Motorsport afficionado Mike Finnegan might not have enough downtime, what with running Finnegan's Garage, Finnegan Speed & Marine and contributing to Motor Trend and two different YouTube channels as well. But on one such occasion, Finnegan brought along his buddy Cletus McFarland for a ride in his 19-foot twin-turbo jet boat. Here's how that open-water venture turned out.
Huge And Durable Engine
First, Finnegan built the boat himself after years of getting advice from some pros in the motor publishing business. One main issue he had was in trying to determine the right bore and stroke measurements to get the most power out of the engine, and before he knew it, the motor had expanded to 711 cubic inches.
A larger, more powerful engine demands more durable parts, so Finnegan opted against aluminum pieces in favor of steel for such items as connecting rods, valves and the crankshaft. The result is that his fiberglass Placecraft boasts a 1,700 hp twin-turbo, hemi-powered engine that hit 115 mph on this occasion, a personal best for Finnegan
That's slightly faster than the 100-plus mph that the world's fastest police boat can muster and more than enough to outrun U.S. Coast Guard vessels that clock in at more than 60 mph.
White Knuckle Ride
When Finnegan brought McFarlane along for the ride, the first thing his passenger noticed was that the two-seater has nothing to hang onto. Only Finnegan had a steering wheel he could grip, meaning McFarlane would be white-knuckling it the best way he could. The breakneck speeds on the water were hair-raising, especially since the Placecraft has no windshield. When it was McFarlane's turn to pilot the craft, he was a bit more tentative on the throttle and had steering issues before he could get a feel for the boat.
Go Full Throttle
But once he did, McFarlane was able to throttle the beast with ease and make sharper turns on the lake. All while taking in the sights and enjoying the sensation of speeding on the open water without a care in the world. In short, commandeering the Placecraft was an awesome experience for McFarlane. "Once it got loose, I hit it and it straightened right out," remarked McFarlane. "This is a sick boat."
Sources: Engine Builder Mag, Finnegan's Garage