Cross LSC in about 10 Mins.....

[motocross269]

120 MPH Bass Boat.....   Now that is moving..

[Genie]

I would need to buy stock in diapers if I had that thing!

[djkimmel]

I would stand a ways back on shore and watch maybe... Most humans, by the time they would realize 'uh oh' it would be too late at that speed. Must be an Allison.

[Mike S.]

Wow!!  And I though the 100+ mph Bullet on YouTube was bad. That boat obviously wasn't built to corner. You know its not a Michigan boat. We don't have mud puddles that flat here.

[Jmeis]

NO thanks....did provide a pretty good look at how to control chine walk though.

[Mike S.]

It's safe to say that, on the times I have been to LSC, the only thing you could do on that lake with that boat is be dead in under 10 minutes.  I have never been on that lake and gone fast.  Always way too rough for that when I am there.

[customfishn]

Maybe I'm wrong but I'll bet you a nickle thats in Kilometers,  If it is its roughly 74.5mph. Looks more like a flats boat.  But again I'm probably wrong.

[VinceR]

Actually, I'd bet that it is 120 MPH. The console is almost definitly a Stroker, and rumor has it that Stroker is working on a center console flats boat. My guess: prototype Stroker CC flats boat, stripped and lightened for speed runs. Notice, no trolling motor, and I bet there's not much beneath the deck, either. Just a whole lotta Merc Pro XS hung on the back. 

[djkimmel]

Might be a Stroker. I don't pay attention to them much since they aren't built for up here. I've seen a couple-three. I also know someone who bought one as a first boat and almost killed himself on a boat wake flip. I wish he had listened to me and got something more stable and more built for fish-ability like I suggested. He now says he wishes he had listened to me too.

Another example of why I try to preach safety often.

The video boat kind of looked like a stripped down Allison to me like the center console they came out with a few years back, again built for speed. I had seen they were getting that hull into the 105 mph range already and that was quite a while ago. They had the bass boat speed record last I knew. Considering I don't pay much attention to these boats anymore, don't know how all this stuff is going anymore. The Great Lakes knocked a lot of the speed right out of me!!

[Waterfoul]

That is a skillful driver.  I'd love to take that boat for a spin...

[VinceR]

Dan, the console is not shaped right for an Allison, neither is the bow (Allison's bow is "V" shaped). That's a Stroker console (and the compartment layout looks like Stroker), and there are some Strokers running in excess of 110 MPH.

Even though I don't care about going 100 MPH in a bass boat, fast boats still have a certain draw for me.

[motocross269]

Vince is right, it is a stroker with some sort of hopped up Merc on it....

Definetly not a rig I would want to tournament fish with out on LSC....

Guys with Allison's fight tooth and nail about how good their boats are in rough water but I won't believe it until I see one first hand on the big water...

I don't know if I have seen a boat brand that won't stress crack on LSC or Erie....I would think the lighter hulls would be even worse...

[Mike S.]

I couldn't see owning a boat like that here in Michigan. We don't have flat waters for that. Sometimes, 70's is a little too fast. But, what a rush it would be to go that fast on water.

[bob o]

Dan, the console is not shaped right for an Allison, neither is the bow (Allison's bow is "V" shaped). That's a Stroker console (and the compartment layout looks like Stroker), and there are some Strokers running in excess of 110 MPH.

Even though I don't care about going 100 MPH in a bass boat, fast boats still have a certain draw for me.

it's a custom decked stroker, you can find it on the "other" web site. BBC

[Lightningboy]

It's a stroker.  The windshield/console is a Chub Watson signature.

I've never driven a Stroker, but have a good friend who's a heckuva a boat driver who did take a spin behind the wheel of one with a 300X on the back.  His exact words were, "wicked light & wicked fast".  Love to have one, but can't say it would be practical for the big water.  A bullet would be a much better choice for these parts.

None the less, where do I sign up to take her for a spin?  Been in the mid 90's before, but never triple digits.  That's gotta be a scream...

