'Tinny rat’ hoons riding riot in waterways

Residents on the Gold Coast's canals are fed up with self-confessed "tinny rats" hooning through waterways.

Rampaging juveniles played it up for 9NEWS cameras as their raucous joy riding was being captured.

"They've got no respect for anyone else around," resident Karen Barnes told 9NEWS. "They're a dangerous to themselves and others."

"There's a fine line between having fun and being dangerous."

However, the "tinny rats" aren't as invincible as they would like to think.

When 9NEWS was filming, one of them appeared to have broken his motor.

The boat then started taking on water and was eventually towed back to shore.

The speed limit along the section of canal where 9NEWS filmed is currently six knots.

But locals say that isn't enough and are calling for a police crackdown to restore their calm.

Queensland Police agree that there is a problem and fear it is only a matter of time before someone is more dangerously hurt.