...stop, stop
it isn’t finished!
Bentz Boats 1999 “Q Jet Boat” by Riddle Marine Used in The World Is Not Enough (1999)
When stacks of ransom cash, chemically treated to explode, cause devastation at MI6 headquarters, Bond leaps into action. Seeing female assassin Giulietta da Vinci in a Sunseeker Superhawk 34 sportscruiser waiting on the River Thames to shoot any survivors, Bond commandeers Q’s custom jet boat, outfitted with a re-enforced hull, jet afterburner thrusters, submarining capabilities, auto-mapping software, forward and aft target-seeking torpedoes, and, most remarkably, the ability to be driven on land. The river chase ends at the then new Millenium Dome where Bond ramps the indestructible Q-Boat into the air so he may grab a tether line on the rising hot air balloon Giulietta uses for one last attempt to escape.
Six fully operational 300 bhp V8 jet powered Q-Boats were built for the scene under contract with Bentz Boats out of Lewiston, Idaho, a company that specializes in metal-hulled jet-powered watercraft. Since Bentz boats are generally larger, they worked with Doug Riddle of Riddle Marine. Stunt Coordinator Simon Crane needed boats fast, four in just three weeks to start testing. To ship these quickly assembled boats required a cargo flight to London at a cost $25,000. Those watercrafts still needed to be painted, outfitted with ersatz Q-Branch control panels, and tested to see if they could withstand the stunts. Doug Riddle came with the boats after being offered an uncredited job of training the stunt drivers. Known in Lewiston as somewhat of a daredevil on the water, Doug was nonetheless impressed with the stunts, seeing his boats turn at crazy speeds, perform jumps and attempted barrel-rolls. Crane asked if Riddle wanted to join the stunt team. "After seeing what they want done, I said no," Riddle recalled.
Nine mock-up Q-Boats without propulsion systems were used for various stunts requiring air cannons and towing mechanisms. The scene where the Q-Boat takes to the land, crashing through a crowded Docklands restaurant, required numerous mock-ups designed for the rigors of individual stunts. Vic Armstrong’s second unit team was meticulous, often getting just two or three shots a day. Pierce Brosnan also got in on the fun, doing many shots where he drove the Q-Boat at speed.
Many of the boats were wrecked or badly damaged during the shoot. It is thought six survived with the remaining boats crushed after filming concluded. One survivor boat was auctioned for charity by Eon Productions in 2022.
The IFF acquired its boat in 1999. Still sea-worthy, with light-up dashboard, the Q-Boat is maintained in mission-ready condition. The computer screen plays the actual computer program from the film, which details the path taken on the chase along the River Thames in London. A copy of the program was donated to the IFF several years ago and was installed in the boat. This boat is believed to be the one that performed the barrel roll scene.
More information and pictures here.