Will the world water speed record ever be broken?
 

Just wondering if the record will ever fall.

Ken Warby's amazing record @317.596 mph is nearly 40 years old and still looks good!

RR

Now we've cleared the gremlins that distort the layout of the first post.....

Ken Warby built the boat in his back yard with fibreglass over wood and purchased the engine for $69. By the time it was race ready, it owed him about $10,000. Since setting the record, only two people have made full blown attempts at the speed and both died trying.

Speed on water is arguably the most dangerous speed record to attempt, just wonder how long it will be before someone ups the ante? Any thoughts what it might take and who would be willing to take the risk?

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RR

Qatar went 225 plus...

This no about to this.. 10 years ago the 100 mph club was still somewhat exclusive. The today that's nothing and the 200 mph club is growing. The unltd hydros can run 250 any day of the week

I swear I had no knowledge of that article published earlier today. I was talking with a couple of mates while watching Formula 1 car racing on Sunday and we strayed to boat racing and then Ken Warby.

Great to read and it would be a coup to have the same guy and his son behind a successful effort. I wish them all the best.

RR

1913 = 57 mph
2063 = ??


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nloF0eF-zFs

In Belgium there is a guy working on a boat to go after Warby's record. You can find more information on his site ( http://www.dartagnan-sp600.com/ ) and follow the progress on Facebook under Dartganan SP 600.

It went 250 right?

Need a death wish to go after this record.

Warby had a new boat a few years back, if I remember right he said he had it into the 200s. This was on the parade at the offshore races with AMF. I saw it in pickwick in 2006.

Haven't heard anything about it since, and the cable steering really made me wonder how serious this whole thing was. I would think if anyone went to raise money toward a speed record it would be him.

244 I believe.

244
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov_2fR1ISTM

how that thing doesn't just take off in the air is beyond me!

400 MPH ???? That would set a new bar. At what point are you flying and not considered a boat? Its more like a missile that touches the water every so often. Are there any parameters that make it a boat?

Water

I like to call catamarans ground effects aircraft. In order to be safe they should have airplane like control surfaces and a powerful computer program to "fly" them when they take off from a wake.

What was the first run with the chutes dragging? 210 or 218 or something like that?! Was quite the site to see on the course when they went by.

Why would anyone want to strap themselves into a rocket with a 15% chance of living :helmet:

I have a 1959 Biesemeyer 4pt hydro drag boat. They made about 10 of them. One (know one knows which one) set the world record at the 1962 Long Beach Nationals at a 132mph. They said it would never be broken ....

Anyone with a big enough bank account can buy a 132+ boat today, complete with flat screen tv, stand up head, hot and cold running water, generator, microwave, fridge and air conditioning today without anyone blinking an eye....

You left out stripper pole....

If nobody knows which one set the record, then it must be your one. :)
Prove me wrong.....!

Ken now lives here in Cincinnati, for many years the rumor has been he has had the boat to break his own record. I couldn't imagine strapping into anything like this, but man I have to admire him

Ahhhh YES!! The truleyimportant stuff!! lol

The record attemp is getting closer..........

Couple of pics from the website
Spirit of Australia II

And for fartbook users, there's a short (very tame) video clip.
https://web.facebook.com/hashtag/spi...urce=feed_text
If the link works and anyone can post the video, please do so....

The Warby machine was not prop driven, correct? It was thrust from the turbine?

If if I am correct, what is the prop driven record? Would that fall to a T/F hydro boat?

what are the TF NITRO boys up to now with the twin props? i thought i saw 270?

Yup. I think I saw 272 somewhere but here's the record set supposedly the other month

awesome. It takes a great crew that can set up a boat like that. It only takes 1 thing to go wrong. They keep winning. Awesome. There's no room for eara . Just awesome

That hydro is insane. A lot of work and $$ for just a few seconds. Pretty incredible speed.

I love the idea of the jet propulsion (Warby style) virtually eliminates the driveline. I think he's got a very small rudder on the back, otherwise it's just an engine. In jet engine terms, it's probably fairly simple and stock. Maybe time to put one in a Fountain, just don't be the in the boat directly behind.......

RR

I was wondering the same thing. But I'll give credit to it as a boat if it comes down off of speed on the water successfully because that's where things can go south in a hurry.

The TF hydro guys have it right - do it in a few seconds over a few hundred yards. You can't control the conditions but you can monitor them closely in immediate time.

Cheating Death.

https://www.wired.com/2003/03/cheating/

Craig Arfons attempting his "unsuccessful" run....

380 mph? I guess it doesn't count if you die. :(

I guess if a person really wants to lessen their life expectancy this is a good approach.

I remember watching Lee Taylor die on live television when he went for the record in 1980. I promised myself that I'd never try to go over 250mph in a boat and that promise is still intact today. Lol

So whos going to step up and put 2 Nitro engines in a 36 skater?

It'll never happen with a catamaran or propellers. It will take a lengthened version of a 3 point hydroplane with rocket or jet thrust. Maybe some old guy with one foot in the grave will drive it! :)

Hmmm ? With self driving cars (which I don't trust a sh*t) coming on line maybe they could engineer the boat to be driverless . That would sure eliminate the inherent risk , but would it still count if there was no-one on board ?

has to be someone behind the wheel, no risk, no record