The go-fast boat is the generic name for the drug smuggling boat of choice in many parts of the world in the 1990s and first years of the 21st century. The name is also more widely used for high performance craft of the characteristic design.

A typical smuggling go-fast is built of solid, dark-colored fiberglass, wide of beam and with a deep "V" offshore racing hull from usually 30 to 50 feet (10 to 15 m) long. It commonly carries a ton or more of cargo, several fuel drums, a handheld global positioning system, perhaps a cellular telephone, and a small crew. With several 250 horsepower (200 kW) engines, they travel at top speeds of 35 to 50 knots (65 to 100 km/h), slowing little in light chop and still maintaining 25 knots (50 km/h) in the average five to seven foot (1.5 to 2 m) Caribbean seas. They are heavy enough to cut through higher waves, although at a slower pace. With no metallic fittings, go-fasts are rarely detected by radar except in a flat calm or at close range.

The US Coast Guard finds them to be stealthy, fast, seaworthy, and very difficult to intercept using conventional craft. Because of this Coast Guards are developing their own high-speed craft and also using helicopters. The helicopters are equipped with sniper rifles which can be used to disable the motors of the go-fast boat. The Coast Guard go-fast boat is a RHIB equipped with radar and more powerful engines. The RHIB is armed with several types of non-lethal weapons and M240 GPMG.

External links

• Congressional testimony on technologies for detecting go-fast boats
• Lexington Institute article on technologies for stopping go-fast boats