Drivers | Jet Thrills

Safety comes first. We have four Maritime Safety Authority approved drivers who will truly amaze you with the skill they have, coupled with the manoeuvrability of the jet boat. You don’t learn to drive a jet boat overnight that is why all our drivers have been involved with jet boating for many years.

Paul Vernel

(Company owner and Director) Paul has been jet boating since 1983 when he joined the Jet Boating New Zealand Inc. Soc. He has owned Jet Thrills since 2000 and is currently Chairman and Rivers Officer of the Canterbury Branch of Jet Boating NZ, he is also Secretary of the NZ Commercial Jet Boaters Assn. He is passionate about jet boating, enjoys meeting people from all over the world and hearing their stories. “I enjoy the Blast Plus the most as we stop for a cuppa and a yarn and generally try and share what we know about New Zealand to others”. Mid 2011 Paul visited Turkey to help train jet boat drivers for a company there that wished to add jet boating to their tourist attractions.

Andy Thornton

Andy Thornton – Andy is an aircraft engineer by trade but a Jet boat driver by choice. He is also very handy with welders and hammers and the suchlike. Before he came to us Andy had a short stint driving jet boats in the crocodile infested rivers of Africa. He has been with us since 2005 and really enjoys the lower Waimakariri for its challenging boating. We are privileged to have someone of Andy’s calibre on the team.

Greg Peacock

After a bit of part time driving in 1998, Greg has been a full time jet boat driver since 2000, so he is now well and truly addicted. While he enjoys the challenge of driving in the braids of the lower Waimakariri River, the Gorge is one of his favourite places to be, (he can’t believe he gets paid to be there)!

Graeme Chisnall

After starting out with his brother in law up in the Waimakariri Gorge with Waimak Gorge Jets. Graeme decided to shift back to Christchurch and has been with us since about 2003. His sense of humour is a real asset especially when its raining. For leisure Graeme manufactures scale replica traction engines and radio controlled jet boats!