Castoldi’s new jet control

The new electronic control called ACES is focused on a control head at the helm that can operate both single and twin jet installation. For a twin jet installation a second control lever is added on the right hand side of the unit. Various functions of the control system are operated by push button switches on the control head and all of the main control functions for manoeuvring are operated by the levers to give single lever control of both engine and jet.

A clutch is incorporated into the jet transmission and this automatically disconnects the engine and the jet during start up. The clutch is activated through a push button control and this is only possible when the control levers are in the neutral position. There is a 25° angle on the levers between the neutral and the engagement positions. Normal manoeuvring is performed with the engine at or near idle speed but there is a booster switch built into the top of the left hand lever that allows the engine speed to be increased up to 1500 rpm when extra power is required for a manoeuvre.

The ahead section of the control lever covers a 75° arc which allows for sensitive speed control. At the full extent of the lever 100% of the engine power is available but when full astern is selected only 75% of power is available to reduce the possibility of the jet rotor entraining air.

On the push button control panel alternative control stations can be selected and there is a syncro position for a twin engine installation. On Castoldi jets fitted with the automatic debris clearance system a push button is used to activate this which can only be done with the engines at idle but moving forward.

When the joystick control is fitted into the system it offers full low speed manoeuvrability functions through its single lever. The vessel can be rotated through 360° simply by rotating the top of the lever then the remaining movements of the lever move the vessel in the direction in which the lever is pushed. This intuitive control system makes it easy to position the vessel in any desired direction and heading and it is possible to incorporate a bow thruster into the control system for added manoeuvrability. When released the control lever always returns to the upright neutral position.

With this new control system Castoldi claims it now has one of the most advanced water jet propulsion systems on the market today and there is also a dashboard display available that shows the positions of the jet buckets, the thrust vectors in use and the engine RPM.

By Dag Pike