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Go, Speed Racer, Go!

Robert Farago

August 4, 2003

According to Campbell, the Bladerunner wins races by solving an old problem. “If you want to go fast over water, a narrow hull is the optimal solution. But narrow hulls are inherently unstable; the boat tends to fall over in flat water. The Bladerunner gets around this in two ways. First, the air flowing through the wind tunnels (flanking the main hull) generates enough lift to support the weight of the boat. Second, the sponsons—the sharp outriggers at the end of the wings—provide tremendous lateral stability.”

Problem solved. The resulting race-spec Bladerunner is busy dominating its class. Meanwhile, Jeremy Watts would like to sell a few Bladerunners to the leisure market, as well. To that end, Ice Marine offers a more user-friendly version of its competition craft: the Bladerunner GT.

The company builds the GT with seamless composites, rather than expensive, hard-riding carbon fiber, and equips the Bladerunner GT with two 3-liter Mercury Optimax engines. While the direct-injection V-6 outboards lack the aural drama of proper V-8s, their power-to-weight ratio helps keep the Bladerunner’s center of gravity reassuringly forward. The power plants are also good for 225 hp—enough grunt to power the GT to its 61-knot (70 mph) maximum. At slightly more serene speeds (approximately 60 mph), the craft’s 100-gallon fuel tank gives the boat an entirely useful 300-mile cruising range.

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The Bladerunner GT’s four-place cockpit, above, clearly indicates that this boat is built for high speed travel. (Click image to enlarge)

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Ah, utility. Thanks to its radical design, the Bladerunner’s role as a leisure craft is not immediately apparent. The narrow hull severely limits usable space. While the massive, thrusting nose will swallow all the necessary fenders and some generous sunbathing cushions, there is only enough cabin room for two-plus-two seating and a tiny aft cuddy. The test boat, owned by UK celebrity chef James Martin, has a widescreen TV and PlayStation slotted into the space, so Martin will have to earn his Medal of Honor lying down. As a practical day boat, the Bladerunner is far from ideal.