Pat,
No disrespect taken, I always value your input. I based my answer on my experiences in a so called "tub" that if I didn't "pilot" on lake St. Clair, I would have smashed it into a million pieces. There isn't a bass boat made that is simply "point and shoot" if you run the nasty stuff. The hulls and freeboard just don't allow it. Of course I'm not telling you anything you don't already know. So, in a matter of speaking, yes you can run your Allison in the nasty stuff but I would venture a guess that there are only 2% of bass boat owners that could do the same thing in the same boat and an even smaller percentage who would actually "want" to. So, your comments while true in no way apply to the general bass boat owner and in fact may put some in harm's way. And that is partially because the hulls are lightweight and made for speed and are very unforgiving if you make a mistake behind the wheel. As far as not having driven them, it's a moot point, I don't have to fly a jet aircraft to know that if you put a jet engine on a piece of balsa wood it is a risky proposition. I listened to Mac and Mini talking about the wrecks that come back that used to be Allison's, Bullett's, etc., on St. Clair/Erie. How many that regularly fish that type of water nun those rigs on a regular basis? Very, Very few. If you took a poll, I'm sure that most of the fast hull owners live in the South on bigger flatter water. Heck, even the pros (and there is no rule that a pro fisherman is a pro boat driver), swamp or otherwise wreck their rides. Rob told us about pulling one back to the dock.
In my defense, I have driven a lot of the nasty stuff, Champlain when they cancelled the Everstart, the Potomac when it was REAL nasty (Carlos was along), St. Clair on a so-so nasty day, yada, yada, and I have never speared a wave. Now, I know some will say you haven't really driven a boat till you spear one, but I disagree. I can drive a doat. Am I as good as others....noway and I'd be a fool to think I was. I've driven boats since I was 18 and know given enough seat time I could drive anything out there. It's just "scratch you head" silly to think that someone would buy a 75-80-90 mph boat and then take it out in the nasty stuff. I stand by my statement that they aren't made for it and "as a general rule" need to stay on the trailer.
Good discussion!!
I'm still waiting for Mac and Mini.......c'mon before I get dogpiled!!:lol:
TOXIC
Either that, or years of navigating the Potomac in that 18 foot Cajun with a 150 paid off.:lol: Either way, I have a smooth, dry ride - and at speeds I have never been at before.
