Willdo jet bow/stern thruster

[stefan_r]

Have been looking at these for a while
here for thruster page http://www.willdo.eu/jetthrusters.html
here for the main site http://www.willdo.eu
but not yet found anyone in the UK who has experience of them. Willdo have given me names of people who have bought them but they have been chandleries and I can't find the end customers.

They seem like a great idea for when I am single-handed as I can pin the boat to the pontoon using both fore and aft thrusters.

One or other can be used as a "conventional" bow thruster.

They also appeal as drag must be less with 45mm holes being cut in the boat as opposed to a much larger 200mm++ tunnel being cut.

They're hydraulic, running off the engine so no battery drain, or extra weight and charging issues having a dedicated battery installed.

The Willdo people are (apparently) led by the same guy who recently retired from Vetus...so there's some pedigree there.

As much as I have being an early adopter of things these look like a "good idea"...has anyone got any experience or comments??

 

[MAURICE]

Sounds good but you would need 4 large pipes which would need to be threaded through the boat front to back behind lockers etc. These pipes would be full of water under high pressure. Not sure i fancy the idea of one of the pipes splitting.

 

[stefan_r]

Not quite sure I agree with your logic there. The pipe are 40mm each...and if I was to install a bow thruster I would need to be routing some fairly heavy duty battery cable in pretty much the same fashion...so not great change for my install.

The pipes are full of water but not under pressure unless the thuster is activated. The pressure will be no different to my engines running at tickover plus a little and I have never had an issue with hoses coming off fittings. I will be checking hose rating but am fairly sure they are well overspecified for the anticipated pressure from the thrust unit.

Outside that they are a skin fitting like any other...which need an annual check, lube etc...but there's no reason they should fail if looked after.

 

[jorgen]

I think it sounds really interesting.
Is there anyone out there that actually have them installed and can tell us more?

 

[jon]

I have heard that the system fitted to a new pilot cutter is not very effective. Could be the long deep keel. Also a lot of space is needed for pipes etc.

 

[stefan_r]

My install is on a motor boat that draws 70cm...!!! Hopefully less of an issue. Displacement 5,800kg...so a very different proposition to pilot boat...which makes me feel "better" but still not great as I know no-one who has this thing installed...