At the Miami International Boat Show restaurateur Al Copeland, Jr. just unveiled the orange, purple and green Phenomenon, the worldās fastest speedboat with an incredible 12,000 hp ā enough to propel it to 250 mph, well past the current world record of 220.5 mph. The late Al Copeland, Sr., fulsome founder of the Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits chain, brought in engineers from NASA and Boeing and former US military naval architects to collaborate on the 17-metre craft with the aim of breaking the worldās propeller speedboat record.
After four years and several million dollars his son has now accomplished his fatherās goal with the help of four T-55-L-7C Lycoming turbine engines kicking out 3,000 hp each. The lightweight craft is made of carbon fibre and fibreglass over airex foam cores. The cockpit is a separate high-strength composite capsule with extensive all-carbon fibre window mullions and frames, fitted with custom carbon fibre NASCAR seats. Whether intentional or not, Copeland also seems intent on capturing the āworldās most hideous paintjobā title too. Someone please give this clown a can of black paint.
