There's a lot of discussion here in Forumland on "what's the fastest boat?"

I can understand serious tournament guys who need to get to a particular location before anyone else's morning coffee has gotten cold, but for me, the things I value in a boat are ride, storage space, roominess, comparative economy of use, fit/finish, and quality of construction.

Is there something else about top-end speed I'm missing, or is it... for many of us, anyway... a "my boat can beat your boat" type of thing?

My last boat, a Skeeter SS90 w/80hp Yamaha, topped out at about 42 mph (GPS), while my current Skeeter SX190 I've gotten up to about 59 mph, which is WAY faster than I feel like going most of the time.

Not trying to be contentious, just seeking info. Anybody?

For me, I like speed in our ski boat because I enjoy pulling people and power/speed are needed to do it...On our pontoon boat, I have the biggest engine allowed for the same reason, pulling people on towables....

Now, I've seen a lot of bass boats flying on the water, and hey, more power to them...However, I don't really care to do 80 mph on the water with a thin sheet of fiberglass between me and whatever I might hit...Seriously, have y'all ever seen just how thin the hulls of boats are?

My boat mechanic used to race boats with outboard motors and set two world records in the 1980's (1983 and 1989). I can see why he'd want to go fast in the races, but he retired when he realized that the boats were going faster than his body could keep up...

the fastest a allison 2002 the reason testosterone

I dont think that speed is a matter of getting to the fishing spot before anyone else. Everyone runs about the same hp and the boats are pretty much all within the same mph. I think that its a matter of where the tourney is held. If it 10 miles to the spot from the ramp and you want to get as much time on that spot as you can get, you need a fast boat to get back to weigh in on time. The faster your boat, the longer you can fish.

I had a Skeeter that would gps 68-72 depending load and time of year, and I ran it as fast as it would go all the time. When I hit a tree on Ray Roberts and cracked the transom on the boat and cracked the lower unit on the motor, I quit running like that. My new boat only runs 29 on the best of days. I like going fast but I am young and dumb.

In my case, it is an appreciation of a highly sophiticated machine that can perform at the highest level. To fish, you do not have to go fast, however, for me going fast enhances my experience of being on the lake. To each his own, speed is just interesting to me and always has been, whether cars, boats, or motorcycles.

In the world of cars, a Honda Civic will get you to the same place that a Ferrari will, however there is no disputing which one you would rather drive if given the choice.

I run it WOT because that is how 2-strokes are designed to run.

It is exciting to run over 70mph.

Why? Because I can.

Mercury did not make a 300HP PRO XS so it would be run at half throttle.

It feels good !!

Since I cant do over 45...it doesnt matter to me...really. Right now, in this heat, I run fast to cool my body down. Most of the time I run about 3/4 throttle, depending upon the lake traffic. I do like to try a fishing hole for a while then go to another one...but I dont need to run 80. 55-60 would be nice every now and then, though.

Okay, the fog is lifting for me now...

Thanks, Ken. I do get it. For the same reason I own 50 fishing rods. It's not because we NEED to. Rather, it's because we WANT to.

Those are great emoticons, BTW! Where'd you find them puppies?

For me, it's definately the need for speed. As an ex-super comp racer with the NHRA. (170mph 1/4) 100mph on the water is what i'm after.
It's entirely business related for me. I use a high performance hull to help me design,test, and setup a boat/propeller combo looking for the best handling fastest prop to work with and sell to my customers.

besides i couldn't catch a fish if it jumped in my lap..lol.
but, if i can run circles at 90mph then maybe i'd create a small tornado and all the fish in the area would get sucked into my livewell... "is that cheating???" LOL.

I run a 21ft Stroker that will run triple digits with a large wheel, fishing prop is 95-96 mph gps...just because you have it...does'nt mean you have to drive it there all the time...your pull truck will probably run 100...but you don't drive it there all the time either....It's better to have it and not need it...as it is to need it and not have it !!!! i have not seen an Allison posted ( 21ft ) that will run over 100 with a 250XS Merc...20ft Allison is a different story...I can show you 5 Strokers that I know of that will top 100, a 21 ft Bullet with a 250XS will not top 100..had one I know...the 20ft'ers will...with the right set-up....as far as 21ft boats go...apples to apples, the 21ft Stroker is a beast....Hello Steve !!!!

kena is the "emoticon king" ..LOL very good boat driver too.

hello strokinrun... about time to test some props, huh?

we're trying to get a bunch of boats together soon to test some props and meet and greet on Fork. launching out of the minnow bucket. will let you know when we are gonna do it. it's just too hot right now.

Sounds like a blast...holler at me