Sleipner vs Vetus

These are the two names that come up most when a European-built thruster is on the table. Both companies go back decades, both cover small boats to big yachts, and both make good hardware. The differences are in the details: how they rate thrust, where each one is stronger, and how the proportional ranges are built.

Reading the numbers fairly

Start here, because it trips up a lot of comparisons. Sleipner names its thrusters by thrust at nominal voltage, which it sets at 10.5V for a 12V system. An SE80 is 80 kg at 10.5V and 96 kg at 12V. Vetus lists one thrust figure per model, and the model name is not always the same as the spec: the BOW7512D is listed at 80 kgf, the BOW9524D at 105 kgf.

So an SE80 and a BOW7512D are closer than the names suggest. Both use a 185 mm tunnel and a 4.4 kW motor class on 12V. Sleipner lists 530 A for the SE80; Vetus lists 500 A for the BOW7512D. Compare the spec sheet numbers at the same voltage and tunnel size, not the names on the box.

On/off tunnel thrusters

The Sleipner SE and Vetus BOW overlap almost completely: 12V, 24V and 48V options, tunnels from 110 mm to 300 mm, bow or stern installs.

Where Sleipner leads: its patented IPC protects against stuck solenoids, underwater parts are galvanically isolated, and the installed base is enormous. Ignition-protected versions are available across much of the range.

Where Vetus leads: composite propellers that do not corrode, tunnels in GRP, steel and aluminum, and some models with longer rated run times (up to 5 minutes on the BOW6012D against Sleipner's 2-3 minutes). Vetus also has extended-runtime DE models, though some are now discontinued.

Honestly, for a basic bow thruster, either works well. Choose on tunnel fit, the support near you, and whether you might upgrade to proportional later.

Proportional thrusters: the real difference

This is where the two brands have taken different paths.

Sleipner: SEP PRO and eVision

The SEP PRO is the brushed SE with speed control and a hold function. It derates power instead of shutting off when hot. For larger sizes, Sleipner is moving to eVision, a brushless 6-phase motor with an integrated inverter, rated for continuous running at full thrust at 22°C. eVision runs on 24V or 48V only and starts at 100 kg.

Vetus: BOW PRO and Boosted

The BOW PRO uses a brushless induction motor across the whole range, including small 12V models from 30 kgf. Most are rated for 10 minutes of continuous running. The Boosted range adds a DC-DC charger inside the thruster, so a 12V boat can run a 24V thruster bank (or a 24V boat a 48V bank) without a separate charger.

So which?

Under about 40 feet on a 12V boat, Vetus BOW PRO gives you brushless proportional control without changing your electrical system. Sleipner's SEP PRO does proportional at that size too, with a brushed motor. On larger boats, eVision's continuous rating is a strong point, while BOW PRO Boosted's built-in charger makes the higher-voltage bank easier to manage.

Retractables

Sleipner has the much bigger range: SR, SRL and SRV in three mounting styles, on/off, PRO or eVision, up to 340 kg on 48V. Vetus has the STE swing thruster, 55 to 95 kgf on 12V, aimed at sailboats and shallow-draft hulls. The STE's auto-retract and drag-reducing bottom plate are well thought out, but if you need more than 95 kgf or variable speed, Sleipner is the answer.

External and stern-drive boats

Sleipner's SX, SXP and SXE stern units are built specifically for twin stern-drive boats, with cowls that route water past the drives, and arrive assembled and sealed. Vetus's current thruster webshop does not list an external equivalent. For a stern-drive cruiser that needs a stern thruster, Sleipner wins by default.

Hydraulic

Sleipner's SH series runs from the SH100 to the SH2200 with published pressure curves per motor option. Vetus's hydraulic range runs from 55 to 310 kgf in the HMD models, plus the larger BOWH410 and BOWH550. For most yachts in the 50-80 foot range both cover the need; above that, Sleipner has more options. See electric vs hydraulic for whether hydraulic makes sense at all.

Battery and wiring implications

Brand choice changes the electrical plan more than people expect. On 12V, both brands' larger on/off thrusters draw several hundred amps: Sleipner lists 740 A for a 12V SE100, Vetus lists 610 A for the BOW9512D and 800 A for the BOW12512D. That means short, heavy cable and a battery close to the thruster either way. The proportional ranges diverge. Sleipner eVision needs a 24V or 48V bank, and you supply the charging. Vetus Boosted also needs a higher-voltage bank but charges it itself from the boat's lower-voltage system. For 12V boats that want to stay 12V, Vetus BOW PRO (up to 76 kgf) and Sleipner SEP PRO are the options. See our lithium and AGM battery reviews for the bank itself.

Support in North America

Sleipner is distributed by Imtra in New Bedford, Massachusetts, through a dealer and installer network. Vetus has its own US operation, VETUS America, in Hanover, Maryland, plus dealers. In practice, the installer who will service your boat matters more than which company is behind them. Ask who stocks parts locally before you choose.

Bottom line

If you run a stern-drive boat, need a retractable over 95 kgf, or are planning a big hydraulic install, go Sleipner. If you want brushless proportional control on a 12V boat, or like the idea of a thruster that charges its own higher-voltage bank, look hard at Vetus BOW PRO. For a simple on/off bow thruster, both are good; pick the one your installer knows best. Want a quote for both? Send us your boat details.

Questions people ask