Posted
by Sean Heitman on 2002 AM:
Just
how fast is too fast??
This queston is directed
primarily to the tournament anglers in here but Id like to hear all camments.
How fast do you really need to go in a tournament bass boat??
70 is splenty fast for me in a boat of anykind.
As a tournament angler I understand the need to get there now.
I just recieved an e-mail from a tournament angler, whos name Ill keep out of
this, who has completed work on his latest creation. This he claims he will use
in tournament competiton.
A 17 foot bass boat with a 90 Merc. The Merc has been
tunedd to
over 200 Nitous Oxcide assited Horses.
This boat will probably go better that 120mph.
Any thoughts??
Posted
by theole34 on 2002 AM:
120 mph on a flat track
of asphalt, and checked for debris and damage by technicians before hand sounds
fun.
120 mph on water with ever changing characteristics, debris, and hidden suprise
objects sounds LUDICROUS! at best.
not a tournament angler here, but probably the guy he
will hit with wreckage on my favorite lake.
__________________
www.Theole34.com
We're talking about "Spring"
fishing...... right?
Posted
by bobn on 2002 PM:
i wouldn't lose any sleep
over it--i'll bet the engine will never be able to withstand that high an
rpm--guaranteed he blows it up the first time he drops the hammer--you have to
do a hell of a lot more to a stock engine than just super tune and add nitrous
oxide--why not just get a bigger engine?--bobn
Posted
by Bass Rat on 2002 PM:
Bob
Hope your freind likes
sitting upside down in the water with 17' of aluminum on him. Cause that's were
he's gonna be.
__________________
I'm
smellin
Spring!!!
Posted
by ADKBass on 2002 PM:
I am not a tournament member,
but I would say the set-up will bring a new meaning to the phrase
"Sleeping with the fishes!" 
__________________
"Time spent fishing does not count against our allotted time on this
earth." Joe V. - The Troll
Posted
by John/NH on 2002 PM:
I would bet the motor
will go into melt down after 1 run. I wouldn't ever attempt speeds like that in
a 17' boat // one good wave and you will be wearing the merc 90 hp for a hat.
John/NH
Posted
by Gregg on 2002 PM:
Bad enough he is willing
to risk his own life. What about the other people on the lake that don't know
they are sharing the lake with an idoit.
__________________
Gregg
Posted
by bobn on 2002 PM:
if he thinks he can get
that much out of a 90 hp block he should get a job on the miss budweiser team
or mercury marine's lake x-ps--what kind of hull does this marine engineering
marvel intend to run--it must be really be a special design of some sort--i
doubt if an "out of the show room hull" could take that kind of
speed-bobn
Posted
by wnybassman on 2002 PM:
On a different note, most
tournament trails do not allow outboards to be altered with major hp increasing
aftermarket products.
I have rode in a bassboat (21' Bullet) that went 78
mph according to the GPS. That IS fast enough.
120 mph in a 17 footer is a death wish, no place for
it in our sport!
__________________
Bassman's Thread of the Web - A
Look at WNY's Bass Fishing
-
Protection and organization of your rods
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Savatage
Posted
by David lengyel on 2002 PM:
I have worked on
Outboards at a former job. Including a couple of high performace racing boats
(the owner would only let me look at them). One of the main problems is not
going to fast its what will happen to the engine once
it hits the high RPMS. Since it is going to be an outboard his main concearn
should be if the engine literally blows up. Under high stress engines have a
tendency to throw a connecting rod or blow valves threw the case (most people
have had that experience with cars). If he is going fast when they blow, and
god for bid a peice of the engine hits him. He will not be around to fix it.
Even if he does survive the wake from the back of the boat may put enough
pressure to throw him off or slam his head into the consule causing major
injury. Also most places have a speed limit, and are not that big where he cant be found by the local bay constable.
The only boat I would reccommend for that speed and engine is a 24+ foot racing
boat. One with a compartment desigined to handle a
engine blow up. Or offers enough protection in the drivers
seat to allow the operator to remain relatively safe from harm.
Well at least I am not fitting the gas bill.
Lunker Davepimp
__________________
When fishing you have 2 main opponents. The fish and yourself.
Posted
by JPBass on 2002 PM:
Imagine drawing him for a
partner?
Now that's a scarey thought
__________________
http://www.renegadebassmasters.com
Posted
by Scott E. on 2002 PM:
Aluminum
engine+Nitrous=mass destruction
Sean,
Most stock automobile engines made of cast iron cannot handle nitrous oxide and
this guy is going to try it with an aluminum outboard motordestructio
My prediction is this guy will have a puddle of molten aluminum left of his
boat
__________________
Nothing sets a person so far out of the
devil's reach as humility.
