Ken Warby is a determined man.
His homemade jet-powered boat called the “Spirit of Australia” was designed by Ken in 1970 and built by Ken in the backyard of his house in Sydney, Australia from 1972-1974.
Ken labeled his quest “Project 300,” named in honor of his hopes to break the 300mph barrier. He built the boat out of plywood and fiberglass with aluminum cowlings. The boat was also powered by a Westinghouse jet engine!
Eventually, through hard work and determination, Ken succeeded in his long quest.
On October 8th, 1978 on Blowering Dam in New South Wales, Australia, hardcore determined DIY builder Ken Warby and his ‘never-surrender’ attitude, captured the world waterspeed record when he propelled his boat to a blistering 317.60 miles per hour!
Ken’s boat is now at the National Maritime Museum in NSW, Ken himself lives in Cleves, Ohio, USA where he and his son Dave are working on a Spirit of Australia II and his world waterspeed record from 1978 still stands, unbeaten.
