the Maxwell and Marex brands were incorporated into the Vetus Group in 2008, and the US operation trades as Vetus Maxwell.
- Vetus: Our Legacy
- Vetus USA contact
- Maritime Executive: Vetus Maxwell expands its Maryland headquarters
- Vetus bow and stern thrusters webshop
- Vetus RIMDRIVE RD160
- Vetus BOW PRO family
Manufacturers update their lines. Confirm current model numbers with us or the maker before you buy.