There is double cause for Hamilton Jet to celebrate in 2004. In 1954, on a shallow, fast flowing river in the back country of New Zealand's Southern Island, a small boat overcame the forces of nature to travel upstream against the current.

The boat was a Hamilton Jetboat and is today recognised as the genesis of the modern waterjet propulsion system.

Fifty years later there are over 30,000 Hamilton waterjets installed around the world and delivering efficient propulsion for a wide range of high speed work and patrol boats, fast passenger ferries, crewboats, fireboats, fishing vessels and landing barges. The Hamilton Jet factory in Christchurch, New Zealand is dedicated solely to the production of waterjets, using only components manufactured with the latest CNC machinery and produced to stringent marine quality standards such as ABS, Lloyds and DNV.

Hamilton Jet's model range comprises 15 different size waterjet units ranging in impeller diameter from 215mm to 810mm. Power inputs range up to 4,600hp (3,000kW) for vessels up to typically 60m.

The waterjets fall into two distinct Series, the HJ Series for inputs of 150 to 1,200hp and the HM Series for inputs from 1,200 to 4,600hp. Control systems range from simple integrated hydraulic systems to cutting edge microprocessor based 'fly by wire'.

MJ Information No: 19224