Hi Mike, You bet it’s the answer. Whilest I did not fit mine, I specified a bow thruster as part of the package. Mine is fitted aft of the water tank where the hull allows the tube to be some 6″ below the water line. Much less than this and the thruster will cavitate as on a Beneteau moored near to me, which has only 3″ above top of tube. Mine works quietly and efficiently, although it strugles in high winds, but they all do. I sail single handed with the aid of inmast reefing , autopilot and chartplotter.
Good Luck, Barry
Sir Hugh, Ipswich.