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Today marks the last round of the National Jet Sprint in Wanaka, something that wouldn’t be possible without Bill Hamilton.
It comes as no surprise that the inventor of the jet boat was born and bred from New Zealand.
It seems like Kiwis have always had that sense of adventure inside them.
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Bill Hamilton, a New Zealand inventor and engineer, changed the game for the boating industry forever with his creation of the jet boat in the early 1950s.
Hamilton began experimenting with a new type of boat propulsion system after he became convinced that traditional propeller-based systems were inefficient and limited their ability to navigate shallow waters and rapids.
This inspired Hamilton to come up with the idea of using a jet of water to provide thrust and quickly set to work on designing and building his first prototype.
The result would become the world’s first jet boat.
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'Model A' or the 'Red Jet' became vastly popular as the world saw how a jet boat was capable of travelling at high speeds in shallow water.
It was far more manoeuvrable than traditional boats, causing it to be ideal for the use of rescue, military and law enforcement agencies.
Hamilton’s invention revolutionised the boating industry.
Over the years, Hamilton continued to improve upon his original design, developing new versions of the jet boat that were faster and more efficient than the last.
Today, jet boats are used around the world for both recreational and commercial use.
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They're used for everything from racing to fishing to tourism, and even high-speed ferries, becoming an integral part of the boating industry.
The water jet propulsion systems Hamilton used are now being deployed in other areas of transportation, including hydrofoil boats and even hovercrafts.
Hamilton’s invention of the jet boat is the most popular among thrill-seekers who love nothing more than racing down a body of water or through some rapids in a high-powered jet boat.
Words by Millie Hinchliffe.
The LADbible Team