:ernaehrung004:

I have gone the magical number 180mph and it was pretty amazing.Did not feel that fast being in a 50ft cat, or maybe I should say it just felt safer going 180mph in Statement cat
with Todd driving and John T on sticks, then 130mph on some other boats that I have been on.I new I had 2 guys who new what they were doing. Just watching them drive that boat was something,they were just so calm like out on a sunday drive talking to each other.And another note, you can see how 180mph makes Biscayne Bay so small

I really respect the fact that you're doing laps, many laps at these high speeds. What I question with some of these high speed boats ( and cars and motorcycles) is seat time and frequency. The equipment is available, all it takes is money but to drive that equipment correctly takes lots of laps or hours behind the wheel.
ed

If it makes Dave Scott and John tomlinson raise an eyebrow it certainly should make mere mortals like me take note. Not that I would ever have the financial wherewithall to go 180+, but I am always thinking of ways to make my little 70 mph boat faster and often when I think about my lack of experience, the water conditions where we boat, coupled with the fact that I always have framily and friends with me, I just get happy again and decide to leave stuff alone.

I have been pleasure boatin for a long time, never raced and never been to any kind of formal trainig. I would love to go to Tres Martin's school. Bottom line is I have been mid 80's in my buddies Baja dozens of times and over 100 in his 18' Laser on the bottle. Both were fast enough. I need to be happy right where I am.

"How Fast is 180 mph?" To fast for me, I'll leave that to the professionals......My boat being a 80-85 mph boat on a good day in great conditions is all I need for me to have fun.......when anyone asks me how fast is your boat I say it does in the 80's but I love it because it cruises at 60 all day long at 3/4 throttle.......hardly breaking a sweat.......

31 yrs and many 100+ hulls,, over 150 for the last 12!! Never get use to IT. It amazes me when i give people a ride and they say we only went 140!! I just look and smile.. I have had a few high speed crashes and at high speeds H20 becomes very solid!!!! and no I have never hurt anyone else. That speeding ticket was very painful!!! :drink:

Hey GL,

Open water is the last bastion of unrestricted speed. I wouldn't presume to abridge or otherwise suggest taking away your right to go fast on the water far, far away from other vessels or the shoreline. And I mostly think you're correct about legislation. As performance boat enthusiasts we are not enough of a blip on radar to necessarily bring on regulation, even if we start killing ourselves in record numbers.

However, if we start killing people on the beach or in fishing boats or on yachts or on piers—meaning if we do start killing innocent bystanders—we are done. As in yesterday.

Early in this thread someone noticed that I'd described 180 mph as "264 feet per second," which, in fact, it is. The person making the observation was somewhat surprised by that number. That tells me that, generally speaking, we really don't understand how truly fast 180 mph—and even 150 mph—is.

Have you ever seen two boats running 150 mph parallel to another with 100 yards of separation? I've seen that at several poker runs. If those boats turned toward another, their closing speed would be right around 300 mph and they we would be on top of each other in a fraction of a second. If one boat lost steering and veered toward the other, it would be there in just over a second.

The UIM Class 1 boat that crashed violently last year caught air and flipped at around 130 mph. Reliable sources estimate that by the time it landed upside down on its canopy it was traveling at 100 mph. Total canopy failure. Two men died instantly.

And yet, 100 mph on the water isn't even considered fast any more.

That's just reality. What you do with it remains your choice.

Can we preserve performance boating in the future!
 

Hey Guys, believe me when I say I love speed and power and I am very committed to the improvement of performance within reason in marine power plants with the innovations and improvements that are made available to the performance boating public.
The fact is as GLH says they are never going to legislate high speed boat runs on all bodies of water, especially in open ocean blue water, but lets face it the only places you can run almost any performance boat at speeds over 125 mph is on closed bodies of water such as lakes, certain rivers and certain coastal waterways like Biscayne Bay, etc. These will be the bodies of water that will fall first under the legislative onslaught of so called good intentioned souls to protect us from our own speed vices!
As the quantity of these super high speed boats increases in an improving economy the potential and likelihood of more accidents and injuries grows likewise and unless the fastest thing we will see on these inland waterways will be a duck with his tail feathers on fire, we the performance boating community and industry had better use some reason and constraint to make sure the largest portion of the performance boating community suffers ultimate elimination from a few "speed junkies" who represent a very small portion of our overall sport.
Lets think about keeping super high speeds on the water in racing events, demonstrations, certain Poker Runs and shootouts, etc. and not let the thrill of these incredible boats and their speeds on the water destroy and entire sport and life style!
We also need to understand that the cost of these types of "Marine Missiles" has grown with the speeds to the point where all such boats generally capable of these 125mph speeds is now over $500,000 and in many cases creeping up on that 1 Million dollar and over mark! The individuals in this elite affordability group probably represent less than 1-2% of all performance boaters! Past history has shown that even in this elite group a goodly percentage buys and operates a 125-180mph boat as their "Toy Missile" for a year or two and then moves on to some other expensive speed sport or hobby!
Why is this sport so motivated by the "Speed Addiction", who really knows , I guess its a general aspect of some human natures, however in our sport the Media, and I mean Media as Magazines, Forums, TV, Sponsors, etc. know that speed is sexy and cool and helps sell magazines, advertising and such to the audience of performance boaters dream of owning and driving these incredible3 boats and love to read and hear about the testing and results. The real problem is these media outlets and even some boat builders is that they are not thinking about the long term health of the performance boating community.
Lets face it the social media on the internet and such has grown by huge amounts and outlets like You Tube and such are taking away their readership and viewers and they have to keep loading the magazines and such with this over the top stuff to keep their outlets alive.
If there are a few super high speed boat builders and owners who want to push the envelope to constant new extremes, God Bless and keep them and so be it and may they always survive their efforts, however lets make sure they do it in safe controlled inshore or offshore waters where they cannot take passengers and public with them to meet their maker!
For those who love and are committed to our sport for us and future generations of performance boaters lets think about this carefully and protect our sport and industry from its own potential demise!