Jonathan Edwards
---
Scott E.
scotte@pikeonline.net
Posted
by JOHN G on 2002 PM:
I love you all guys, but
personally I also think that you are all nuts!! 70MPH in a bass boat is
ludicrous regardless of the boat or conditions.....you can't see squat in front
of you with that wind smashing against your face, it is an open invitation to
all sorts of disasters..... I know it is done by many of you all the time, but
IMHO, high speeds in Bass boats is courting trouble to either yourself, your
boat or other people on the water.....also, I don't see how in the world speeds
of that magnitude make someone a better bass angler?? shame
on BASS for having tourneys in places that require boaters to have to travel so
damn much to reach fishable water......why cant tourneys be limited
geographically on big bodies of water.....launch from a different ramp the next
day and do another location. etc.......sorry, one of
my pet peeves....my heart is in my mouth when I am on a boat where guys are
doing those high speeds.... I can't be alone in this.... JOHN G
Posted
by FISHIN' GYPSY on 2002 PM:
Sean,
I think someone is pulling your chain! And if this guy knows what of he speaks
and does what he says (which I doubt), someone will soon be pulling HIS
chain.... The one on the "body snag hook"!!
__________________
Safe boatin', good fishin', keep your net wet and...
"Tight Lines"
Posted
by JPBass on 2002 PM:
quote:
Originally
posted by JOHN G
70MPH in a bass boat is ludicrous regardless of the boat JOHN G
50 is safe. 60 if you're in a hurry. Over 70 and I
start getting scared!!
__________________
http://www.renegadebassmasters.com
Posted
by dennis on 2002 PM:
I have to agree, a
"stock" outboard would most likely come apart at the crank at those
r's. Although I did see on some boat drag-racing web page that they mounted a
racing 300HP on a 17' aluminum Triton and took it for a few runs. It was over
120 in the q-mile.(closed track, professional
driver,etc...). The driver said that it was stable!
I've been over 75 in my boat (boat speedo), only after making sure nobody else
was on the lake, and let me say, I don't care for it. A rush for a few minutes,
but you need to breath sometime!
John, the new b.boats have good windshields, at least
mine does, so actually you can see pretty well. But, at that speed, and the
high trim that goes with it, any emergency moves are a frighting if not a
dangerous thing.
I believe B.A.S.S. used to limit hp and I think they still should. I'm pretty
sure there is something about exceeding the hp rating on a boat, and what
modifactions can be done, so if this guy is for real, he would be disqualified
anyway.
Just my .02
Dennis
Posted
by Scully on 2002 PM:
Last time I checked,
speed never helped me put a single fish in the boat. I CAN go 68....never do
though. 50 -55 is fine in a pinch. Most of the time Im doing about 45
Scul
Posted
by wnybassman on 2002 PM:
Dennis, BASS has a
maximum hp of 250 hp on their trails. Most Federations follow suit as well.
__________________
Bassman's Thread of the Web - A
Look at WNY's Bass Fishing
-
Protection and organization of your rods
"Perhaps God gave the answers, to those with nothing to say" -
Savatage
Posted
by dodgeguy on 2002 PM:
most people who modify engines have no
clue what they are doing!!!i agree with the molten aluminum boys in this
thread.it's the best thing that could happen to him anyway.maybe then he won't
kill himself.isn't there a reason that certain size boats are rated for certain
size engines?maybe he will just rip his transom off and sink!!!
__________________
chrysler master technician and avid fisherman
Posted
by fishingctbass on 2002 PM:
What most of you people
forget is that a boat has no breaks. Reguardless wether it is 70 or 120 miles
per hour . You can't stop it very fast. I just about
got run off Candlewood by a guy coming around a corner too fast
. I don,t care if it is a tournament. If you
set a lower speed limit every one would be in the same boat. (no pun intended)
__________________
Tight Lines and Wet Nets
Don
Posted
by JOHN G on 2002 AM:
Don thanks for the input,
that example you gave is exactly what I am talking about......JOHN G
Posted
by dennis on 2002 AM:
RADAR!!!
We fished a tourny last
year at c.wood and about a half hour before the start, a patrol boat came
through and told every one that he would be sitting out there with radar
enforcing the speed limit. That worked.
I agree wth fishingctbass, if all were held to 45-50 mph all the time, with
DQ's in order, it would make for a much safer day. For the
tourny guys and recreational boaters as well.
