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The History
Castoldi Company is unanimously considered the innovator of water
jet propulsion system and the maker of its new throw and its world
wide achievement , thanks to the development of a totally new design
which upsets the general opinion which reputed the water jet unit
low efficient and poorly manoeuvrable.
Since the beginning of the first research and developments in 1958
up today Castoldi is still leading the edge with advanced concepts
making its water jet units even more efficient, lasting, self contained
and easy to maintain.
In 1962 a small series of some hundreds scaled water jet units were
produced and distributed on the Ticino river, close to the companys
facility in order to allow Castoldi technicians a steady monitoring
(image below ).
In February 1969 the first mass produced Castoldi water jet unit,
the model JET 05 was first exhibited at the Genova Bost Show and put
on the market.
Any water jet drive was distributed at that time in Europe and this
new unit was viewed with big interest and wary.
In 1970 took place the first apparition of a water jet drive (a strictly
production model jet 05) in a motor boat race. The Pavia-Venezia,
400 Km long. The 270 HP powered Castoldi jet runabout arrived first
in Venice at an average speed of 58,5 knots winning the first price
of its category and among all the traditional hulls.
In 1974 the offshore race Santa Margherita-Montecarlo-Santa Margherita,
200 nautical miles was won by an ENFIELD 37 boat at an average speed
of 57,2 knots.
It was propelled by a special Castoldi jet 06 counter revolving twin
stage coupled to two 600 HP engines.
Up to now this is the first long distance offshore race in the history
of motor boat to be won by a boat having a propulsion system other
than a propeller (image below ).
At the mythical Niamey-Bamako river Niger race 1200 NM long 5 boats
equipped with Castoldi Jet took the first 5 position against 37 other
much more powerfull boats (image below
).
Up to now more than 22000 Castoldi water jet units are operating all
over the world; among their operators there is the Italian Customs
with their patrol boats (images below
).
The Italian Navy with their fast landing craft (image below
),
the Carabinieri with their Castoldi custom-built fast patrol boats
(image below ).
The Spanish Coast Guard with its fleet of 40 knots 22 m patrol rescue
vessels (image below ),
the German Fire Brigades as many others.
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