Max Power ECO proportional and VIP ECO thrusters

If you're shopping for a "Max Power VIP proportional" thruster, here's the current state of things: Max Power's proportional thrusters are the ECO family. In tunnels, that's ECO 90 through ECO 225. In retractables, it's the VIP150 ECO and VIP250 ECO. The plain VIP 150 and VIP 250 electric retracts are a separate product, covered in our Max Power retractable review.

All of them do the same basic job: let you dial in 20 percent thrust instead of all or nothing. That changes how docking feels more than a bigger thruster does.

What makes the ECO line different from the CT line

The CT thrusters are brushed DC motors with contactors: on, off, and a thermal limit. The ECO units use brushless motors with fully proportional control. Max Power's ECO tunnel pages list:

• A proportional joystick in the box
• CAN bus connection, with 10 m of cable included on the tunnel models
• A mobile app for monitoring and remote troubleshooting, listed as Android only
• Run time described as unlimited until the battery runs out
• Smoother, quieter running and lower power consumption than the conventional units

An industry write-up of the ECO PRO launch describes the app showing battery voltage, motor temperature, thrust percentage and consumption. That kind of data is genuinely useful when a thruster seems weak and you need to know whether it's the thruster or the batteries.

The tunnel models

The 185 mm models use composite drive legs; the 250 mm ECO 150 and ECO 225 use bronze. Note that the ECO 150 is rated at 145 kgf, not 150. Model numbers are names, not promises.

Max Power says the ECO units are compatible with existing thruster installations, which makes them a candidate for upgrading a boat that already has a 185 or 250 mm Max Power tunnel. The thing that usually stops that upgrade is voltage, not the tunnel.

The retractables: VIP150 ECO and VIP250 ECO

For sailboats and fast hulls that don't want a tunnel, the VIP ECO units drop a proportional thruster out of the hull on demand.

• VIP150 ECO: 185 mm, twin props, composite drive leg. 110 kgf at 24V, 130 kgf at 48V. Max Power suggests boats from 30 to 51 ft.
• VIP250 ECO: 250 mm, bronze drive leg. Two thrust levels, 145 kgf at 9 kW or 250 kgf at 14.96 kW, each in 24V and 48V.

Both are listed with 7 minutes of continuous run time, smart RPM reduction when voltage sags, and undervoltage and overvoltage limits of 65 and 150 percent. That last spec matters: rather than cutting out when a tired battery dips, the thruster slows down and keeps working. Retractable installs are their own project; see retractable thruster installation.

Picking a size

Max Power's boat-length guidance for the ECO tunnel units lines up closely with its CT range, which makes cross-shopping easy. The ECO 90 is listed for 28 to 46 ft, the same span Max Power gives the on/off CT80. The ECO 110 matches the CT100's 32 to 51 ft, and the ECO 225 shares the CT225's 45 to 75 ft. So if a CT model is the right size for your boat, the ECO model with the same boat range is a sensible starting point for a proportional version.

Two cautions. Boat length is a rough proxy; windage and displacement matter more, so run your numbers through the sizing calculator. And with proportional control you'll rarely use full power, but you still want headroom for the windy day, so don't size down just because the control is finer.

Wiring and batteries

No 12V models, so the first question on a 12V boat is where the 24V or 48V comes from. Common answers are a dedicated thruster bank charged from the house system, or a series/parallel arrangement. Either way, put the bank close to the thruster.

Unlimited run time is only true if the batteries can deliver. A proportional thruster used well tends to run longer at partial power, which shifts the load from short huge bursts toward longer steady draw. Lithium handles that pattern well; see lithium thruster batteries. On the ECO 130 and 48V VIP ECO versions, the higher voltage means lighter cable for the same power.

The CAN bus cable is a real install item, not an afterthought. Plan the route from the helm to the thruster before the headliner goes back up.

Where it's weaker

• Android-only app. If everyone aboard carries an iPhone, the remote diagnostics benefit shrinks.
• It's a newer line than Max Power's CT range, with less field history. That's not a red flag, just a fact to weigh.
• Dealer depth in the US is thinner than for Sleipner's SEP proportional or Vetus BOW PRO.

Compared with the usual suspects

Sleipner's SEP and Vetus BOW PRO are the obvious comparisons, and both have bigger control ecosystems. The ECO line's strengths are the included joystick and CAN cable, the battery-limited run time on the tunnel models, and a retractable version under the same control scheme. Lewmar also sells a brushless 24V Proportional Thruster in 140, 185 and 250 mm tunnels, which is worth a look if you'd rather stay with Lewmar controls.

Verdict

If your boat has 24V (or you're willing to add it) and you want proportional control without moving to hydraulics, the ECO range deserves a spot on the shortlist, especially the ECO 90 and ECO 110 for 30 to 50 ft boats. On a 12V boat, cost the extra battery bank before you fall for the joystick. Send us your current setup through the contact page and we'll tell you whether it's a swap or a rewire.

Questions people ask