Sleipner SE40 Tunnel Thruster 12V
#1 in Under 45 kgfFull review
A strong value pick for a 26 to 34 ft boat: about $36 per kgf from a compact unit. Check that your battery bank can feed 315 A.
Amazon $1,450$1,450
3.5/5
The cheapest way into a Sleipner tunnel thruster, for a small cruiser or runabout. Pick the SE40 if your boat is near the top of its length range.
- 30 kgfThrust
- 1.5 kWMotor
- 12 VSupply
- 125 mmTunnel
Check price at Amazon$1,341
Price checked November 4, 2026. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Pros
- Smallest Sleipner tunnel unit: 9.5 kg and a 125 mm tunnel
- Rated for bow or stern use on 20 to 26 ft boats
- Five-blade skew propeller for lower noise
Cons
- Only 30 kgf at the rated voltage, so it struggles on heavy or high-sided boats
- Run time limited to a 2 to 3 minute duty cycle
- Needs a 245 A supply on a 12 V system
The Sleipner SE family
Every Sleipner SE model we rank, smallest first. Ratings compare each against its own thrust.
| Model | Thrust | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sleipner SE30 Tunnel Thruster 12V (this one) | 30 kgf | 3.5/5 | $1,341 |
| Sleipner SE40 Tunnel Thruster 12V | 40 kgf | 3.6/5 | $1,450 |
| Sleipner SE50 Tunnel Bow Thruster 12V | 50 kgf | 3.9/5 | $1,700 |
| Sleipner SE60 Tunnel Thruster 12V | 60 kgf | 3.9/5 | $1,900 |
| Sleipner SE80 Tunnel Thruster 12V | 80 kgf | 3.7/5 | $2,700 |
| Sleipner SE80 Tunnel Thruster 24V | 80 kgf | 3.7/5 | $2,500 |
| Sleipner SE130 Tunnel Thruster 12V | 130 kgf | 3.9/5 | $4,013.39 |
How it scores
The rating comes from 4 measured or published factors, each scored 0-100 against fixed reference points for its thrust. How we rank explains each one.
Specifications
| Model number | SE30/125S2 |
|---|---|
| Thrust | |
| Rated thrust | 30 kgf |
| Thrust at full supply voltage | 40 kgf |
| Style | Tunnel |
| Propellers | Single |
| Bow or stern use | Yes |
| Boat length | 20-26 ft |
| Electrical | |
| Supply | 12 V |
| Motor | 1.5 kW |
| Current draw | 245 A |
| Continuous run | 3 min |
| Build | |
| Tunnel diameter | 125 mm |
| Weight | 9.5 kg (20.9 lb) |
Alternatives in this thrust
Lewmar 140TT 2.0 kW Tunnel Thruster
#3 in Under 45 kgfFull review
The older Lewmar 140TT. Buy it only to replace an existing unit; the Gen 2 2.2 kW version gives 5 kgf more for about $225 more.
Amazon $1,613.74$1,613.74
Lewmar 140TT 2.2 kW Gen 2 Thruster
#4 in Under 45 kgfFull review
The current Lewmar for a mid-size boat. Fine if you already have Lewmar controls; otherwise Sleipner is cheaper for the thrust.
Amazon $1,839.37$1,839.37
Compare
Compare the Sleipner SE30 Tunnel Thruster 12V with any other bow thruster →
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