There’s no single best go fast boat. The right choice depends on where you’ll run it, how rough the water gets, how many people you carry and what you can spend. As a rough guide:
- A deep-V monohull suits choppy coastal and offshore water.
- A stepped-hull V-bottom gives more speed and efficiency for the power.
- A catamaran is usually the choice for the highest top speeds on calmer water.
Well-known performance brands such as Cigarette, Donzi, Fountain, MTI and Skater each have devoted followings, but none of them is “best” for everyone.
What “go fast boat” means
“Go fast boat” is an informal name for high-performance powerboats built mainly for speed: long, narrow, powerful hulls with large engines and little cabin space. The style grew out of offshore powerboat racing in the 1960s and later, when deep-V hulls proved they could run fast in rough open water.
The term covers a wide range, from 21 ft single-engine sport boats to large offshore catamarans with several thousand horsepower.
The main hull types
| Hull type | Strengths | Trade-offs | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deep-V monohull | Soft ride in chop, predictable handling | Needs more power for top speed | Coastal and offshore running |
| Stepped V-hull | Less drag, more speed for the power | Can be less forgiving in tight turns if set up poorly | Fast sport boats, lakes and coasts |
| Catamaran | Very high top speeds, air lift between hulls | Harsher ride in steep chop, needs skill | Flat-water speed, offshore racing |
| Tunnel / pad V-bottom | Fast and light, often single engine | Less comfortable, smaller | Lakes, bass boats, enthusiasts |
Performance boating magazines that test boats point out that the fastest boat on paper isn’t always the best to live with. Fuel use, comfort, handling and running costs matter just as much for most owners.
Well-known go-fast names
A few names come up again and again:
- Cigarette and Donzi are both closely tied to the designer and racer Don Aronow. They’re among the most famous American go-fast brands, and the classic Donzi 22 still has a cult following.
- Fountain is known for offshore V-hulls and sport fishing boats with a racing pedigree.
- MTI and Skater are known for high-performance catamarans, including boats used in offshore racing.
- Formula, Baja, Hustler and others have built go-fast sport boats over the years.
- European makers such as Fairline, Sunseeker and Windy have produced fast sports cruisers that trade some top speed for comfort and seakeeping.
Turbine-powered racing catamarans can exceed 200 mph in exhibition runs, but these are specialist machines, not everyday boats.
How to choose: questions to ask
- Where will you run it? Inland lakes and sheltered water favour catamarans and lighter sport boats. Open coastal water favours deep-V hulls.
- How many people? Many go-fast boats seat only two to five comfortably.
- What’s your budget, including running costs? Large twin- and triple-engine boats use a great deal of fuel, and engine servicing is expensive.
- Do you want speed or a fast cruiser? A boat that cruises comfortably at 40 knots is a very different machine from one built to touch 100 mph.
- What’s your experience? High-speed boats demand skill. Training, and time in a slower boat first, make sense.
Safety at speed
Running any boat at high speed carries real risks. Performance boating experts consistently recommend:
- Wearing a suitable lifejacket, and using a kill cord or engine cut-off switch
- Knowing local speed limits and rules of the road
- Watching for wash, debris and other water users
- Getting proper training before driving a high-performance boat
Go-fast boats as model subjects
Go-fast boats are some of the most popular subjects for radio-controlled models:
- Ready-to-run RC offshore boats are widely available in plastic and fibreglass, often styled after real offshore racers. Most use brushless motors; see choosing a brushed or brushless ESC and our comparison of LiPo, NiMH and lead-acid batteries.
- Wooden kits of fast sports boats were a staple of the British and American hobby in the 1960s and 1970s, and vintage designs are still built from plans. Our guide to classic power boat models covers the Lesro Arrow and the Fairey Huntsman, a deep-V sports cruiser from the offshore racing era.
- Record breakers such as Donald Campbell’s Bluebird K7 make striking display models. See our article on what engine powered Bluebird for the history behind it.
- Classic runabouts offer a more relaxed alternative to all-out speed; see our Chris-Craft and Riva runabout kit guide.
- Wartime fast craft such as the American PT boats are popular plastic kits; see PT boat model kits.
As with the real thing, a fast model needs a straight hull, sensible weight distribution and calm water to run well. Run fast models away from swimmers, wildlife and other pond users.