Posted by on Apr 24, 2016 in Boating, Buy Boat Propellers | 0 comments

During the 60’s boat propeller technology advanced along with boat hull tech and speed records. In the mid 1960’s an American, Lee Taylor and his boat jet Hustler was getting close to the Campbell record and almost beat it in 1965. Donald Campbell decided in January 1967 to really push his boat the K7 to the absolute limits and beyond if necessary in an attempt to set the water speed record over three hundred MPH. On his first pass he went 297.6 MPH, on his mandatory return pass he let out all stops and was going about 320 MPH when his boat started to become unstable. The nose of the boat lifted up and out of the water and then went completely airborne, did a somersault and nose dived back into the water killing Campbell instantly when the boat exploded on impact. Campbell’s remains were not found until 2001, almost 35 years later.

Lee Taylor finally succeeded in setting a new speed record in June 1967 with a speed of 286.875 MPH with his rebuilt boat Hustler. His record stood for ten years. By this time piston engines using boat propellers technology could not compete with the jet boats for speed.

An Australian, Ken Warby with his Spirit of Australia jet boat that he built in his back yard, in November 1977 barely broke the record with a speed of 288..6 MPH. On October 8th.1978 Warby set a new and still existing top water speed record of 317.6 MPH. This record is by far the longest any water speed record has been held at almost 38 years standing.

There has been a couple of serious attempts to break the record since 1978 but both ended in tragedy. Lee Taylor went for it in 1980 with a new 40 foot long jet boat called Discovery II but was killed when the left float collapsed flipping his boat over at 270 MPH.

In 1989 Craig Arfons, the nephew of world famous land speed record holder Art Arfons, attempted to set a new record but he also lost his life when his jet boat Rain X Challenger somersaulted at over 300 MPH.
Here at Dan’s Discount Propellers we urge everybody driving a boat to use caution and common sense along with following the laws of operating a watercraft. Boating is for fun but it can also be dangerous.
For the lowest prices on hundreds of boat props check out our boat propeller technology website or call us at 1-800-573-5533