
Water jet propulsion boats are unlike ordinary ships or boats in their design, as they have no propellers or outboard motors. Instead, they use a jet engine to draw water into the engine and then forcefully stream it back out. This process, discovered by Sir Isaac Newton, is known as action and reaction, and states that for every action or force, there is always an oppositely equal reaction. The force of the jet stream pushing backward drives the jet propulsion boat forward.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How it works | Water is drawn from beneath the hull, passes through a series of impellers and stators, and is then expelled through a nozzle at the stern |
| Propulsion | The force of the jet stream pushing backward drives the boat forward |
| Design | Unlike ordinary boats, there are no propellers or outboard motors |
| Engine | Streamlined structure that sits at water level |
| Motion | Consistent cycling motion |
| Steering | Accomplished by moving the nozzle to either side |
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What You'll Learn

Water is drawn from beneath the hull
Water jet propulsion boats work by drawing water from beneath the hull and then forcefully streaming it back out. This process is known as action and reaction, and it was discovered by Sir Isaac Newton. The water is drawn into the engine through an intake and then expelled through a nozzle at the stern. The jet engine is streamlined, so its structure sits at water level, and the water is drawn in through rotating blades. The water passes through a series of impellers and stators, which increase the velocity of the waterflow. The jetstream exits the unit through a small nozzle at high velocity, pushing the boat forward.
The modern jetboat was developed by New Zealand engineer Sir William Hamilton in the mid-1950s. Hamilton's goal was to create a boat that could run up the fast-flowing rivers of New Zealand that were too shallow for propellers. Water jet propulsion boats are both practical and popular for use in shallow parts of fast-moving rivers. Their ease of acceleration, manoeuvrability, and universal safety ensure an enjoyable ride for all participants.
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Water passes through a series of impellers and stators
Water jet propulsion boats work by drawing water from beneath the hull, where it passes through a series of impellers and stators, known as stages, which increase the velocity of the waterflow. Most modern jets are single-stage, while older waterjets may have as many as three stages. The water is drawn into the engine by rotating blades, which then forcefully streams the water back out. The jetstream exits the unit through a small nozzle at high velocity to push the boat forward.
The jet engine is streamlined, so its structure sits at water level for travelling across various waters. This makes water jet propulsion boats practical and popular for use in shallow parts of fast-moving rivers. Their ease of acceleration, manoeuvrability, and universal safety ensure an enjoyable ride for all participants.
The basic principle behind a jet engine is a consistent cycling motion. The internal system utilises rotating blades to draw water into the engine itself and then forcefully streams the water back out. The constant high-power motion of this process is what propels the water vessel forward.
The strong force of the jet stream pushing backward directly drives the jet propulsion boat forward. This phenomenon was discovered by Sir Isaac Newton, whose third law of motion is also known as action and reaction. This states that for every action or force, there is always an oppositely equal reaction.
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The velocity of the waterflow increases
Water jet propulsion boats work by drawing water from under the boat through an intake and into a pump-jet inside the boat. The water passes through a series of impellers and stators, which increase the velocity of the waterflow. This high-velocity jetstream then exits the unit through a small nozzle at the back of the boat, pushing the boat forward. The force of the jetstream pushing backward drives the jet propulsion boat forward, as per Sir Isaac Newton's third law of motion.
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The water is expelled through a nozzle at the stern
Water jet propulsion boats work by drawing water from under the boat through an intake and into a pump-jet inside the boat. The water is then expelled through a nozzle at the stern. This process is known as the 'jet stream' and it pushes the boat forward. The jet engine is streamlined, which means its structure sits at water level for travelling across various waters. The basic principle behind a jet engine is a consistent cycling motion. Rotating blades draw water into the engine and then forcefully stream it back out.
The waterjet draws water from beneath the hull, where it passes through a series of impellers and stators – known as stages – which increase the velocity of the waterflow. Most modern jets are single-stage, while older waterjets may have as many as three stages. The tail section of the waterjet unit extends out through the transom of the hull, above the waterline. This jetstream exits the unit through a small nozzle at high velocity to push the boat forward. Steering is accomplished by moving this nozzle to either side, or less commonly, by small gates on either side that deflect the jetstream.
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The jetstream pushes the boat forward
Water jet propulsion boats are unlike ordinary ships or boats in their design. They do not have propellers or outboard motors. Instead, they use a jet engine to draw water into the engine and then forcefully stream it back out. This is known as a consistent cycling motion.
The water is drawn from under the boat through an intake and into a pump-jet inside the boat. It is then expelled through a nozzle at the stern. The jetstream exits the unit through a small nozzle at high velocity, pushing the boat forward. The faster the jetstream, the faster the boat will go.
The jet engine is streamlined, which means it sits at water level. This allows the boat to travel across various waters, including shallow parts of fast-moving rivers. Water jet propulsion boats are therefore very practical and popular for use in these environments.
The principle behind the jet engine's ability to propel a boat forward is based on Sir Isaac Newton's third law of motion. This states that for every action or force, there is an equal and opposite reaction. In this case, the strong force of the jetstream pushing backward directly drives the jet propulsion boat forward.
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Frequently asked questions
Water jet propulsion boats use a jet of water ejected from the back of the craft to push the boat forward. The water is drawn from under the boat through an intake and into a pump-jet inside the boat, before being expelled through a nozzle at the stern.
Unlike conventional boats, water jet propulsion boats have no propellers or outboard motors. The jet engine is streamlined, which means it sits at water level for travelling across various waters.
Water jet propulsion boats are ideal for shallow waters as they draw water from under the boat. Their ease of acceleration, manoeuvrability, and universal safety make them a popular choice for shallow parts of fast-moving rivers.
Steering is accomplished by moving the nozzle to either side, or less commonly, by small gates on either side that deflect the jetstream.
The basic principle behind a jet engine is a consistent cycling motion. The internal system utilises rotating blades to draw water into the engine and then forcefully streams the water back out. This is an example of Sir Isaac Newton's third law of motion, which states that for every action or force, there is always an oppositely equal reaction.









































