25hp Outboards
The next step for juniors moving up from Formula Future, and a favourite with adults who want close racing without breaking the family budget.
- Engine
- 25hp outboard
- Rules
- APBA 25hp
Speed boat racing on the Swan
WA Speed Boat Club races at Burswood from November to June, right on the doorstep of the city. New members are welcome, and kids can start racing at 10.
- Race days
- Second Sunday of the month, November to June
- Where
- Burswood Water Sports Centre, Swan River
- Juniors
- From age 10, in 15hp Formula Future boats
- Fastest boats
- Over 170 km/h
Start racing at 10 in Formula Future
Boat racing is a family sport. When Mum or Dad race, the kids can race too, in their own class and their own boats.
Juniors race small outboard boats capped at 15hp, averaging around 60 km/h. It isn’t boys only: girls race in Formula Future too.
It’s also where a lot of racing starts. Juniors who want more step up to the 25hp class, and from there to the bigger boats.
The boat
- Hull
- Monohull, at least 2.4 m long and 1.2 m wide
- Engine
- Standard two-stroke outboard, 15hp at most
- Fuel
- Standard petrol only
- Controls
- Seat, steering wheel and foot throttle
- Buoyancy
- Built into the boat
What a junior driver needs
- To be 10 or older, with proof of age
- A helmet and a life jacket
- An ignition cut-out switch on the boat
- Club membership and an APBA licence, which includes insurance cover
- A boat that passes the scrutineers’ safety check
Ask us for the current requirements before you buy anything. National rules are set by the Australian Power Boat Association.
Where juniors go next
Four kinds of boat to step up to, and where adults can start.
Tunnels F1, F2 and F3 outboards
Tunnel hulls trap air under the full length of the boat, so they ride on top of the water instead of through it.
- F3
- 1250cc
- F2
- 2000cc
- F1
- Open unlimited, over 170 km/h
Hydroplanes Inboards
Built purely to go fast. Air trapped under the hull lifts the boat so it planes on top of the water.
- Classes
- 4.2, 5.0 and 6.0 litre
Displacements Inboard V8s
From a distance they look like a ski boat. Up close they’re built light and strong for racing, with the engine mounted inboard.
- Classes
- 5.7 litre (LS1) and 6.0 litre
- Speed
- Over 170 km/h
Boats on the water
Photos from the club’s race days. Pick a class, and select any photo to see it larger.
How joining works
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Come and watch a race day
Spectators are welcome. Bring a chair and a picnic, or use the club BBQ and bar. It’s the easiest way to see the boats up close and decide if it’s for your family.
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Talk to us about a boat
Tell us who wants to race and what you’d like to spend. The committee can give you advice on buying, and the club site has a boats for sale page.
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Join the club and get a licence
Fill in the drivers membership form. Drivers also need an APBA licence. Ask us and we’ll point you to the right forms.
A club the whole family can race in
WA Speed Boat Club formed in 1949 and is the only active boat racing club in Western Australia. We raced at Matilda Bay, Coode Street and Heirisson Island before settling at Burswood, a course we think is the best in Australia.
Not ready to race? Race days need helping hands too. Get in touch if you’d like to volunteer.
Racing under national rules
We’re affiliated with the Australian Power Boat Association (APBA), the national body that sets and enforces the racing and safety rules for power boat racing in Australia.
- Home course
- Burswood Water Sports Centre, Swan River
- Race days
- Second Sunday of the month, November to June. See the race calendar
- Away meetings
- Lake Towerrinning every year. We’ve also raced on Lake Dumbleyung, where Donald Campbell set the 1964 world water speed record
- On race day
- BBQ, clubrooms and bar
Common questions
How old do you have to be to start racing?
Ten. Juniors start in the 15hp Formula Future class and need to show proof of age.
Is it only for boys?
No. Girls race in Formula Future too.
What does a junior driver need?
A helmet, a life jacket, an ignition cut-out switch on the boat, club membership and an APBA licence. The boat is checked by scrutineers before it races. Ask us for the current requirements before you buy anything.
How fast do the boats go?
The 15hp juniors average around 60 km/h. F1 tunnel boats and the V8 displacements regularly go over 170 km/h.
How often do you race?
Once a month from November to June, on the second Sunday. The race calendar has the dates.
Can I come and watch?
Yes. Spectators are welcome at 1 Camfield Drive, Burswood, on the Swan River. Bring a chair and a picnic, or use the club BBQ and bar. Get directions
How do I buy a boat?
Check the boats for sale page, or ask a committee member for advice before you buy.
Who sets the rules?
The Australian Power Boat Association sets the national racing and safety rules. The club’s 15hp class rules cover junior racing in WA.
Ready to have a go?
Send us an enquiry and tell us a bit about who wants to race. We’ll help you work out the right class and what to do next.
Or email the club at info@wasbc.com.au, or the Commodore at wasbc.commodore@gmail.com.
