Willdo Thrusters

[Willallison]

Does anybody know what's happened to Willdo? I've been trying to log onto their website for some weeks, without luck. Have they gone down the tube (excuse the pun..)?

[singleprop]

yep, they closed about a year ago

[SeaJay]

I don't know if you've seen these...

http://www.marinno.com/e/index.html

I spoke with the rep at a recent show and was reasonably impressed with the apparent quality of the unit. I know there are those who say, "if it hangs off, it falls off", and I would be lying if said I didn't share that concern. However, these units have something in common with the Wildo concept that has benefit to me...they can be mounted much further forward in a canoe body hull than a conventional thruster. Further foward means better leverage for less power.

I'm not exactly sold on the concept, but I want to watch them for a while to see what actual users have to say about t hem.

Regards,

Sea Jay

[Willallison]

G'day SeaJay
Yep - seen the Exturn - in fact I watched one being fitted yesterday to a 40-off foot sailboat. The estimated that the added drag cost him about 1/2 a knot.

Alas, they're no good for the application I have in mind, which is a very flat-running planing powerboat. The manufacturers suggest that at speed, the unit would normally be clear of the water, but that's not the case in this instance. I'm also wary about the vulnerability of the unit. I often spend time very close in to the beach and also intend to put the boat on a trailer at times.

On the upside, they should potentially be quiet and appear to be quite efficient - one the the major drawbacks of the Willdo unit.

Thanks for the pointer though...