<![CDATA[Indonesia, as an archipelagic country, has great potential in developing efficient maritime propulsion systems. One alternative technology being explored is the waterjet thruster, a ship propulsion system that operates based on the principle of accelerating fluid flow through an impeller and nozzle. This study aims to examine the effect of nozzle size variation on the thrust produced by a waterjet thruster prototype fabricated using 3D printing technology with Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) material. Two nozzle types were used: Type 1 (2-inch diameter) and Type 2 (2 × 1½-inch diameter). An experimental method was employed by measuring thrust under full and half throttle conditions using a dedicated thrust measuring device. The results show that Type 2 nozzle produced the highest thrust of 45.3222 N, while Type 1 produced only 40.46625 N. The 12% increase in thrust observed in Type 2 indicates that a nozzle design with a smaller cross-sectional area can optimize fluid flow efficiency and system performance. This study concludes that nozzle dimension significantly influences thrust efficiency, and a well-designed nozzle can offer an efficient and environmentally friendly propulsion solution for small vessels.]]>
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