What is a genuine limitation of a bow thruster that's worth understanding before relying on one for close-quarters manoeuvring?

A. Bow thrusters have no real limitations and can fully replace conventional boat-handling skills

B. A bow thruster loses effectiveness at higher boat speeds (the thrust becomes a much smaller fraction of the forces already acting on the hull), and most are only rated for short bursts of use rather than continuous operation — treating it as a substitute for understanding wind, current, and prop-walk, rather than a helpful supplement, is a common mistake

C. Bow thrusters work equally well regardless of boat speed

D. Bow thrusters can be run continuously for as long as needed with no practical limitation

A. Preparing fenders and mooring lines too far in advance of arrival

B. Approaching at too high a speed for the conditions and available sea room, and not having fenders and lines rigged and ready before the final approach — both leave far less margin to react if wind, current, or another vessel changes the picture at the last moment

C. Using too many fenders rather than too few

D. There is no meaningful difference in risk between approach speeds when berthing

A. Overloading has no real effect on a boat's handling or safety, unlike a car

B. Extra weight reduces freeboard and stability, changes how the boat responds to waves and manoeuvring, and can push a small craft dangerously close to (or below) its safe carrying capacity — the effect is proportionally much larger on a small boat than the same relative overload would be on a larger vessel or a road vehicle

C. Overloading only affects fuel consumption, not safety

D. Modern small craft have no meaningful maximum capacity to worry about