In the Guinness Book of World Records, only one mode of transportation can rank as the Fastest Boat in the World. What is that boat, though, and how fast can it really go?
Keep reading to discover which boat reigns supreme as the fastest boat in the world.
What Is the Fastest Boat in the World?
The fastest boat in the world was built in the 1970s and still holds the world record.
©SHansche/iStock via Getty Images
The fastest boat in the world is Spirit of Australia, a wooden speedboat. It’s a jet-powered hydroplane that has held the top water speed record for over 40 years.
How Fast is the Fastest Boat in the World?
reached a top speed of 345 miles per hour.
©Kirill Zdorov/iStock via Getty Images
The fastest boat in the world, Spirit of Australia, reached a breathtaking, heart-stopping speed of 317.576 miles per hour. In actuality, it reached a peak speed of 345 miles per hour during the record run.
How is this possible?
The engine of Spirit of Australia is a Westinghouse J34 jet engine; the same engine used for jet fighters and other military aircraft. This engine and its hydroplane design enable it to blow the competition out of the water — literally.
Who Created the Fastest Boat in the World?
The Australian motorboat racer Ken Warby built Spirit of Australia in the 1970s. As its driver and an already seasoned motorboat expert, the boat took about two years to create. Stunningly, the speedboat holds the top two world’s fastest water speed records.
Ken Warby worked on other boat projects until his death — though the projects continued in the hands of his son Dave. In the 1990s, Warby worked on his second boat with a jet engine, though he never attempted to set or break a world record with it. In the early 2000s, Warby and his son began their work on Spirit of Australia II — yet another jet engine-powered speedboat. While the duo completed their work in 2004, the son and his team continue to modify the design today. Currently, the fastest the boat has traveled is just under 200 miles per hour.
How to Ride the Fastest Boat in the World
Unfortunately, you can’t ride the fastest boat in the world. In 1976, it became a permanent display at the Australia National Maritime Museum in Darling Harbor — the boat was even the first object the museum acquired as part of its National Maritime Collection.
Maybe a lack of availability to ride the fastest boat in the world isn’t such a bad thing, either, since the majority of people who have attempted to come close to the record have died in their attempts.
How Much Is Spirit of Australia?
Because The Spirit of Australia isn’t for sale, it’s tough to ascertain the price that the museum or the Warby family would want to sell it for.
When Was Spirit of Australia Made?
Warby’s work made waves in the speedboat arena for more than its top speeds. Ken Warby worked on Spirit of Australia between 1972 and 1974 on a shoestring budget of $65. He even built the boat in his Sydney backyard with stringers, brackets, timber, plywood, screws, and epoxy. The jet engine he used to propel his boat to world-record heights? Found at a military surplus store.
Before Spirit of Australia, the world record holder was Lee Taylor, an American who spent nearly $1 million 10 years prior to only reach speeds of 285 miles per hour.
The craftsmanship and achievement of Spirit of Australia garnered Warby an MBE distinction.
What Is the Maximum Speed for a Speed Boat?
Most speed boats on the market won’t go above 180 miles per hour.
©Brenda A. Carson/iStock via Getty Images
Depending on the boat you buy, speed and power boat top speeds will differ. For the recreational boater, most top speeds of a powerboat will hover around 70 to 100 miles per hour. If you’re looking for speed, high-performance speed boats on the market will offer over one hundred miles per hour, but won’t touch Warby’s record. Some of the fastest speed boats on the market include:
- The Eliminator 28 Speedster, with a top speed of about 170 miles per hour.
- Fountain Powerboats 42 Lightning, with a top speed of around 160 miles per hour.
- The Mystic C4000, with a top speed of around 120 miles per hour.
Warby continues to hold the world record for water speed until someone builds a boat that can outperform Spirit of Australia.
The photo featured at the top of this post is © SHansche/iStock via Getty Images
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