Thruster arrangement for a boat

A pontoon boat comprising:

• a plurality of pontoons including a port side pontoon, a starboard side pontoon, and a middle pontoon located between the port side pontoon and the starboard side pontoon;
• wherein at least one pontoon of the plurality of pontoons includes a fluid conduit connected to the at least one pontoon, the fluid conduit angled downward relative to a waterline;
• a deck supported by the plurality of pontoons;
• a thruster system including:
• at least one water inlet in at least one pontoon of the plurality of pontoons;
• at least one movable water outlet in the at least one pontoon of the plurality of pontoons;
• one or more valves positioned within the fluid conduit, the one or more valves configured to regulate a fluid flow through the fluid conduit;
• and
• a fluid pump positioned along the fluid conduit;
• and
• a controller in communication with the thruster system, the controller configured to control fluid flow to at least one water outlet.

A method of operating a thruster system of a pontoon boat in water, the pontoon boat including a plurality of pontoons including exteriors in contact with the water, the plurality of pontoons including a first pontoon including a thruster unit positionable in an interior thereof, the method comprising:

• providing an input to a controller corresponding to a desired thrusting force direction, the controller operatively coupled with a fluid pump of the thruster unit;
• wherein the fluid pump is positioned within a fluid conduit in the first pontoon;
• wherein the fluid conduit is angled to increase stability of the pontoon boat;
• providing instructions, with the controller, to the fluid pump corresponding to fluid flow through the fluid conduit;
• and
• controlling, with the controller, a volume of water flowing through the fluid conduit.