# The Front Runner Aquatic Version of a Star Wars Pod Racer By TechnoGadget | Published 2007-03-01 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-front-runner-a-boat-or-pod-racer References: [mlive](http://www.mlive.com/printer/printer.ssf?/base/sports-0/1171028733312510.xml&coll=6) & [core77](http://www.core77.com/blog/object_culture/front_runner_5608.asp) The Front Runner is a new concept boat designed by Joey Ruiter that can run in extremely shallow water. Its hull lifts out of the water drag by two 215-horsepower jet-drive engines affixed in forward pontoons. Actually its steering system is expected to allow it to bank much the way a plane does or like a pod racer in Star Wars: Episode I. “The Front-Runner may be the next best thing” Ruiter said “It's not what I set out to design, but when I was done, it was pretty close.” It will be revealed at the 62nd annual Grand Rapids Boat Show at DeVos Place next week. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.1/10 - Popularity: 19% | Activity: 35% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Shallow Water Boating:** Developing lightweight boats with shallow drafts to navigate in shallow waters presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the boating industry. - **Aircraft-inspired Boating:** Integrating steering systems that allow boats to bank like planes or pod racers creates a unique and disruptive innovation opportunity in the marine industry. - **Performance Watercraft Design:** Exploring unconventional hull designs and propulsion systems, such as using jet-drive engines, presents disruptive innovation opportunities for high-performance watercraft in the boating industry. ### Who This Affects Most - **Marine Industry:** The marine industry can capitalize on the trend of shallow water boating and aircraft-inspired design to introduce disruptive innovations in boat manufacturing and recreation. - **Boating Industry:** Innovation opportunities arise in the boating industry by focusing on performance watercraft design and incorporating features inspired by aircraft, like steering systems that allow banking. - **Design Industry:** The design industry can explore new approaches to lightweight and unconventional hulls for watercraft, contributing to disruptive innovation in overall marine product design. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Multifunctional Four-Seater Watercraft](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yamaha-crosswave-waverunner.md) - [Motorcycle-Inspired Watercraft](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/searider-searacer.md) - [Shell-Like Premium Speed Boats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jet-capsule-super-sport.md) - [Balanced Hydrofoil Watercraft](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/neocean-overboat-100f.md) - [Personal Aquatic Scooter Units](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/underwater-scooter-concept.md) - [Stealthy Fantasy-Themed Vehicles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/f117-4wd-covenant.md) - [Range-Roving Hydrofoil Boats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hydrofoil-boat.md) - [Wondrously Versatile Watercraft](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/versatile-watercraft.md) - [Hydrofoiling Electric Boats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hydrofoiling-electric-boats.md)