Quick storie: Two years ago I launched at Squants Pond launch at C.wood early
in the morning. As I made ready, an angler fished his way up the bank to where
I was. Come to find out, he was running at high speed up the lake at dusk and
heard his engine "let go". When he turned to look at it, he saw the
patrol baot coming up behind to give him a healthy ticket to boot! I had to
give him a ride to Latin's cove to get his truck.
He did give me a few patterns for the day, but man, what a rough night!
Dennis
Posted
by Dominic on 2002 AM:
Not very smart!
If it is indeed the
truth, it's not to bright. I for one know if you have
the speed you use it. You can't say , "oh I wont
use it, its just nice to know it's there". Even on a calm day 60 mph is
more than enough for me. I've never needed more, and I like to go fast. Hit one
little piece of wood or crap in the water and your toast. Dom
Posted
by Sean Heitman on 2002 AM:
Just so yo uall know...I
dont agree with him either. I told him when I met him that he was a danger to
himself and others. Not to mention a detriment to his own sport..wich Im not sure he knows wich is his anywy.
My only reply to his e-mail was
"Have someone notify me of calling hours."
Any tournament directors out there on the state and national level...keep an
eye out for this guy....PLEASE!!!
You are all correct...I believe saying he weill
grenade that motor in a hart beat.... I think he willroll it over backwards
first!!
There may be a couple of you here who know this guy...just try to talk to
him....
Posted
by Bulletweight on 2002 AM:
How fast is too fast?
That's easy, 299,792,458.1 meters per second.
Actually that’s a trick question. I see it about once a month on various
boards, and the opinions are always the same. Usually I just ignore the post,
but I have concluded the following:
The real answer is… any boat that is faster than yours!
Sean,
In this specific case (which is the only reason I'm responding at all) your
"friend" either knows nothing about boats or nitrous, or does know a
lot about feeding you BS. In simplest terms, boat speed is determined by prop
pitch X rpm. I could go into detail about this but it's really not worth it.
Nitrous can't make that rig break 70 mph. The only thing you would get, if done
right, is dragboat like acceleration to about 60-65 mph, but that’s it. Any
faster than 70 mph and the motor comes apart from too many RPM's. Nitrous is
good for about 30 seconds. So after 30 seconds you have a 17-foot bassboat with
a 90-horse merc, which is good for about 50 mph. It would be the ultimate
bassboat for the average farm pond. If you really want to have some fun, post
your question on the screamandfly.com message board and see what they have to
say.
John,
In the few months I've been on this board I've come to appreciate your stance
on sensitive issues, as well as the knowledge you willingly share, however,
your last response is exactly the type of commentary that keeps me from
responding to this question. The thought processes that drives people to try to
repress what others do because it doesn't hold with your values (in this case
nobody should go faster than me because I go fast enough) are the same ones
PETA uses to try to ban fishing.
It has been my experience that there are many great guys that run high
performance bassboats at speeds in the 90+ range. They are, for the most part,
a considerate, safety conscious group of skilled boat drivers that occasionally
fish too. They know their limits and the limits of their boats as well. Their
priorities are just slightly shifted from yours. I would think most people that
read this board have a boat to gain access to more fish, if it goes fast,
that's even better. The guys I'm talking about have a boat for the thrill of
going fast, and if it gives them access to fish, that’s even better. The
fastest guy I know did 118-mph with a bassboat and doesn't even fish! I doubt
you have ever run across these people and if you have, you probably didn't know
it. They aren’t show-offs or daredevils, and there are only a handful of them
in this state. It's idiots like the one mentioned in Sean's post above that
gives true performance enthusiasts a bad rap.
Exceeding limits is what is truly dangerous. The guy from Sean's post has
exceeded his mental limit, and that makes him dangerous. What does driving a
21-foot bassboat at 70mph in 3 feet of chop have in common with driving a
12-foot rowboat 5mph in 3 feet of chop and 4 drunks in a canoe in the middle of
a calm lake at
BULLET.
Posted
by wnybassman on 2002 AM:
BW, I have been trying to
think of the words to reply to this post, and I think you said it great.
Basically, it is not the boats fault for being reckless, it is the drivers.
Just like it isn't the guns fault for killing people, it is the shooters. Same thing.
__________________
Bassman's Thread of the Web - A
Look at WNY's Bass Fishing
-
Protection and organization of your rods
"Perhaps God gave the answers, to those with nothing to say" -
Savatage
Posted
by bobn on 2002 PM:
[QUOTE]Originally
posted by Bulletweight
[B]How fast is too fast?
That's easy, 299,792,458.1 meters per second.