Sorry I just had to get this off my chest and I pulled out the damn soap box again!

Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

High insurance for cats started right after an accident on the Chesapeake bay, if i remember correctly that accident sent the insurance company into bankruptcy... very sad day.

they wont put limits on open water, but as with insurance they will make it that anyone that chooses to do it is going to pay through the nose for it. insurance did it with muscle cars, and for quite a few years only the uber rich will be able to afford the 175 plus boats.

Not just that one crash, if I remember a 36 Spector in Tampa too, the founder of Bone Fish bar & grill. There was a few bad ones in about a year in 2004-2005 that hurt us bad.

Chris Parker was his name, rest his soul. I remember that well. We searched for his body for days. I'm glad I wasn't there when he washed up at the St. Pete Pier.

Speed demands respect, my friends. Respect and reverence. Heed her warning.

:(:(

Ed Mossmiller was his name. He was running a turbine powered cat and it was reported that 176 mph was what was on the tattle-tale. Unfortunately for the families, the accident happened in February. It took a long time to find the passenger due to the coldnes of the water. Bill Butler was the insurer, a very nice guy and fellow OSO'er. Went by the name of Risk Taker.

lost many friends and people in the sport between 03 and 06. I think 6 i knew personally. One about an hour he left my fuel docks. Tough stuff. Everything changes after 90-100. I've run 160ish in an MTI, driving. Thats fast boys

Which MTI was that? That is fast!

i talked to his brother the other day and you can still hear the sorrow

I'm watching Daytona car racing right now 196 mph average speed 203-205mph cars!:eek:Fastest speeds in years new track surface is the reason.

Man Kieth do you have that baby dialed in!

I can totally relate with the passenger comments,,," We only ran 140mph "
Other than Rudy our engine builder there is only one other person that ever ran as a passenger with me at over 150mph in our rig.

Agree with it or not 180+mph seems to be the new magic # for big power wide body pleasure cats like the 388s .We have one next store to us that ran between 178 and 182gps all Summer long here on the upper Chesapeake..And they are turning up the wick this season with a higher gear ratio and a few more lbs of boost.
They know the risks as we all do and like ourselves only make high speed runs during the week when the Bay has zero traffic and low winds .

I ran 185 one time in my Lamborghini a few years back on a deserted straight a way on I 83. I would love to have a rig that could do that on the water.

You know whats funny Craig? I couldnt tell you. I was Miami talking to Woodsie and Randy S and next thing I know I was at Phils getting in the boat. It was orange/red. 44 I think with 1200-1500 sterlings I think. Too many boats man. Just a blur

What channel?

Wow!!! Great article:) Kind of makes you stop and think and you are right, everyone talks about big speed like it is no big deal. Well I'm just a little guy and even running at 73mph is moving. I mean that is faster then the freeway speed limit. Now don't get me wrong I would love to be able to break the 100mph mark someday and won't turn down a ride in a fast boat with experienced drivers. Well I'm sure we will keep pushing the envolope because it is human natural to want to have nicer, be fast, and out do everyone else. Well good luck to all of you big power guy and please just be safe because us little guys really enjoy watching you run buy at 120+, what a site:)

I went 155 in my 928 on a flat smooth 2 lane road with no traffic and no intersections and i loved it. I probably did it 8- 10 times only on this deserted strech of road. I sold my Porsche 20 years ago and have not been over 120 since. I love to run my boat 70-75 mph but i only do that in very uncrowded waters. There are too many people that don't know what they are doing and even at 70 you can not evade those who are going to get in your path. Take care at high speed and have fun. One day I would love to go 100+ on the water under the right conditions.

That is one reason that although I pay to enter Poker Runs in respect to the organizers I do not however run with the pack usually leaving way after anyone else or way before. Anyone that has been with me on a PR knows that when the pack leaves I usually wait 30-60 seconds before leaving in order to control everything and any boats remotely around me if I am there at all on those mass start.

Here is an example of a run I left way after the start on the Hudson, caught the pack and was way,,,way to the right of everyone else when I went by anyone running slower than we were. I would NEVER run in close quarters.

http://www.vimeo.com/7018240

another view..

