366 bow and stern thrusters

[Carverlvr2]

Greetings all! I am new here and trying to wade through the different forums and topics but don’t see what I’m looking for. I am about to take possession of a 2004 366 aft cabin and planned on adding the SideShift 350 bow and stern thrusters after the survey and title transfer is complete but still pulled and blocked. The bow should be strait forward enough assuming there’s access to the bow bilge under the bed or from the anchor locker but the stern has me concerned. I’ve read here how the swim platform is basically an extension of the planing surface and it appears there’s only a few inches between it and the water line. Maybe enough to mount the L bracket and get all 4 bolts above the WL? Other option is to mount from the swim platform but no idea if it’s strong enough or what materials may be internal that I may run into. Hoping someone on here with a 366/36/360 has some experience with this? Photos would be awesome. Even if just of the access areas.

[bud37]

Welcome to the forum.....give the people at side shift a call, at this point they have probably installed some on the same model you have. Good luck with the new boat.

[Carverlvr2]

Spoke to Pat at Side Shift. He’s confident I can do a stern mount and only 2 bolts at or below the waterline. I didn’t want any but he’s confident I need not worry about leaks. I’ve never used Sikafkex. Anything I should be concerned with or pay extra attention to? Also, anyone have a pic of what the access to the stern bilge looks like on the 366/36?

[waybomb]

Welcome aboard.
I'd try to keep any through hole bolts above the water line.

[bud37]

Source of the post Spoke to Pat at Side Shift. He’s confident I can do a stern mount and only 2 bolts at or below the waterline. I didn’t want any but he’s confident I need not worry about leaks. I’ve never used Sikafkex. Anything I should be concerned with or pay extra attention to? Also, anyone have a pic of what the access to the stern bilge looks like on the 366/36?

Pat was their installer for jobs all over. Sikaflex is good stuff in my opinion. When comes time to do this start a new thread on this job and I am sure there will be many tips and answers to any questions that come up .....good luck.

[Carverlvr2]

Waybomb, you suggested keeping the holes above the waterline and of course that’s my preference as well. But given how close the swim platform sits to the waterline, I will will either have to put two of the four bolts at/below the water line for stern mount or I would have to put all four bolts through the swim platform with the backing plate on top. What would you do?

[waybomb]

In that case I'd go through the transom. Plenty of backing plate. Not knowing where the boat may end up in the future, you probably could use monel fasteners.
If prefer to use grade 5 Titanium. A little pricey, but then you'll never have to worry.

[Carverlvr2]

So, it took 2 1/2 days and some help from a buddy but both bow and stern thrusters are nearly done..lol Stern required taking the aft middle night stand apart and out. Bow was much worse. The side bolts were ok to install after removing the A/C enclosure but the top center bolt remains nutless. There’s a large tube running right down the middle and super tight to the hull right where I needed to get to the back side of that bolt I just drilled thru my hull. Also could barley reach to even touch that section. Anyone know how to get better access in there? I tried pulling the entire top (base of the mattress) but it’s screwed down behind the trim panel that holds the mirror and can’t see how to get that out either.