The classic American jet boat combined a lightweight fiberglass hull, a big-block V8, and a Berkeley waterjet. The technology originated with New Zealand engineer Sir William Hamilton, who developed practical waterjet propulsion in the 1950s, while Berkeley brought the system to American performance boating in 1960. By the 1970s, California had become a center of the hot-boat scene, with builders creating small, powerful boats from brands like Tahiti, Hondo, and Sanger. Racing pushed performance higher, while bright colors, metalflake finishes, and exposed V8s gave the boats their unmistakable 1970s style. Although the market declined in the 1980s, classic jet boats never disappeared. Today, enthusiasts restore old hulls, rebuild big-block engines and pumps, and preserve the formula that made them famous: lightweight boat, internal V8, and waterjet propulsion.
Learn about the history of water jet boats and the history of the Jet Ski.