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cx9YHulMUfw[/YOUTUBE]


I also do not stop at any the card stops due to proximity of other boats and unpredictability of just a lot of boat in one area. Experience has taught me that.

As for competing or running against anyone else I have no interest whatsoever, the only person I am trying to impress is myself.

These are rules I set for myself in order not to mess anyone else up if I wipe myself out.

Apart from that if there are any pontificaters of legislation relating this here they can go f-themselves, there are enough unenforced rules on the books... Look at Lake Winnie,, in NH they have a 45 MPH speed limit and there are more boats that run over 90 on that lake than any other in New England... sure making rules works.... my azz!

In my best Forrest Gump drawl... "That's all I have to say about that!"

Eerie similarities. I too had a 155mph car--Jaguar XJ12L. I took it out in west Texas on the Interstate. I had a 100mph boat that I ran on Lake Lewisville as far away from other boats as I could get. Very few boats run 100 on that lake because it's only 25,000 acres and a lot of that is unsuitable for anything over 60.

I never thought it would be the case but I actually feel safer and more comfortable in my boat then any of my cars over 150 mph.
.

I was out testing with matt and the PBM crew. I had the pleasure of running the DCB at 170 with Bob Teague at the wheel and my wife in the back seat....

Ive been over 190mph in a lambo Diablo and over 160mph on a ducati and I can say that 170 in a boat compare to nothing I've ever experienced. The "pucker factor" is un-speakable even with the excellent handling capabilities of the DCB. and to add to that, the scary thing is the bigger the boat the more comfy you are because at 150 in John Woodruff's 48 MTI it was like a cadi and I was looking back asking how they were doing in the back seat and watching the rooster (refer To my blog) like it was no thang.

I'll be writing a full blog on the awesome M31 DCB with 1350's and M8's and the beautiful 32 Spectre with ilmor Cobras and Indy drives.

I'll exit with this..speed is the ultimate aphrodisiac!

I find it interesting you do not stop at card stops. I have been on boat runs with the Atlanta Hot Boat Club and had a great time, but never a porker run. We want to go to a few this year, but the one thing that concerns me is the video I have seen of others running 5 to 10 feet apart at high speeds in these poker runs with lots of testosterone pulsing through their veins trying to see who is can be first. It just looks a little unsafe. You go to hang out with people and enjoy the parties? How many boats actually have actually mixed it up in these runs in past years?

Yup... Something like that...

http://www.limestonedev.com/mti/BocaGrande_Girls.jpg
http://limestonedev.com/tmp/IMG_0059.JPG
http://limestonedev.com/tmp/IMG_0357.JPG
http://limestonedev.com/tmp/pr2.jpg
http://limestonedev.com/tmp/pr4.jpg
http://limestonedev.com/tmp/pr1.jpg
http://limestonedev.com/tmp/IMG_1636.JPG

I don't know but I decided to act in PR so as not to be one of them...


When they have mixed it up it has usually been catastrophic...

It's definitely something to respect, over 150 mph, been there and done that....

180 mph ..
 

Hi,

Speedlimits are popping up everywhere. They are trying to impose a 40 mph speed limit along the coast line of Norway. Above that you have to leave for offshore. And than I mean offshore. The people causing this problems are people driving at night, without lanterns and lifejackets in 60 mph. Drunk, wasted. Not the high speed boats, which are not that many in Norway.

The fastest I have driven in a boat is approx. 100 mph in a Motion Cat, although I have friends who have driven 172 mph in a Nortech 36. But it looks more fun to drive a Thundercat with a 50 hp at 70 mph really. Check this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZLRg...embedded#at=27

However, the most deadly fast I have done is 1 mach ++ in a F14 Tomcat in 1994. 700 feet above the sea.... Yezz.

Cheeers and safe boating, Toffen

:drink:Fox 5 up here sorry late responce great ending :angry-smiley-038:Kyle Bush&Mopar won!If thats his name?

Yes it is!!! :drink:

someone dies every 16 minutes in a car wreak !!! Usely because of someone texting or f**king with something they shouldnt be doing while driving!!!!! :evilb:
I like speed the faster the better and will try to run out front and make every stop we can.
I see a lot of non paying spectators show up at poker runs just to take advantage of all the hard work and money spent by everyone else!!
I get sick of all the crying,,if your scared of death say home and lock yourself in a room!! It will still find you some day.
That said i believe in safety first no drinking while driving and use a little common sense!! And for god sacks if you have never owned a high performance boat dont start with the fastest one just because you can!!!!!!!!!! :lolhit:

+1

I rode in the Goodyear Blimp at 40 mph :evilb:

Its on speed channel right now!69 up here:drink:

Ive been trying to get my son a blimp ride for years. He wants to soo bad. Any info on how you did it??

Buy a lot of very big tires. Thats how my Dad did it! Blimp COLUMBIA early 1970's It was so slow I slept on the way back into the head wind.

X2

LOL, Well I've been in a hot air balloon at like 3 mph. What a peaceful ride:)