Willdo jet thruster system

:( Been there Chris, but when you try to find Willdo website, it cannot be found. Perhaps they have gone into liquidation.

Tried willdo.nl, and willdo.eu - not found. Nothing in the USA either.

I could be interested in fitting it to our motorsailer, but if they are no longer in existence????

Anyone got one they don't want??

Philip - also Falmouth (boat).
 
willdo jet thruster

Hi Philip,
I was also interested in the idea of using a pump to opperate bow or stern thrusters.Recently I bought a large bronze centrifugal pump to do this. It has an outlet/inlet of 1 1/2" an impellor of 8""dia.40' head at 60 gals per min and 1,700 rpm.I did not go ahead with it because my calculations for water velosity/volume interpreted as thrust were not nearly enough,even running of the main engine p.t.o. I fitted in the end, a conventional through hull one made by marine hardware but (well modified) with increased dia. and doubled the hp of the motor. You don't mention if you have got the Willdo? Their idea of both bow and stern thrusters looks good.I would like to know how you get on with it and as I say, am very interested. If you would like to have a look at what I have done then please let us know and we can arrange. Chris.
 
Chris,
I don't have a bow thruster of any sort at the moment, and was looking at the Willdo arrangement as I don't have enough space or access for a conventional through hull bow thruster, but do have space for a Willdo type.

I was looking at the electrical type of jet thruster, as I have an electric anchor winch with heavy cabling that could double up for the thruster. No power problems as it would only be used with the engine running.

Many years ago, when DeSavary had his eye on the America's Cup, his chase boat for a while was Nigel Irens motor tri. I seem to remember that the tri had a jet thruster in the centre hull.

I'll keep looking.
 
srah1953 said:
I have the following contact details. I didn't try installing it as I have a very shallow bilge


WillDo B.V.

Mrs. Paula de Mooij
Secretary

(
: +31 (0)345 - 58 25 68
6
: +31 (0)345 - 58 24 88

*
: info@willdo.eu

: www.willdo.eu

Chamber of Commerce No: 180.79.487
Registered Office: Waalwijk
Click to expand...

The website will not open in either Firefox or Safari. Tried .eu and .com - neither work.
 
Alternative bow jet thrusters

philip_stevens said:
Chris,
I don't have a bow thruster of any sort at the moment, and was looking at the Willdo arrangement as I don't have enough space or access for a conventional through hull bow thruster, but do have space for a Willdo type.

I was looking at the electrical type of jet thruster, as I have an electric anchor winch with heavy cabling that could double up for the thruster. No power problems as it would only be used with the engine running.

Many years ago, when DeSavary had his eye on the America's Cup, his chase boat for a while was Nigel Irens motor tri. I seem to remember that the tri had a jet thruster in the centre hull.

I'll keep looking.
Click to expand...

Yes I do remember the Nigel Irens designs. The ILAN VOYGER had a jet menovering system that workrd off a Renault car engine.It was outleted above waterline and slightly downwards. I remember it in Falmouth. Very spectacular but the thrust would be far less than a in hull impellor.The Willdo link you sent me does mention this and that they do admit a lower thrust which can to some extent be improved by increase in engine revs. I have tried to see a profile of your Westerly Consort Duo but with no luck.I know what you mean by "no room to fit" as a min.depth above an impellor is needed. Would the low power of a jet type be acceptable? Have you looked at the external or outside hull types of bow thruster that fit to the stem? Another possability that I looked at was a jet system that is usually fitted as main propulsion in small fast launches where a bottom facing inlet goes to an impellor which is outleted through the transom(for opperation in very shallow water)This could be modified to divert right or left at the bow using a butterfly type of diverter valve....Jet ski?.... Chris
 
Willdo.

I have also not found any related information on them.But am still looking.Even if the company is not in buisness there is surely something out there? So will keep at it. As I say an interesting project so could you let us know if you find anything? When I was looking for a bow thruster I found that once fitted they never needed to be replaced. The only reason was if a too small a one was chosen and fitted in the first place.I got mine from Southampton for that reason and made a special journey to get it. One other thaught,,,I also used existing anchor winch wires. But with your proposed system an electric motor to drive it would not give as much HP as a hydraulic one taken off the main engine,and presumably situated there. I like the ability here to run pipes aft for aft side thrust. .Chris.
 
Wildo Jet Bow Thrusters

Did anyone ever fit one of these? If so would be interested to receive information.
Bobsox
 
philip_stevens said:
Is Willdo still in business, as I cannot find anything on the 'net for their site?

Also, has anyone fitted one, and what was your opinion of it?
Click to expand...
No, Willdo is not in business any more. But there is a new company producing the Jet-Thruster now. You will find information on the following WEB page:

http://www.solnautic.com/jet_thruster.html

I hope this helps everybody interested on this great product!

Federico Ramirez
From solnautic.com
 
Emergency bilge pump too

Looks very interesting. I have a standard bow thruster, but have been thinking of how to install a stern thruster - standard one looks impossible, but the jet thruster system would work. It also strikes me that if you fitted a 3-way walve on the inlet you could switch from sucking in water from below the hull to sucking water from the bilge. That would make for one very powerfull energency bilge pump! OK its got a big current draw and intermittent use, but with engine running it may give you a chance to stem the flow and allow your normal bilge pump to cope.
 
VETUS had a jet thruster system in their catalogue about seven years ago.
I took particular interest in it because I thought that I had invented it down at the pub one evening.As it is not in their current catalogue ,I presume it was dropped.
I thought that main problem would be getting suitable fast acting valves of the right diameter.
 
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