[djkimmel]

Dan, the console is not shaped right for an Allison, neither is the bow (Allison's bow is "V" shaped). That's a Stroker console (and the compartment layout looks like Stroker), and there are some Strokers running in excess of 110 MPH.

Even though I don't care about going 100 MPH in a bass boat, fast boats still have a certain draw for me.

Thought it looked too boxy for an Allison. Guess I'm getting old. I haven't even looked at the light, fast hull-makers in a number of years like I used to. Can't tell them apart unless I see the name on the side. Haven't even looked at any of the speed attempts in a number of years. No secret that you're a 'closet' speed freak Vince!!!

[djkimmel]

Vince is right, it is a stroker with some sort of hopped up Merc on it....

Definetly not a rig I would want to tournament fish with out on LSC....

Guys with Allison's fight tooth and nail about how good their boats are in rough water but I won't believe it until I see one first hand on the big water...

I don't know if I have seen a boat brand that won't stress crack on LSC or Erie....I would think the lighter hulls would be even worse...

I used to have the speed bug. That was probably before the skipping sideways episode, the 1,000,000th big wave on the big water, the 1,000,000th tuna boat wake and having one outboard knocked off my boat from a floating tree and one broke off from giant waves (possibly with an assist from a wayward college student from England). I still like going kind of fast, but enjoy life enough that I don't think I want to see what happens when you hit a tree at 90, 100, 110+ maybe. Maybe I've just watched too many of those 'spectacular' racing boat wrecks...? Probably all of the above.

I'm sure all the boat makers are getting better all the time, but from what little past experience I have with the go-fast, light hulls, they don't seem to be an efficient choice for the Great Lakes, especially if you throw in actually wanting to fish the Great Lakes too!

Boats need to be very strong if you're going to run them fast up here anywhere on the Great Lakes or big water, even once. I have literally seen several light, fast boats wrecked in just one day of 'stubbornness' on the Great Lakes. Brand new boats that started out the day looking sweat and ended the day looking like a junk heap!

Of course, I have also seen a number of heavier boats with rugged builds wrecked in one day on the Great Lakes. Anyone who runs their boat at reasonable speeds with some thought about how to make the best of rough water will probably help their equipment hold up longer. I know I got tired of trying to run the overly rough stuff too fast some time ago. Newer hulls do a much nicer job of that but we are talking about waters that have eaten 1,000 foot freighters for breakfast!

I've fished maybe 3 Great Lakes tournaments I can remember an Allison at. They look fast sitting still. I know there is a ton of engineering in them from people who know about fast, safe hulls.

But what I have actually seen up here is one Allison that passed everyone at the Sturgeon Bay open only to get passed by everyone within a mile out of the mouth of Big Sturgeon Bay. That was one of the worse days I have ever ran on. Maybe we all should have turned around and went back? It was stupid bad that day. Someone told me later why he stopped. It may have been an equipment issue? I can't recall now.

I remember another Allison turning around and going back in on a rough day. I can't say it was because it was too rough? Maybe it was just common sense? Maybe motor problems? Maybe he was smart enough to think risking expensive equipment in that kind rough water just wasn't worth a shot at a few thousand dollars? I didn't find and ask him why he turned around. I have actually wondered many, many times myself why I went through some of the runs I did over the years when the prize was not enough to pay six months of payments, let alone replace a boat and motor?

Something happened to the 3rd Allison part way out. I think that was on Erie out of Sandusky. Never heard the whole story. It was damaged. Don't recall the exact issue. I just remember they didn't get to fish. So three times I've seen Allisons go out and three times they didn't get to fish. Not a scientific sample but I did get to fish each time. Maybe someone who is used to running the Great Lakes could own one and make it work and last?

I remember several Winners having severe transom issues before too long when used up here. I remember one having metal bolts run through the back deck out through the transom for a while! (Sorry about bringing that up if you read this but that is pretty scary when thinking about some of the waves we have.) Again, not a big study group. There were only a few owners to go by. Could have been the drivers in a case or two? Maybe a defective hull or two? That happens once in a while with just about every company.

