Jet Boating: An Innovation

New Zealand faced the brilliant local engineer, Sir Charles William Feilden "Bill" Hamilton, with a problem that led to a great recreational sport known as jet boating. Hamilton has been credited with the creation of the modern jet boat. Bill brought this project into the New Zealand market, where it flourished. The craft eventually revolutionized river recreation across the world. The sport has altered since its origin, but the experience is still truly unique and allows boaters to get adrenaline pumping while exploring - an adventurous spirit that resonates with many New Zealanders!

Bill Hamilton expressed his identity through an innovative mind that hoped to solve problems. The problem wasn't vital in this circumstance, but pressing issues are solved by engineers everyday. Engineering requires unique solutions and that can be seen in New Zealand throughout the centuries.  Civil engineering has had a recent increase for foundation design from the Earthquake that devastated Christchurch [1], and creating new infrastructure from a growing population [2]. Every type of engineer is needed to offer an economic approach to make New Zealand self-sustainable by converting to 100% renewable energy [3]. Humans have the ability to design our world for the better, and engineers are actively resolving complications.

Without boats, we wouldn't be able to to transport people or goods over 71% of the Earth that is covered by water [4]. Canoe water crafts allowed New Zealand to be explored by the Māori people. They utilized canoes for transportation and fishing. Sailboat crafts captained by Abel Tasman and later James Cook were later used to find the hidden island of New Zealand. Throughout the centuries, water crafts have branched out into many specific purposes, and recreation is the field that Hamilton was specifically targeting.

New Zealand welcomes tourism as much as they can since it provides 1 in 7 New Zealanders with jobs [5]. There are many reasons why people come to visit New Zealand, and thrill seekers make sure to put New Zealand on the list. People chasing the adrenaline rush think of bungee jumping, skydiving, tramping, mountaineering, white water rafting, and last but not least - Jet Boating! A jet boat is a boat that functions by feeding water through a very high pressure out of the hull (back) of the watercraft. This works by utilizing a water intake towards the front of the craft that brings water into a jet-pump that forces that same water out of back of the boat through a powerful stream that propels the craft forward.  Jet boats are operated by a range of users, such as; recreational boaters, racers, or by professional drivers that bring a group of tourists in a large craft that zips through canyons - just like the “Shotover jet”.  Adventure is instilled in many New Zealanders and this machine allows them to adventure where a normal boat can't! 

This invention opened up new areas for exploration credited to the bottom of the hull being only being inches below the water surface. This led rise to a new form of tourism thanks to Hamilton's invention. The jet boat is a machine that allows the user to have a very unique experience, and be able to seek out adventure! The Whanganui river was one of the first places that the water craft was taken, since the shallow depths through certain areas made the area impassible until the jet boat came around.   Bill Hamilton pioneered a machine without knowing the capability of machines in the future which is attributed to the accidents that we see from these machines.   

Although the activity gives New Zealand another form of tourism, there is a shortcoming to this invention. The design has been altered throughout the years, but even the most advanced jet boats can be misused which can cause damage to the users or the environment. One of the biggest engineering challenges in design of new systems is safety, and Bill didn't realize that his design could eventually become a speeding missile through the water. The internal combustion engine has improved greatly since Bill was inventing, and since then there has been many crashes from the dangerous sport of jet boating [7]. 

To go places where people haven't gone before is an adventurous approach that led to the Jet Boat becoming a massive success. The idea that this machine received a lot of interest isn't a surprise however, since it agrees with some traditional depictions of Kiwi Culture. Adventurers like the iconic Edmund Hillary wanted to go somewhere where nobody has before. Bill had a similar image, but of a quite smaller caliber. In 1953, Edmund Hillary was first to reach the summit of Mount Everest and live to tell the tale. This filled the country with confidence that anything was possible, and gave the pride to the nation that keeps the adventurous spirit alive. 

Bibliography

 "Projects in New Zealand." Aurecon. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2019.

 "Edmund Hillary." RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2019

Jet Boating in New Zealand | Things to See and Do in New Zealand. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2019.

 "The First Meeting - Abel Tasman and Maori in Golden Bay NZ." Theprow.org.nz. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Apr. 2019. 

 Screen, NZ On. "Jet Boats in New Zealand | Short Film | NZ On Screen." Explore. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Apr. 2019.