Actually that’s a trick question. I see it about once a month on various
boards, and the opinions are always the same. Usually I just ignore the post,
but I have concluded the following:
The real answer is… any boat that is faster than yours!
i don't think that quote is true about any boat that is faster than yours--i
have a car that is capable of 120 mph--i don't want to go that fast--i don't
care if you do as long as you don't endanger others and their property--there
are times and places for speed--if you are a speed enthusiast thats fine--just
do it where if you f!@# up it will only be you and your car/boat-that is
involved--i am not the least bit jealous of someone with a bigger badder
boat--there are people on this board who can go out and buy whatever they want
if it suited their priorities--the same holds true with a high performance
car--want to run the shit out of it, take it to the track or drag strip-i don't
believe in restrictions, but what happens is we start off with no restrictions
and then gradually bring them on ourselves by our actions and by pissing off
people who know nothing about what we are doing, but have learned not to like
it!---if you want to go like hell, take it where no one cares--bobn
Posted
by Scully on 2002 PM:
I thought a bass boat
doing 118 mph was a bit much so I did a bit of checking...Called Mercury direct
and spoke to one of their service techs.
His take was the only way you could get a Merc 250 to do 118 mph was to have
two (2) of them on your bass boat. He claimed no matter what you did to that
engine it still would not run that fast. He said max out would be in the mid to
high 90s and that was in his words "tooled".
I will quailfy the above by stating.....those guys have not always been right
on the money with their information. Ask two of them, you sometimes get two
different answers.
118 mph....man I wouldnt want to be in that boat regardless of who was behind
the wheel. Speed kills period!!!
Scully
Posted
by Charlie on 2002 PM:
Ray!
Whoever he/she is, I dont think we need them in the club!
Having said that, many of you know that my first bass boat
was a 16ft 4in NITRO with a 90HP on the tail. That little puppy flew at
speeds in excess of 50mph and I was very happy with it. The new owner is also
very happy with it and 50mph is all you need!
When I told NITRO I had upgraded to a 90HP they were concerned and I got a call
each month to check that I was still alive and that the boat was still in one
piece.
As you know, I run a high performance bass boat designed for racing and fishing
the WCF at speed in excess of 70mph. Its too fast for
most people and more than enought for my needs.
Whoever this person is, I think is on some serious medication if they think
they can get 120mph out of a boat. Can we assume these figues were compiled on
a "glass smooth" lake with a downward slope? One wave over 6 inches
high would send a boat at that speed into orbit!
Oh and John, you can see at 70mph with a crash helmet!
Tight Lines!
Charlie
__________________
Naturalized American (yeah baby)Tournament Angler,
Journalist and New York State Guide # 2803
"Come with me and I will make you Fishers of Men"
Posted
by John/NH on 2002 PM:
At speeds greater than
low 50's I always wear ski goggles - amber lenses // they make a hugh difference.
I had Scully in my boat last year and we probably didn't go more than the mid
to high 60's and that was plenty. My old boat would do about 75 top end and
that was under perfect conditions - by myslef, low on weight, low fuel, 6"
to 1 ' chop. I don't like speeds greater than the high 60's or low 70's. Too
many things can happen in a very short period of time and if you don't react
immediately, you and / or your partner or some un-suspecting boater could be
toast.
It's just not worth it.
John/NH
Posted
by fishingctbass on 2002 PM:
John G. You
are not alone in your fear of those high speeds . I
don't go faster then 70 on the road in my car. And that has good brakes.
__________________
Tight Lines and Wet Nets
Don
Posted
by Bulletweight on 2002 PM:
It's like sitting on a
hornet's nest. I knew what I was in for when I started this, and it's fun for
the first second or two, but then it’s a…
Bobn,
I never said it was a 250, you jumped to that conclusion by yourself. A stock
250 merc will experience blow-out at around 90, and therefor is unsafe at
speeds above 85-mph or so. The motor was a Drag 300 from Mercury Racing with a
special gearcase. The boat was featured in the Aug 2000 B&WB magazine at
117.3 MPH. Closed course, over a half mile, racing
life vest, helmet, witnesses, radar, gps, etc. This was obviously not a
tournament boat, but it was a bassboat. The link on the web to the article is
no longer available. If anyone chooses not to believe it, I could care less.
The boats I'm referring to are Allisons, Strokers, Gamblers, Bullets, etc.
Charlie, Did anyone in the WCF ever run an Allison 225
PM combo? All I ever saw were Tritons, Skeeters, and the occasional Champion.
I'm honestly curious.
