Man sticks jet engine in kayak, somehow survives

While it's not quite as high on the insanity meter as a jet-powered shopping cart, wheelchair, or port-a-potty, we still wouldn't want to go anywhere near Shaun Baker's self-made jet kayak, which he apparently decided to build after deeming the sport not dangerous enough. Costing about $10,000, the kayak packs a 45-horsepower engine and is steered simply using a regular kayak paddle. As you can see in the video after the break (from an episode of Top Gear), the kayak is also far from simply being a proof of concept, with it already having been pushed to the limit in a race -- against a Land Rover Tomcat 4x4, naturally.

[Spyvie @ Jul 5th 2007 2:50PM]

Very cool!

Incidentally, this is not using a jet engine anymore than a Jet Ski uses a jet engine. The craft is equipped with a Yamaha built “jet drive”, an ICE hooked to an enclosed propeller.

[MrGam3r @ Jul 5th 2007 3:26PM]

One time I went to an airshow and they had a huge truck cab that had a real jet engine in it. It was awesome. Probably less dangerous. :)

[MrGam3r @ Jul 5th 2007 3:30PM]

Is the special engine powered by Red bull?

[Revrant2394 @ Jul 5th 2007 2:53PM]

Ha, that was really entertaining.

[Bachus @ Jul 5th 2007 3:02PM]

dramatic pirates music ftw

[chris @ Jul 5th 2007 3:02PM]

WOW
THAT WAS A COOL 7 OR 8 MINUTES I LOVE TOP GEAR :D I NEVER KNOW WHEN ITS ON THOUGH :*(

[Aigarius @ Jul 5th 2007 3:03PM]

TopGear is the best! Brilliant example of really great people-funded British television :D

[Fraser Drew @ Jul 5th 2007 3:05PM]

Top Gear rules.... one thing I'm glad I live in the UK for!!!

[StrangeBum @ Jul 5th 2007 3:13PM]

Is that the same host from Brainiac? Now that was an entertaining show, I haven't happened to see this one. Looks like a fun show though..

And about the kayak, very cool. Very much so.

[GavinK @ Jul 5th 2007 5:10PM]

It certainly is. That's Richard Hammond, who is also well known for:

1. Being short
2. Not whitening his teeth
3. Crashing a jet-powered car at 280mph and surviving (just). Take a look at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWhd8rt64GI

[Mike @ Jul 5th 2007 5:14PM]

Top Gear is way better than Brainiac, think of it as Brainiac for petrolheads. And it is the same presenter, richard hammond. (one of three). Heres a video of him crashing a jet car.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tDTUSsGaaY

[R. Cabell @ Jul 5th 2007 3:15PM]

Gotta love the Kiwis, always coming up with new and exciting ways to almost kill yourself!

[Mark @ Jul 5th 2007 3:22PM]

Yah, cool. Except "worlds first" my a**! These things have been available for years. http://www.mokai.com/ $3500 bucks and you can pick the color.

[Phour ZwanZig @ Jul 5th 2007 4:36PM]

Ahh.. Aint the same..

That is a boat, the motor does the steering like a jetski..

[Kryz @ Jul 5th 2007 3:22PM]

Uhm, seriously, the episode of Top Gear mentioned in this article aired on the 14th of May... 2006! What exactly is the "news" value of this article??

[Hastings @ Jul 5th 2007 3:52PM]

It was news to me.

[Kryz @ Jul 5th 2007 3:24PM]

Uhm, seriously, the episode of Top Gear mentioned in this article aired on the 14th of May... 2006! What exactly is the "news" value of this article??

[Myrmidon @ Jul 5th 2007 4:33PM]

Exactly! How is a segment from a telephone show that aired over a year ago news today? Come on Engadget!!!

[Boyo @ Jul 5th 2007 3:46PM]

"His Buttocks have been roasted by the engine" TV Gold.

Hamster boy would have won if didn't hit the ice.

[optV @ Jul 5th 2007 3:56PM]

Topgear = one of the only TV shows worth watching. Also check out the Range rover vs tank episode and the lotus vs apache helicopter episode. There is an episode where they make a space shuttle orbiter. Such a cool show.

[o29 @ Jul 5th 2007 4:31PM]

Am I the only one who found the camera work to be a bit annoying at times?

[Anndra @ Jul 5th 2007 6:54PM]

Yes.

[Avi @ Jul 5th 2007 5:51PM]

I emigrated over 10 years ago and now the only time I get to watch Top Gear is in airport lounges. Would love one of those kayak toys but then i'd get killd twice, once by the kayak and the second by my wife for buying it in the first place.

www.caristech.com

[KC @ Jul 5th 2007 5:52PM]

The race must be staged. How can the camera be so well placed to capture The Hamster hitting the block of ice? I love Top Gear, and I wish we got it here on BBC America.

[CL @ Jul 5th 2007 7:33PM]

For those that don't live in the UK, check out finalgear.com if you want your topgear/fifth gear fix.

[David @ Jul 5th 2007 7:47PM]

I'll take one of each PLEASE.

[SilkyZ @ Jul 5th 2007 8:29PM]

i want that, and since it's red bull...

...I'll have wiiings!!!

[Christian @ Jul 5th 2007 10:34PM]

where can I watch topgear?! Is it in BBC America? they're my fave whenever I see a downloadble video. Also I love their funny comments.

[CL @ Jul 6th 2007 3:03AM]

They show chopped version of the show on Discovery, but if you want the full deal, torrent is your only option. Check out finalgear.com

[jack @ Jul 6th 2007 9:44AM]

For Pete's sake Engadget! this is NOT a "jet-powered" kayak. It is a kayak with a water jet (like a "jet-ski") in the back. This publication becomes lamer by the day. Do you not pay your editors, or are they just incompetent?

[jack @ Jul 8th 2007 10:31PM]

For Pete's sake Engadget! this is NOT a "jet-powered" kayak. It is a kayak with a water jet (like a "jet-ski") in the back. This publication becomes lamer by the day. Do you not pay your editors, or are they just incompetent?

[Robert @ Jul 11th 2007 12:55PM]

I hope I never see one of these on a river.