Bow thrusters. - Page 2

Chief Engineer · 11-07-2008, 21:06

WillDo boatequipment. Manufacturing various products for sailboats, sloops, etc...

Jolly Roger · 13-07-2008, 11:39

Thanks Chief Engineer, but for others, the website is WillDo boatequipment. Manufacturing various products for sailboats, sloops, etc... not .com.
It looks very intriguing, less expensive than conventional electric or hydraulic impeller systems with large tunnels. Also possible to self install, saving a ton of money over a tube system, along with weight. I have emailed Willdo some questions about use on a 50' sailboat, but has anyone actually got one of these thrusters, ever used one, or similar system?

camaraderie · 13-07-2008, 20:05

I HAD a Vetus old water jet thruster on my boat when webought her. Didn't work very well and we entirely removed it and resealed the hull. Don't know how comparable the Willdo is in terms of performance...but I think Vetus has a good reputation and they have gone entirely to prop driven thrusters now.

Jolly Roger · 14-07-2008, 04:54

Hi Camaraderie,
Was it electric or hydraulic, and can you remember the size of the outlet pipes? I understand both factors have a bearing on performance.

camaraderie · 14-07-2008, 07:10

It was an electric 24V system and I would say the "pipes" were about 6" in diameter but never did any measuring.

Jolly Roger · 14-07-2008, 09:35

Thanks for that info. I understand electric units are not as powerful as even electric impeller units and have the same need for a dedicated battery up front, or long leads. The Willdo outlets are only about 2" diameter, so if a hydraulic pump can push a high rate of water out of these you would think it would move the bow pretty well - but who knows, unless you have used one. I'll let everyone know when I receive specific information from the company.

Beausoleil · 14-07-2008, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by camaraderie

It was an electric 24V system and I would say the "pipes" were about 6" in diameter but never did any measuring.

Our ketch had a Vetus jet thruster when we bought her, and like cam, ours wasn't worth it and we ended up doing the same: removed it, re-glassed over the large inlet opening and the two outlet thruhulls. I forget which model it was, but the inlet opening was approximately 4", and the two jet outlets couldn't have been more than 1" I.D.

Got a lot of storage space back...

camaraderie · 15-07-2008, 11:10

Beausoleil...yup...I was probably thinking of the inlet. Nice to know we both came to the same conclusion!

13-07-2008, 11:39	#17
Jolly Roger Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 98	Very intriguing thruster system Thanks Chief Engineer, but for others, the website is WillDo boatequipment. Manufacturing various products for sailboats, sloops, etc... not .com. It looks very intriguing, less expensive than conventional electric or hydraulic impeller systems with large tunnels. Also possible to self install, saving a ton of money over a tube system, along with weight. I have emailed Willdo some questions about use on a 50' sailboat, but has anyone actually got one of these thrusters, ever used one, or similar system?

13-07-2008, 20:05	#18
camaraderie Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: NC Boat: Tayana 52 Ketch Posts: 542	I HAD a Vetus old water jet thruster on my boat when webought her. Didn't work very well and we entirely removed it and resealed the hull. Don't know how comparable the Willdo is in terms of performance...but I think Vetus has a good reputation and they have gone entirely to prop driven thrusters now. __________________ Cam ___________ Tayana 52 Ketch

14-07-2008, 07:10	#20
camaraderie Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: NC Boat: Tayana 52 Ketch Posts: 542	It was an electric 24V system and I would say the "pipes" were about 6" in diameter but never did any measuring. __________________ Cam ___________ Tayana 52 Ketch

15-07-2008, 11:10	#23
camaraderie Registered User Join Date: May 2003 Location: NC Boat: Tayana 52 Ketch Posts: 542	Beausoleil...yup...I was probably thinking of the inlet. Nice to know we both came to the same conclusion! __________________ Cam ___________ Tayana 52 Ketch

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

11-07-2008, 21:06	#16
Chief Engineer Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: North of Baltimore Boat: Ericson 27 & 18' Herrmann Catboat Posts: 826	WillDo boatequipment. Manufacturing various products for sailboats, sloops, etc...

14-07-2008, 04:54	#19
Jolly Roger Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 98	Hi Camaraderie, Was it electric or hydraulic, and can you remember the size of the outlet pipes? I understand both factors have a bearing on performance.

14-07-2008, 09:35	#21
Jolly Roger Registered User Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 98	Thanks for that info. I understand electric units are not as powerful as even electric impeller units and have the same need for a dedicated battery up front, or long leads. The Willdo outlets are only about 2" diameter, so if a hydraulic pump can push a high rate of water out of these you would think it would move the bow pretty well - but who knows, unless you have used one. I'll let everyone know when I receive specific information from the company.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Opinions on cruising sailboat	leesureman	Monohull Sailboats	30	07-07-2008 16:58
I "thrust" this question before you...	Geoff S.	Construction, Maintenance & Refit	32	18-06-2006 19:04
Anchor from Bow or Bridgedeck?	mikereed100	Multihull Sailboats	11	13-06-2006 11:05
Anchor Spring Lines	GordMay	Liveaboard's Forum	3	15-11-2003 13:04