<![CDATA[A waterjet thruster is a ship propulsion system that operates by ejecting high-speed water through a nozzle to generate thrust. The system consists of main components such as the inlet turbo, impeller, and outlet turbo, all designed to maximize thrust efficiency. This study aims to evaluate the thrust performance of a waterjet thruster made from stainless steel 304 (SS304) through experimental testing by comparing the same object using different testing methods, namely variations in impeller rotational speed. The waterjet thruster consists of a 3-blade impeller, a 12-blade inlet turbo, and a 12-blade outlet turbo, manufactured through turning, welding, and assembly processes. The tests were carried out under two different operating conditions—1000 rpm and 1800 rpm—to assess the effect of different testing methods on thrust performance. The results show that increasing the rotational speed significantly increases the generated thrust. At 1000 rpm, the average thrust reached 74.163 N, while at 1800 rpm it increased to 122.919 N. This confirms that the system’s performance improves when the same object is tested under different operational methods, in this case a higher impeller rotation. SS304 material proved capable of maintaining its performance and is suitable for waterjet thruster components due to its mechanical properties and corrosion resistance]]>
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