Bullet boats

[chicobass]

what's the deal with these boats ? They talk about 75-85 mph right out of the box ! I checked the specs on these and they are 400-500 Lbs lighter than most  other mfg's in their appropriate sizes. Anybody got one or heard of these guys ? they claim that the US coast guard has no hp limit on any boat over 20' ?

[Glenn]

Yes, they are one of several manufacturers that have fast bass boats (75+ mph).  Allison, Gambler, and Stroker are in that class too.

Some people call them "High Performance" boats.  I think it depends on what your definition of "High Performance" is.  If it means "fast" to you, then they're "High Performance".

Some people love them, others hate them.  It's  matter of personal preferences - just like buying a car.

Personally, I've been in some of those, and was even considering a Stroker at one point.  But the rough rides in choppy water and lack of storage space wasn't something I wanted to live with.  For others, however, it's not an issue.  I have a few buddies who love them (the three are split between a Bullet, Gambler, and Allison).

[Ben]

If you want light and fast, it's the way to go unless you can afford an Allison.  

If you want room, storage and comfort, give up a little speed and get a Ranger, Champion, Stratos, Javelin, or Triton.

The 20 ft Bullet is fast and rides like a jon boat in rough water, the 22 ft Bullet is suppose to ride better but not as fast.   Both are very sensitive to weight.  Load a Bullet down with all the junk I carry in my boat, two big people and full tank of gas and it's not that much faster.  Actually, it's not any faster with the motor I'm running now.  A friend has a 20 ft Bullet with a modified 225HO and when we are both fully loaded, we run just about side by side but his runs 92 mph running light and mine runs about 82, no matter how it's loaded.

[topwtr81]

there are 4 bullet's in the club I belong to and each angler swears they will never own anything but a bullet from here on

being in upstate Ny we have some darn big water and these guys say they handle great

[gatrboy53]

it depends what u want in a boat. speed ....good choice....fishability....good choice,durability....there r better,...handling alright unless u fish big water then there r better,....price ,avg. bullets r for the speed freaks that like to zip from place to place and look cool doing it..personally i wouldn't trade my gambler for any of the hi-performance knock offs

[justtrying]

quote from above - " we run just about side by side but his runs 92 mph running light and mine runs about 82, no matter how it's loaded. "

my dear friends, you may not be able to CATCH a fish running 92 mile an hour, but, man, you sure would LOOK cool trying! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[chicobass]

what's the warantee on those types of boats ?

[Ben]

Guaranteed to hurt you bad or kill you if you are not highly experienced in driving high performance boats.

Bullets, Allison's etc are not boats that you just jump in and go hauling *** down the lake.   First you have to learn to drive the boat itself, your learn first hand the term "chine walk".   After a couple of months seat time, you might be good enough to air it out.  Then you have to learn the trim attitude, trim up a little too much and you may learn the term  "blowout" first hand.  Chop the throttle too fast and you might get introduced the term "bat turn".   Go ripping down the lake and a boat comes across in front of you or you try to pass another boat wrong and might learn what "blow over" means.

These are all terms any fast bass boat can teach you, just those will give you the chance to experience the feelings a lot easier.

[Matt Fly]

    any boat with a in experienced operator that has speed "can be dangerous". just as a guy whos been on the water his whole life, you never know what has broke loose from somebodys dock or what got washed in from the rains that is floating.  

In 1985, on lake Michigan, I had bought a boat with down riggers for salmon fishing.  Only trolling with down riggers under 10 knots in deep water with 2-4 swells.  I hit a telephone pole coming over a swell that was 6-12 inches floating vertical under  the water.  It popped a hole thru the fiberglass so easy and water was rising fast.  Too fast to gun the boat 1/2 mile from shore.  My two friends had put life jackets on (quality jackets) and started to shore in 45 degree water.  I took the third and last jacket after we flipped the boat over to hold air in the nose to keep her a float and tied it off to the bow to mark where she's gonna sink.  I tried to stay on top of her to keep her from flipping again.  The CPO (chief petty officers club) club on base that after noon had wittnessed this and called the harbor master and my buddies where rescued in about ten minutes.  

If it had not been witnessed, my friends would have been in bad shape.  Nobodys fault,  Just goes to show that speed sometimes isn't a factor.

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

So add speed to Matt_fly's story and there wouldn't have been so happy an ending.  

I've seen way too much drama on the water to not know that you are never safe.  All you can do is be as educated , prepared, and alert as possible.

[Yankee_Bassman]

Help me, O Lord, for my boat is so small and your sea is so big......or something like that..