Back to the subject, I would rather you focus on the points I was trying to
make, rather than one illustration. Know your limits. The speed limit on one of
my favorite lakes is 45 mph. On calm sunny days 45mph feels ridiculously slow
(to me in my boat). On foggy days or when there are high winds it's more than
fast enough to kill someone. Once again, know your limits, know your boats
limits. I know I would feel safer as a passenger in a 21 foot Gambler with a
250hp at 75-mph with a skilled driver than I would in a 14 foot rowboat with a
40hp tiller doing 30-mph with a guy with a 6 pack in him.
By the way, statistically speaking, you are far more likely to get killed by a
drunk driver at 4 am on your way to the lake than by a boat going over 45mph.
Should we start a how early is too early thread? 
The "faster than your boat" comment was not directed at anyone
personally, so don’t take it that way. Boat speed is not a measure of manhood
in my book, nor is it alone a measure of stupidity. It's an observation that
comes form reading (hypothetical quote) "My boat does x-mph and that’s
fast enough for me, anything faster is nuts" again and again. Go back and
read the posts, it's a common thread. Yes, when speed is combined with
stupidity in a bass boat it reflects poorly on our sport. But so does fishing
docks when the owner is sitting on their boat, drinking beer at weigh-ins,
urinating in plain view while fishing, trying to run off a jet skier by casting
at him/her, and a whole host of other dumb things I've seen over the years.
For all you guys that still have a sense of humor look at this:
http://www.texs.com/magazine/tsg_13.htm
I was told they have withdrawn from their quest, I guess they found their
limit. Man, I'd have loved to see and hear that thing go by (from a safe
distance).
John G,
All that said, rather than continue to agitate a bunch of guys that I'd much
rather talk fishing to, I'll officially change my answer to 2.4 mph-the top
speed of my trolling motor in open water. Even that’s too much around docks or
in traffic.
BULLET
Posted
by bobn on 2002 PM:
first of all bullet
weight it wasn't me who brought up the 250 hp merc ---please re-read all the
statements and get the story straight-lets address your comments to the correct
person--i still stand by all my previous remarks regarding this matter-bobn
Posted
by JPBass on 2002 PM:
To travel 15 miles at 50
MPH would take 18 minutes. At 70 MPH it would take 12.8 minutes....Is it really
worth it?? 
By the way the record stringer that Dean guy caught on
Toho was right by the ramp where they launched (according to the guide I fished
with there). No need for speed that day.
__________________
http://www.renegadebassmasters.com
Posted
by bobn on 2002 PM:
you will be the masters of your own
destruction-you are your own worst enemy-bobn
Posted
by Scully on 2002 PM:
Bulletman
It was I Scully who ASSUMED that the engine in question was a 250 Merc. My
appolgy...I mixed two posts together and arrived at a "snafu".
Sometimes the senses dull after 50. Mine seem to be way ahead of the curve.
However, I cant believe your trolling motor does 2.4 mph.,
most are rated at 2.3459 mph max. lol
Sorry
Scul
Posted
by bobn on 2002 PM:
bullet, i don't think you
have stirred up a hornets nest--you have simpley stirred up some stimulating
discussion--we all have our opinions and they are expressed in our own
ways--everyone here respects each other and draws their own conclusions--this
is what makes this board unique--we respect each other and each others
opinions--bobn--ps --if i'm out of line i will hear about it by the master of
delete
Posted
by JOHN G on 2002 PM:
Bob, you were BORN out of
line!! LOL....nah, has been a good thread with everyone making some good
points..... JOHN G
Posted
by Bulletweight on 2002 PM:
Bobn,
My sincerest apologies, you are absolutely correct. I do make an effort to get
my facts straight. I must have scrolled into Scully’s post and not realized it
while flipping back and forth from MS Word. destructio
Call it collateral damage. lol
BULLET
Posted
by bobn on 2002 PM:
b/w no problem--bobn
Posted
by Charlie on 2002 PM:
Hi Bullet!
I never saw an Allison at the WCF and if my ol' memory serves me correctly,
there were only top of the line boats there. i.e.
TRITON, SKEETER, NITRO and CHAMPION. Ranger refused to compete (they claimed
because they did not approve of the "racing concept") but the truth was,
that Ranger and B.A.S.S. were in the middle of a legal battle so they wanted
nothing to do with each other.
Tight Lines!
Charlie
__________________
Naturalized American (yeah baby)Tournament Angler,
Journalist and New York State Guide # 2803
"Come with me and I will make you Fishers of Men"
Posted
by lastcastme on 2002 PM:
I just hope I am not
fishing that day on that lake!!!!!!
---------<*(((((><
Good-Fishing
__________________
------<*(((((><
Fish On !!!!!