One of the last ones I remember passed all of us running up the South Arm of Charlevoix during a state championship, only to blow the 'special' motor a few hundred yards in front of us to end their day early. I remember he sold that boat shortly after that. I don't think that was a winner. I think it was another similar light, fast hull boat that has since gone out of production. Maybe someone remembers that boat? I always got that one and the Winner mixed up - they seemed so similar. Just can't recall that one.

[djkimmel]

Again, my comments are based on observations from a number of years ago and running the actual Great Lakes in tournaments. Bullet - the first one someone I knew owned was used on Lake Erie out of Sandusky. They swamped it really bad the first day out. Apparently, you need to make sure for the models of that time that you don't let a lot of water come over the back while fishing in big waves. Or don't stop to go into a shortcut if big waves are coming in to that. Only 1 bilge pump, and an electrical problem took that out. I think the owner got a little ticked off and maybe tried to go too fast because when he came in, his boat was a mess. He had even broke the gas tank free. It was sliding back and force which is probably not very safe. He had quite a few things broken that boat that day. Looked like a different boat.

I also wonder about the maintenance from the previous owner? When he was trying to get it on the trailer (so he could start pulling it out a little at a time to drain the water), one of the bunk supports had snapped off and if I hadn't yelled at him, he would have drove the hull up onto a sharp spear! I thought he was going to sell that boat but he surprised me, fixed it up and kept it. The next year on St. Clair, my friend (his team parnter at the time) told me that once he got it up on top of some respectable 2 to 3 foot waves, it was wicked fast. Then he swamped it again. Completely filled it and the rest of the day was shot. If I remember right, he sold it shortly after that event.

I remember the one time I saw a tunnel hull bass boat. He collided the bottom of his rig with the side of a Ranger and egg-shelled the hull, while the Ranger just had one small gouge in it. Obviously, the ideal thing would be not to collide with another boat.

Many captains say the Great Lakes are more dangerous than the ocean because our waves don't play fair. They're too close together and have a sharper crest. Plus, you still get the three sisters and other freak waves. A lack of clean patterned waves you can run for at a consistent speed is also common. I know I was often not patient enough when the waves were doing the square thing or didn't have any pattern you could stay with for very long. Patience is a big help with the Great Lakes. I wonder if patience is a strongpoint for the anglers who drift to the go fast hulls?

Of course, running on top of waves faster sometimes makes for an easier ride. The problem with running on top of the waves is that our Great Lakes waves often don't play fair (see above). When you get moving along really good and then spear a freak wave - WOW - that really hurts!! Spearing a wave at high speed can be expensive too! The Great Lakes are littered with trolling motors and electronics of all models! Even some cowlings, lower units and complete outboards along with all the schooners and freighters.

The Great Lakes would have one of my outboards if it wasn't for the tilt piston. That wasn't from spearing a wave. I wasn't even on plane. It snapped off while I was plowing through some giant (I mean real giants), very fast, choppy waves. I bet McCarter probably still remembers that sickening crunch sound! I know I do. I also remember that prop buzzing like a big angry hornet behind our heads before it fell back into the Detroit River! I've mentioned a number of times how it feels to think you are about to be cuisinarted! (Yeah... it's a word. Look it up! )

I imagine what does in some of these light, fast hulls is they can't get running at an acceptable speed for very long because of crazy wave patterns and it drives them crazy, or they get going really fast and then spear a wave at high speed. Crunch! I had a partner once spear 5 waves in one morning at high speed in a little pocket rocket bass boat. It actually hurts! Maybe it's just the kind of anglers who want these kinds of boats are also the kind who will never drive them the way they need to when it is really rough out? I ran into a retired guy from down south who was fishing his retirement around all the best Great Lakes waters he could find out about. He had a Stroker or a Blazer (they all do look alike to me) with a 250 and he said he was having a great time running up and down the St. Clair River in it. Said he was going to Saginaw Bay next. He looked like he had a little speed demon in him but tempered by years of wisdom.

