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If you crave the adrenaline rush of high cruising speeds on the open water, a speedboat is the marine craft for you. According to a variety of boating authorities, the average top speed of a powerboat is 70 miles per hour (mph), with high-performance competition boats well into the 100s. The Guinness World Record holder for the fastest boat in the world is the jet-powered hydroplane Spirit of Australia, which reached an eye-watering speed of approximately 317 mph.
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The speed-boat market offers multiple categories of boats designed to go fast, including V-bottom, catamaran and center-console body styles. They’re equipped with two to four motors—inboard or outboard—to provide all that power that pushes the limits on the water.
To find the best new powerboat for you, do some research and compare the specs and features of different brands and models, understanding that different engine packages and other add-ons affect the price. To start you off, here’s a list of the fastest speed boats on the market for 2023.
1. Nor-Tech 390 Sport
The 390 Sport from Nor-Tech easily lets you flirt with 80-mph speeds. This center-console boat offers stability on the water and is comfortable for everything from speedy rides to fishing and diving. The 390 Sport comes with triple or quad Mercury motors. Enthusiasts have topped 100 mph powered by quad Mercury Racing Verado 400R outboards on jack plates.
To achieve high speeds without fully liquefying your insides, Baja Marine’s 36 Outlaw is an excellent option. Whether you’re taking your chances at a poker run, cruising to sand bars or treating friends to wild tubing rides, the Outlaw is here for it. Enthusiasts have hit top speeds of around 84 mph with Mercury Racing 565 engines.
The dual-hull Mystic C4000 balances comfort and speed, offering a day of adventure on the water that can effortlessly go from leisurely to thrilling in seconds. Enthusiasts claim this boat is something straight out of a James Bond movie. Easy to drive and powered by just two outboard engines, the C4000 can top 100 mph, making it a shoo-in for offshore racing.
Fast, fun and attractive, the Donzi Marine 38 ZRC experienced a revival in 2020 with its unique fighter jet windscreens and a V-bottom hull designed for speed. Buyers can choose between Mercury Racing 565 HP Bravos or staggered 860s with #6 drives to power this model. Enthusiasts have reported exceeding 120 mph in this powerboat.
If you’re looking for the marine equivalent of a race car, the Outerlimits SV-50 is the ticket. This sleek and luxurious powerboat has room for up to five passengers and is designed for speedy thrills on the open water. Powered with Mercury Racing 1350/1100 engines, the SV-50 hit a top speed of 145 mph during a test ride in early 2023 on a mid-30-degree day in Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay.
If you’re looking for a powerboat that offers a smooth yet forceful push to top speeds and a comfortable and stable ride once you’re there, you’ll get it in Fountain’s 42 Lightning. It goes from 0 to 30 mph in 9.5 seconds, and the only limit to top speeds is your nerve—this boat can hit 160 mph with 1,350/1,550 packages.
With a name that includes the words “eliminator” and “speedster,” it should be no surprise that this catamaran zips to the top of this list with max speeds of 170 mph. Available with inboard and outboard options and a variety of deck and bow configurations, the Eliminator 28 Speedster can be customized for however you want to spend your time on the water.
