Castoldi has launched a new waterjet which it says is a game changer for larger vessels
The Turbodrive 600 H.C.T. is the largest waterjet in the Castoldi range to date, equipped, like the other models of the range, with an integrated gearbox (certified for heavy duty ratings) and hydraulic clutch.
“Our aim is to supply the customer with not only the waterjet but a complete package that incorporates the propulsion with integrated gearbox and clutch, a dedicated control system to manage also the engine and eventually the interceptor integration, directly installed on the waterjet unit,” said Giacomo Castoldi, Owner, Castoldi Yachts.
“From a technical point of view, especially on large vessels, our integrated gearbox represents a unique advantage that allows to create compact installations with considerable savings on space, weight and cost.”
Key features
Castoldi’s waterjet is equipped with oil lubricated bearings, impeller shaft protected within a housing and the advanced patented Clear-Duct unclogging system, which back-flushes the intake while opening the protection grid.
It has been created after four years of advanced CAD and CFD studies, a complete and easy-to-install propulsion system that allows compact applications and considerable savings in dimension, weight and cost.
The steering and reversing actuators have been designed with one hydraulic cylinder dedicated to the steering nozzle and two hydraulic cylinders controlling the movement of the reversing bucket, which allows for rapid and efficient crash-stops in all operating conditions.
The waterjet is made from high quality material with a Duplex micro-cast stainless steel impeller and titanium liner. It has been toughened using an anti-corrosion hard anodising treatment protecting the aluminium alloy components and cathodic protection by sacrificial anodes. This makes the waterjet unique in its construction quality.
The Turbodrive 600 H.C.T. is controlled by the ACES electronic system that can be supplied with several extra features such as position keeping, smart anchor, unmanned interface, autopilot integration and hybrid power.
“When we entered this market, 25 years ago, most of the tenders were equipped with stern drives or outboards and there were very few companies manufacturing waterjet driven tenders,” said Giacomo Castoldi. “Now most tenders are equipped with waterjet drives and this propulsion system is well known and appreciated by crew and owners.”