Testimonials

Patrick Noppen: MasterCraft X-30

Patrick Noppen realises all too well that luxuries don’t just fall into your lap. Only through hard work can you afford luxuries such as the MasterCraft X-30, a spacious and luxurious speedboat of American make. “The performance on the water is amazing. We are enjoying it immensely. We found only one disadvantage: the propeller shaft construction, combined with the high power, made manoeuvring a bit tricky, especially in cramped spaces. That’s why, in February 2012, I had the Jet Thruster JT-30 installed in the stern.

Ever since I started to sail my MasterCraft with the Jet Thruster, docking has become much easier. Therefore I can recommend the Jet Thruster to anyone.”

Robert Hazenberg: Rio Espera

As a proud owner of a recently restored classic speedboat, a 1968 Rio Espera, Robert Hazenberg doesn’t need any damage done to his acquisition. “The Rio Espera is difficult to manoeuvre at low speeds, and when I back up out of the boathouse its fixed thruster draws it to one side. The Jet Thruster has made it, I’m inclined to say, a piece of cake. Granted, the system is fairly expensive, but on the other hand it does exactly what it promises to do. I had first considered having a bow thruster installed, but this would require drilling a large hole in the hull, so I opted for a JT-30 in the stern instead.

Another advantage: the system does not change sailing characteristics. Visually it is also a joy; when planing you can see the orifices, but this is not annoying at all. I also like how practical the controls are, so I am more than satisfied. I might also expand to the stern side in the future, but first I am going to work on improving my sailing skills by building my sailing hours at the Kagerplassen, and that is no punishment…”

Herman van Eijk: Tender (glass fibre-epoxy and polyethylene composite construction)

Herman van Eijk, of the yacht building company in Reeuwijk, the Netherlands, which carries his name, regards the Jet Thruster from an entirely different perspective. He specialises in light competitive yachts for the one design dinghies. When he was assigned to build a tender of glass fibre-epoxy and polyethylene composite construction, equipped with a Steyer motor and a thruster, he ended up with the Jet Thruster. Herman: “The Jet Thruster allows for a compact installation, even with a shallow draught. It is not as much the weight reduction with respect to the bow thruster as the weight distribution that is important. For competitive yachts this is of high importance; you have the possibility of installing the pump deeply within the ship. In the tender the JT-30 has been installed as a bow thruster, since this is more than sufficient for the light weight of the vessel. I am excited about its performance, its silence and the lack of tunnels used in the installation, but mainly I like the flexible installation options. I think the Jet Thruster has a bright future ahead of it, also in competitive yachts.”