Interesting discussion happening on another site!!!

[CORAL 96]

Guess since it's winter, not too many are fishing these days. An article was brought to another site's attention. A Nitro salesman was out with Kevin Van Dam on Lake Mead in one of their new Z9 boats. Full load, 65 gal of fuel, powered by a 250 Merc. They claim to have gotten the boat to 80 mph & this was all done through 3' waves.
Me, smellin FOUL, and knowing fully well of what this lake is capable of, I say "No Way"!! Unless your in a 30' Offshore that is there would be nothing left of that boat when they returned. The other thing is the Nitro breaking 80 mph. That might happen on the trailer behind the truck!!!
It makes me laugh when these article writers proclaim boats to do things that are just flat out impossible. they may have hit 80, but that would be in the narrows between bays. What do my MEAD experts thinkith??????

[CharlieS.]

You sure this doesnt belong in the Joke forum?? Kidding-- Im no way the expert you asked for...but NFW!! Maybe thru the narrows like you mentioned,with those 3ft waves on both sides of him (both bays) Ohh well...The mind wanders anyways...Charlie

[Lance]

3ft, 80mph Thats funny I dont care who you are, thats thar is funny

[tunaman]

Well, the writer possibly was watching the speedo in the dash, not GPS numbers? I know, while my dash speedo was working (which it doesn't any longer) it was wayyyyyy aways from accurate. It read low for low speeds, and high for high speeds... it said I got it up to 75 at DVL one trip, with full bays, tanks, livewells, and two guys. It's a Z20 with a 225 XS, and I've had it close to 75 since then (on GPS) but not under those circumstances.

Then again, writers are paid to embelish, aren't they?

[JT-Madera]

Maybe it was a typo and he ment to say it broke into 80 pieces.. when it hit 3ft waves

[DanWarme]

I think the literary term is "Artistic License".

aka
B**ll S**t makes the world go round.

And while its possible to get a boat running 80 mph in 3 ' waves or higher, IF you are running the trough, cross wind, and ONLY cross wind, (it's still not a good idea), it is statements like that, trying to push the product or get on memo status for the writer, that makes Joe Dumbass, weekend warrior go out and try it himself cause "thats what the pros do and he heard the boat could do it." Cause they aren't thinking trough, they are thinking into, or even worse, with the waves. Can everybody say "submarine"???? Thats what happens when you spear a wave good.

Best result- we manage to thin the herd of one less idiot, raising the genetic IQ available to pass on evolution-wise. tic

Unfortunately, they either end up taking someone else with them, or they just smash up the boat/motor and blame the manufacturer for making a defective product. They can make it fool proof, they just can't make it Damn Fool proof. And every year, there is a new, improved, better grade of idiot to have to deal with!

Geesh apparently I'm cranky this afternoon. lol Probably due to being so far behind in Xmas preparations! Better get back to my studying for my final exam tonight.

[Rick G]

There is a article getting ready to come out in Bass and Walleye Magazine about that model Nitro. According to the BWB editor that was here in my store last week that boat ran 81mph on the BWB Radargun. Have no idea if KVD was driving, what lake it was on, or if there were 3 ft waves. Just that the Magazine editors were very impressed with the speed. If KVD says it runs good thats a pretty good endorsement as he is about as straight a shooter as there is.
The Z-9 at Lake Mead at this years dealer meeting was off the water after the wind got above 35 mph the days that Paul, Jordan and I were there so we did not get a chance to drive it. We do have one coming in this week from Tracker if anyone wants a ride, come on in and we will work out the details. Rick G.

[Rick G]

Also the one tested had a Racing 250xs Optimax. The one we have coming has the new 250 pro xs Optimax. 271 prop hp and a 3 year warranty standard. Rick G.

[Lance]

How can 2 guys, 65 gal of fuel, 3 foot chop, doing 80?:o I can see a Bullet doing something like that with one guy in the boat. HOW, HOW CAN IT BE MAN!!

[big_gorilla]

It's hard to argue with Rick seeing how he is the number dealer around here.

I have to admit I didn't buy my boat from him but I trust what he says.

Only time will tell.

[Lance]

I have no reason not to believe Rick, he's has NEVER steared me wrong and all his advice has been on the money. BUT, being a Triton owner I feel its my obligation to bite his pant leg and pull, WOW I'm almost speaking dog

[CharlieS.]

I imagine,its more the speed pretty accurate. Ya know how it goes . Besides like the wife says...people that fish exagerate just a little bit. Those waves in the article may have been just breeze waves,but by the time of print..all hell broke loose.But the reaching part be the 3 ftrs. At 50 Just think of the beating you get,well..the ride of its a Champion,lol. Charlie

[Rick G]

Personally, I dont think that it can go 80 mph in 3 ft waves either. But under the RIGHT conditions and a proper load[light] I can see them getting the GPS/Radar speeds. The price tag is also right up there with the big 4, so they better have their ducks in a row. I dont even think that a 203 Champion with a 300 pro/max could go that fast in rough water [3ftplus] and in my opinion that is the best rough water boat EVER made. My Kidneys hurt just thinking about it. Rick G.

[tunaman]

Of course, with the Racing 250, factory-tweaked, and geared right with the right prop, it could easily do the 80+... just might take a while to get there. Hell, with the right prop my Z20 could do 80+ also, especially at Mead. Now, in 3' seas, that would be a whole different story!

[CharlieS.]

Wow,its going to be in that arena with the other boats? Never new they(Nitro) was going there. Must be some hull. Charlie

[Lance]

My boat will do 72.3 (GPS). Anything over that speed, Id want a bigger boat thats for sure. 80 though Hold on for dear life and say a few Hail Maries

[Rick G]

My father-in law John Storie the Champion Boats founder used to run very light 18' Champs with Hot 200hp Merc's on them [overated hp] with 175 decals. Those were probably the fastest boats I have ever been in and they Radar'd about 78-79mph. Used to scare the crap out of me but that dude can drive a Bassboat. We did a lowerunit reseal on a Allison/Merc250xs Bassboat at the store today, that thing looked real uncomfortable to fish out of but real fast on the trailer. Rick G.

[CharlieS.]

Never been in one of those(Allison) . No one likes speed any more than I do (damn I hope not) but the comfort thing just has to be there . When younger,Im sure it was a different story,but I didnt get in this madness till later to start with.
That would be a thril,the oversized motor in the boat....smiling..Heck,I keep thinking I can do some silly "tweaking" to mine to bleed out more. Can you say KABOOM!! Better just leave it alone...Charlie

[Lance]

I saw an Allison on the freeway today

[Rick G]

Was it white/black/silver? The cust. that brought the one for service today was from Valencia. Probably the same one. Rick G.

[G-Ko]

youtube has a video to look at with KVD driving. It doesn't show much in the way of the speed, but that boat sure looks fast. If you serch for z-9 they show that and also the vegas unveiling of the boat.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=nitro+z9

[Tony Lain]

Looks fast. But just watching that video hurt my back...

[fishinman]

Here Somting for ya ta ponder. I was in a 20 foot champ with a 265hp bridgeport racing merc clocked at 92mph by an law official with a radar gun (glass conditions) just for fun ! I didn't even get a ticket if he could take it for a spin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CORAL 96]

When PIGS fly!!!!!!!

[Dave Schreck]

All I know is I fished with a guy in one of the US opens that had a big nitro.. We got in some big stuff and he Karate chopped this wave.... Man little tiny shards of fiberglass were everywhere..
Nope... I'll stay in my Ranger.