Jet boat is a small craft propelled by a powerful jet of water. The boat is powered by a specially designed internal-combustion engine that ejects water for its thrust. The engine sucks water through a grille in the middle of the boat and then pumps the water in a jet stream through a nozzle out the stern (rear), above the waterline. Jet boats are especially suitable for use in shallow waters, such as fast-flowing, narrow rivers. They have navigated the rivers of Nepal and the rapids of the Colorado River. Modern jet boats can achieve speeds of more than 120 miles (190 kilometers) per hour.
The marine jet engine that powers modern jet boats was invented and developed by William Hamilton, a New Zealand engineer and farmer. He tested his first jet boats in the fast-flowing rivers in the foothills of New Zealand’s Southern Alps/Kā Tiritiri o te Moana. He patented his invention in 1955.
