HamiltonJet propulsion changes the GT60 operating profile
The GT60 Jet Drive uses twin Volvo Penta D13 diesel engines producing 1,000 horsepower each, connected to Hamilton HJ403 waterjets. Palm Beach Motor Yachts says the combination gives the yacht a 35-knot cruising speed while changing the way propulsion hardware sits beneath the hull compared with a conventional shaft or pod-drive arrangement.
Waterjets remove exposed propellers and conventional underwater running gear from the propulsion system. For owners operating in shallow coastal areas, that can reduce the risk of striking lobster pots, submerged debris or the seabed, while also altering manoeuvring characteristics and the way thrust is directed at low speed.
A 2ft 9in draft targets shallow coastal cruising
The builder quotes a draft of just 2 feet 9 inches for the GT60 Jet Drive. The concept was developed after discussions with a long-standing Palm Beach owner who spends summers in Maine, where shallow harbours and extensive lobster-pot fields create a very different operating environment from deeper offshore cruising grounds.
That shallow-water focus broadens the practical cruising options available to a 60-foot luxury motor yacht. Owners can consider anchorages, channels and harbours that may be less comfortable for deeper-draft yachts, while retaining the enclosed accommodation and longer-range capability expected from a substantial owner-operated cruiser.
The new propulsion system remains tied to Palm Beach efficiency
Palm Beach Motor Yachts has built its current range around lightweight construction, efficient hull design and relatively high cruising speeds. The GT60 Jet Drive extends that philosophy into a different propulsion architecture rather than treating the waterjets as a stand-alone novelty.
The company continues to emphasise careful weight control and hull efficiency because propulsion choice alone does not determine fuel use or performance. A jet-powered installation still depends on hull form, displacement and engine loading, so the GT60 project represents an integrated engineering change rather than a simple replacement of propellers with jets.
Newport provided the public debut for the first jet-drive model
Palm Beach chose the Newport International Boat Show for the GT60 Jet Drive’s public world debut. The Northeast United States is a logical launch market because the model was shaped around conditions common in New England, including shallow approaches and dense seasonal fishing activity.
For the wider 12-to-24-metre luxury-yacht market, the GT60 is notable because it brings a propulsion system more commonly associated with specialised craft into a high-end production cruiser. Its commercial reception will indicate whether owners value the combination of shallow draft, high cruising speed and waterjet manoeuvring strongly enough for the concept to expand further through the range.
Official sources: www.palmbeachmotoryachts.com.
