POD drive for ships (hydraulic)
Thrustmaster of Texas
Thrustmaster Pod Drives are hydraulic pods available up to 2000 hp. These units can be welded in place onto the skeg of the vessel or direclty to the hull. They are specifically useful in vessels where the shaft or engine placement is not available in an in-line configuration. The Hydraulic Power Unit (HPU) can be mounted on deck or into an engine room to power the pod using the hydrostatic transmission method. This allows the engine to run a constant speed and the propeller speed and direction changed throughout the full range of full forward to full reverse without having to slow the engine and shift gears. The hydraulic method also allows for the use of a "kick-out" safety which will disengage the hydraulic power in the event of hitting an obstacle with the propeller. While the propeller might exhibit some minor damage, it is usually not a catastrophic event because the hydraulic power stops immediatly.
