Bow thrusters make life a great deal easier when
docking, and I love mine. That said, the judicious use of power and
rudder can do wonders in tight quarters, but if the slight drag induced by the tunnel and cost is not a barrier you won't regret having them. You might also look into hydraulics. Depending on whether you have a genset or not, a
pump can frequently easily be added to provide sufficient flow for a thruster, as well as an eventual superior
windlass replacement. Hydraulics run quietly, do not burn out, are cheaper to maintain than
electric and the motors are more compact although powerful. This may be an impractical suggestion for your boat, but if it were possible to go this
route you might ask for a quote to have it to compare.