R27-OB Thruster mystery

thargett

thargett

Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2026
Messages
11
I have a new to me 2023 RT27 with the bow thruster and a stern thruster mounted on the 300hp Yamaha.

I used the thrusters to leave to dock where it had been charging on shore power - they worked fine. When we returned to the dock after a 45 minute ride, the thrusters would not turn on. The little blue power light did not enable and no beeping sound.

This is the second time my thrusters failed me as I'm trying to dock with the wind pushing me off the dock. I would have thought the engines would have charged the thruster battery bank.

Has this happened to anyone else? I suspect a problem charging from the engine alternator ....

Thanks
 
Wait, you have an external 300 Yamaha, AND a stern thruster?
 
gregc said:
Wait, you have an external 300 Yamaha, AND a stern thruster?
Click to expand...

Here's what it looks like. It's designed to be out of the water when the boat's up on plane.

IMG_6838.jpg


IMG_4508.jpg
 
thargett said:
Yes that's exactly like mine. Have you had any issues with mysterious thruster behavior?
Click to expand...

That's not a photo of my boat. I don't have the need for a stern thruster on my R27.
 
I just checked the big thruster fuse on the port side rear. It's fine, and there is an LED voltmeter after the fuse that reads 12.8 volts. The receiver for the side thruster is blinking, and the transmitter behind the head mirror is also blinking. The unit at the helm will not power on. What am I missing?
 
Oh wow, this is crazy. Are both the bow and stern thrusters off the same battery?
 
My manual says the thruster battery is in the rear, and that one was showing 12.8 volts. I don't know if there is a second battery for front? The controller with 2 joysticks won't power on
 
Solved! It was the Sideshift joystick power button that stopped working. Their service and tech team were very helpful when I called, and sent me two new membranes for the joystick controller and only charged me shipping!

Evidently the problem is common, so Sideshift put out a YouTube video on how to fix it:
 
That’s a really interesting aftermarket device. I’m curious how necessary it is. How do you like it? Like Martin, I never felt that a stern thruster was necessary on a Ranger Tug outboard. A suicide knob does the job just fine for me.

To be clear, none of the Ranger Tug outboards come with this contraption as standard equipment. They only have a bow thruster. Only the R29 and R31 have a stern thruster as those don’t steer in reverse.
 
Jesperjo said:
That’s a really interesting aftermarket device. I’m curious how necessary it is. How do you like it? Like Martin, I never felt that a stern thruster was necessary on a Ranger Tug outboard. A suicide knob does the job just fine for me.

To be clear, none of the Ranger Tug outboards come with this contraption as standard equipment. They only have a bow thruster. Only the R29 and R31 have a stern thruster as those don’t steer in reverse.
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I get it - I have been boating for 25 years with center consoles and power cats, but for me this setup has been a life saver. There is usually a 15 knot wind (or more) from the Southwest pushing me directly off my dock slip. All that extra windage above the water line makes my R27 blow like I have a sail up. Even when I execute a perfect docking manuever without the thrusters, I have about 3 seconds to run out, leap off the boat and try to tie the front as the rear blows back off the dock and into my neighbor. My wife is not able to do this or dock the boat, so its up to me to do this solo with no help at the dock. These thrusters (when they work) make the boating experience much safer and calmer for my family.
 
Very cool that it helps! I support not trying to be a hero and use the equipment to your advantage. Our fuel dock seems similar. It nearly always has a cross wind that makes docking a challenge and the single bow thruster just isn’t powerful enough to counteract it.
 
Jesperjo said:
Very cool that it helps! I support not trying to be a hero and use the equipment to your advantage. Our fuel dock seems similar. It nearly always has a cross wind that makes docking a challenge and the single bow thruster just isn’t powerful enough to counteract it.
Click to expand...

I always back away from the Everett fuel dock, in reverse. The boat will easily back into the wind without the need for the bow thruster.
 
Submariner said:
I always back away from the Everett fuel dock, in reverse. The boat will easily back into the wind without the need for the bow thruster.
Click to expand...
I typically park on the downwind side. It’s pretty easy to nose the bow into the dock and then turn the engine hard to starboard to swing the stern in. Worst case scenario, have someone on the bow throw a loop around a dock cleat and tie it onto the bow, then reverse the engine and swing the stern in. The line will pull you straight into the dock. I’ve only had to do that once or twice and there were whitecaps inside the breakwater at the time.

That way, when we leave, we just cast off and the wind carries us off the dock.
 
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