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Paul Cordell's vintage race boat powered by a twin-turbo Banks Marine engine speeding on water
Banks Insider, Banks Racing

Banks Marine Turbocharged Engines: 110 MPH Boat

Paul Cordell owns a piece of Banks Marine history, and he was kind enough to share photos of it. After more than a decade of building high-performance supercharged engines, Gale switched to turbocharging in 1970 for the first “Gale Banks” branded turbocharged marine engine. The change came about when testing revealed that turbocharging provided a more usable horsepower curve and boasted dramatically improved fuel efficiency by harnessing wasted exhaust energy rather than sapping crankshaft horsepower with a mechanically driven supercharger.

1978 Sanger jet boat running at over 107 MPH across open water powered by Banks Marine power
Paul Cordell’s 1978 Sanger jet boat cutting across the water at over 107 MPH.

Transitioning from superchargers to turbochargers also proved far less punishing to the engine, reducing mechanical stress and extending operational life with fewer overhauls between races. Endurance race teams discovered that Banks turbocharged engines would run under brutal wide-open-throttle conditions for an entire season before needing service. Meanwhile, teams running superchargers were rebuilding engines after every race. But Banks’ biggest winning edge came from fuel economy—not having to pit nearly as often as supercharged competitors.

Complete Gale Banks twin-turbocharged marine big-block engine mounted on a workshop stand
A vintage Gale Banks twin-turbocharged marine engine displayed on an engine stand.
1977 Gale Banks Engineering catalog page showcasing the offshore twin-turbo race engine
From the 1977 Gale Banks Engineering catalog: specifications for the offshore twin-turbo race engine.
Vintage high-performance jet boats docked along the shoreline at a lake gathering
Classic performance boats resting near the shore before hitting the water.

Paul found his prized boat in 2001 with a complete Banks Marine Racing 454 cubic inch engine. Years of neglect made this diamond-in-the-rough a major restoration challenge, requiring an exceptional amount of TLC. “It was peeling, the chrome was coming off, and the aluminum was totally corroded,” Paul confesses. “Everything you see on that engine was 32-grit grinder-wheeled off and hand-polished way back when I was young and had more energy. Well, that’s how its rebirth started, anyway.”

Overhead view of the polished twin-turbo Banks Marine engine installed in a 1978 Sanger boat
Overhead view showing the hand-polished Banks twin-turbo system fitted in the 19-foot Sanger hull.

The boat hull is a 19-foot 1978 Sanger. Sanger boats of the era were renowned for their high-performance drag boats, flatbottoms, and jet boats. “Over the years, I pushed the original build, going faster and faster,” Paul explains. “The basic Banks turbo system is there now, but I’ve done some upgrades and modifications. The engine has gone from 454 cubic inches to 540 cubic inches with coated pistons, a custom-calibrated carburetor, and modern turbochargers. The original Rayjay turbos and wastegates were great for their era, but compressor aerodynamics have evolved, and I needed more air mass to match all that extra fuel. I installed custom turbos with 78 mm compressor wheels and 3″ discharge outlets. I’m still running the original Banks liquid-to-air intercooler, updated with matching 3″ inlets.”

Upgraded 540 ci Banks twin-turbo marine engine with 78 mm compressor wheels in garage
Paul upgraded the displacement to 540 cubic inches and fitted custom 78 mm turbos with 3-inch outlets.

“I have a few more tweaks planned, but as it stands, I’ve hit 110 mph on open water a few times,” Paul concludes. “Man, I sure wish Gale would bring out a brand-new updated marine kit. Just think what I could do with that!”

Close-up of the Gale Banks Engineering pressure box and carburetor on a marine turbo engine
The authentic Gale Banks Engineering marine carburetor pressure box and identification plaque.

If you or someone you know has an authentic piece of Banks racing or marine history, we’d love to hear about it. Reach out to the team at socialmedia@bankspower.com.