Of course, if you're boat is light and fast, you can get really nice clearance when you jump a tall wave! But, as my physics teacher taught me, what goes up, must come down! I've seen some catastrophic plummets over the years! Sometimes, the boat is done for the day. At least once, the anglers ended up in the hospital for the day and that was just on Muskegon Lake from a tuna boat wake! That wake took out 2 boats! That's the farthest above the water I've ever seen a stainless steel prop up close! And that was a big 'heavy' Ranger. The boat just behind me was the one that landed worse. Ejected both anglers from the boat. Once is too many times for that to happen.

You might think that a lighter boat will come down softer maybe but going up high enough means any return to the water is probablh going to hurt. How you land makes a difference, of course. Going over backwards hurts every time. I wonder sometimes if the feel of losing your hold on the water with one of these light boats makes the driver think a little more about how much easier it might be to flip one of them over in our waves? I know the few times I felt we came close with the various drivers I've been with over the years, for a few minutes at least, I seriously thought about becoming a shore angler... I have one friend who was in a boat that flipped during a natonal tournament. He didn't go in any bass boat for several years. At the time, after he recovered enough to get out of the hospital and get around again, he told he might never get in a bass boat again. It was quite a few years after that before he would get in anyone elses bass boat.

Speed can be fun, but if you plan on fishing the Great Lakes a fair amount, maybe a heavier hull helps you make it more places more often. So often, you can't really open 'er up and keep your back and equipment dependable? Lake St. Clair tuna boat wakes took out Denny Brauer's back for about 5 years.

Personally, I think fish-ability is more important than speed up here. Especially safe fish-ability. Falling out of the boat is not a good outcome. Fighting your balance all day means less efficiency reducing your odds at catching the most bass.

I have fished in enough of the sharper hulled boats to know that being pushed by winds and waves too much too easy, and having to stumble around a large chunk of the day just to stay standing, and in the boat does not help me catch more bass. I have to believe it can effect anyone's efficiency.

I fished out of the back of one popular boat model on the St. Clair River one day in a little rougher than average combination of wind and boat chop. I have fished similar and much worse conditions many, many times in my old Ranger 492VS, yet I could barely fish this day in his boat. I spent most of my time just trying not to fall! The seats were all out. The few times I had to run the trolling motor to help out, I couldn't fish. It took everything just to keep from being tossed out of the boat! I literally caught the boater 3 times as he fell from the trolling motor towards the side or back of the boat. He acted like it was just another day fishing! The boater did mention to me early that afternoon, 'I probably should have left the seats in today.' Uuuuhhh... yeah.

Maybe this alone helps explain why we don't see very many go fast hulls on the Great Lakes for very long? Maybe they just get tossed and shoved around too much to be a good Great Lakes tournament choice?

Speed is helpful and can be fun, but a few more miles an hour that may or may not actually get to use is not worth giving up too much safety and efficient fishing on the Great Lakes. If you're going to do it though, at least leave your seats in. You'll need something to hang on to while you fish!

[djkimmel]

I don't think I've ever seen a Norris Craft run the Great Lakes. There's a Bumble Bee that supposedly has a 300 around here some place, or used to be but I don't know how often he left the inland waters, if ever, to try it on the Great Lakes? Someone else might know? I am curious about that super wide catamaran bass boat they make in Florida. That is supposed to be a pretty fast hull that runs rough water super, duper. Maybe someday I'll get the chance to get in one somewhere and find out?

I know, while I was watching this video, all I kept coming back to was, 'what if he loses it in those narrow confines??' It would be fun right up that point. Then... it wouldn't be any fun anymore.

[djkimmel]

I think the other go fast boat I was trying to remember that didn't do too well up here the few times I saw it was Venture. That's the bright red one that blew past all of us on Charlevoix, and then just blew!

Boy, that guy went through the world of outlier boat companies and models for the time he tournament fished! He may have been the most up and down person. I got the hottest bass boat alive! I just sold that piece of @#$^@$%