To think we were going to do this Jamie! Haha

The saddle tanks create a very tight space to work in. Lots of creative climbing down there required to keep it clean.

Yours and MrPickett's staggered gun is a great comparison since both have big power and #6's. Do both handle and fly essentially the same?

They both sit about the same in the water, mine docks easier, I am more comfortable in mine because the bolsters are 5" farther back, which allows me to be lower in the boat. The short cockpit in Lock and Load dictate where the bolsters mount. They fly about the same as far as I can tell, and the handling is not noticeable to me. We have kinda tested that on the yearly around Key West run we do in the afternoons during race week. (A complete 360 circle around Key West, with some 2-3 g turns). The staggered drives are high, but still lower on the hull, so it has more grounding issues, he used to run aground a lot, even when following me. He does not run aground any more.:) my slip is 5-6 % less, than the stagger, so I cruise 62 -3500, at about 300 rpm less than the stagger. We have tested all props, 4,5, and 6 blades, diameters, rakes, etc. L&L is faster at top end now, twin 875s vs twin 1150s. L&Ls slip comes down as the speed increases. L&L would be faster, if his wife was not on board.

It is very cool to be able to run both types of setups all over like we do.

Worked on a friends boat with staggered and was mother*ucking the pipes from the port motor while changing plugs and wires on the starboard motor. It also doesn't help being 6'3" tall lol

It takes more patience working on the stagger, I have Zero

Ya being a bigger guy I always feel like I'm gonna lean against something the wrong way and break it. I like being able to sit in front of both motors and just give them the reach around lol

Wonder if you could still keep smaller floor tanks as well to help distribute the weight? some apache 41's had both, im sure it would work in a TG

Lock & Load has belly tanks also, total fuel load is 300 gallons, 2-100 saddle tanks, 2 50 gallon belly(floor) tanks. I bet it would really go if it did not have those giant, barn door, twin ram, heavy, antique, rectangular, 2" thick, old school, black, drag inducing, boat slowing, last century, k planes that went out of style with the home telephone.

I really don't like those k planes.:)

Our NEXT project will be to fabricate replacement tabs. Skinny, light weight, fast acting, modern material, voice activated, smart phone controlled tabs!

Thanks for all the great info and pics Mrpickett357 and Zero Patience, your Cigarettes are incredible. Does Lock and Load have a half cabin? Have you weighed both boats?

Fat Boy is being restored back to its original staggered design! Stay tuned.........

A buddy of mine bought Lock & Load this past fall and Lake St Clair will be its home base.

It most certainly is... I have a chunk of the cut out ****ery that was commited hanging on the wall in my garage. Its been restored and put back together correctly, Even the gauges that are going in it are sick as hell !!

Ummmmmm, do we get to see pics????

As soon as it warms up enough to go out to the garage........

Lock & Load is a perfect example of some hard work paying off. Jim and Mark made that boat perfect. Look forward in seeing it on the water locally

the hatch is yuuuge! It’s coming along nicely.

Yup, Dave did a hell of a job!