IMG 8335 2

 

The Grand National Hydroplane can travel at speeds in excess of 130mph. These boats barely touch the water as they glide across the surface throwing out a wall of water 20 feet high and up to 60 feet long called a rooster tail from a single two or three-bladed propeller at the rear of the boat. The sight of the rooster tail and the sound of the V8 motors roaring in your ears make the Grand National Hydroplanes one of the most exciting classes of boats to watch.

Class restrictions are as follows: 

There are no restrictions on boat size or weight. There are two types of hull design, Conventional and Cabover. In the conventional, the driver sits behind the motor, and in the cab over the driver sits in the front of the motor usually in a reinforced cockpit. Pump gas can be used to power the engines but most drivers usually prefer Aviation Fuel or Methanol.

Engine Restrictions:

Up to 4.2ltrs can be fitted with Carburetion, Fuel injection, turbo or supercharger. Aluminium blocks and heads permitted. Over 4.2ltrs up to and including 6ltr engines can be fitted with Carburetion or Injection only. Aluminium blocks and heads permitted. Over 6ltrs up to and including 7.7ltr can be fitted with one single Carburettor only. Aluminium heads permitted but the block must be a cast iron type.

 

Kilo Speed Records

ZoneDriverBoatSpeed
National Record Scott Coker Fair Warning 138.04mph (222.15)
Northern Zone Scott Coker Fair Warning 138.04mph (222.15)
Central Zone Alan Jacob Bang On II 120.80mph (194.36kph)
Southern Zone Mike Harvey Aquanaut 129.006mph (207.570kph)

 

New Zealand GNH Champions

YearDriverBoat
2023 Jason Haggerty Miss Aberdeen
2022    
2021  Shane Harvey  Renegade
2020    
2019 Shane Harvey Renegade
2018  not contested  
2017    
2016    
2015 Jason Haggerty Miss Aberdeen
2014 Steve Mathieson Midnight
2013 Mike Harvey Aquanaut
2012 Mike Harvey Aquanaut
2011 Nigel Zander Helter Skelter
2010 Jamie Knight The Phantom
2009 Jamie Knight The Phantom
2008 Scott Coker Fair Warning
2007 Darryl Friend Terminator
2006 Darryl Friend Terminator
2005 Tony Hall Tempest
2004 Rex Henderson Hang On II
2003 Ian Fergusson Roxanne IV
2002 Alan Lewis Little Cracker
2001 Alan Lewis Little Cracker
2000 Selwyn Coker Segedin Truck & Auto Parts
1999 Selwyn Coker Segedin Truck & Auto Parts
1998 Not Contested  
1997 Tony Hall Viper
1996 Tony Hall Viper