Further North

Are there really many boats left out there that won't still float even when flodded? My 1992 Lund Pro-V would have...

Good thought...but they are miserable to tow for any serous distance.

Scary stuff, that...

Lots of smallie lakes east into WI.

Interesting selective quote out of context...which gives what was written meaning... I was also offering, "...a different opinion, based on my perspective..." and very useful for a ton of fishermen. One size doesn't it all, and decisions are seldom binary. Great observation, and me too...I'll be going over 100 miles tomorrow...to fish with a guy who's got a big motor with a hot foot...but the lake won't justify the motor size...his successful tournament fishing does. The number and density of lakes in this part of the country is very high...there are hundreds of fishable lakes in our county. Minnesota claims to be the "Land of 10,000 Lakes" and they're not kidding...Northern WI has another 15,000 or so... Few of them justify 70 MPH runs for 2 minutes and 12 seconds, unless some one is making a significant portion of their income from competitive fishing.

If you have to go that far, it you have to split hairs that far down...drag Great Lakes into it...to make your point...OK, you win. ...but that's not what I was talking about. I suspect you know that. I suspect that everyone else knows you know that. Enjoy being "right" about 1/10 of 1% of fishermen in my part of the world...that and $4 will get you a cuppa coffee at Starbucks...

Again...I'm confused. I think a hot foot is the best, safest way to drive a high speed boat. ...but that's not what I wrote about...I was writing about how a high speed boat doesn't make a ton of sense anywhere near where I live unless it's owned by someone making a living from being first on a spot.

...any chance you can provide a link to your blog? I've picked up a Meyer's Sportspal to chase bass and smallies on NW WI rivers too small for my boat and am looking for ideas to steal.

This is something I should do, but haven't yet. I was discussing it with a friend on the way home from fishing tonight... I've one qualifier though: I want the remote for the trolling motor to get charged from the battery chargers...and running a separate circuit for just that seems excessive and silly.

Um..no. How'd you get a silly idea like that?

I've gone well over twice that in cars...that's more fun, for me.

Good topic... Here's an opinion from a guy who fishes lakes where you can go one end to the other at 35 MPH in 10 minutes. WI, MN, MI and a lot of other northern states fit this model. It also works great on Canadian shield lakes, even big ones like LOTW (one million acres) where islands and channels and shoals and reefs cut any opportunities to make long, fast runs to a minimum. I can see the usefulness of a Hot Foot on bigger rigs easily...but can also step back and ask...why do you need to run 70 MPH on a 2,000 acre lake...and that's pretty big water 'round here. I cannot think of any situation where a fisherman that's not making lifestyle sustaining money from fishing needs to run 70 MPH, anywhere near where I live...by hundreds and hundreds of miles.

Whatever the biggest danger a bass boater faces, it ain't this... https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2019/10/1862/1048/fishermen-bear-Kennedy-News.jpg Why don't image links work right on the forum any more?????

Interesting approach, I like the thought that went into it. I'd be more inclined to go Ulterra/Ultrex/Terrova and drive it shallower...but I can see the benefit on lakes with no dock.

Do you have to wade out to the boat?

I forgot something... One of the reasons I stick with an aluminum boat at 18 1/2' is towing. I don't need, or want, a full size truck. I don't want to pay for it, I don't want to put gas in it, and I don't want to pay th insurance on it. I can pull my 1850 all day, every day with a smaller SUV, that cost less to buy, less to run, less to insure...

I was fortunate enough to be able to build my "Boat Garage" around my boat. I thought about it pretty thoroughly, looked at how I fish and where, dialed in on a 18 1/2' - 19' foot boat and settled on a 24' x 36' garage with the door on the short side. With storage and "walk-around" space, I've got all the room I need for how I fish. ...what the pros do has zero impact on that.

Hard to justify a hull warranty when you've had no problems with the old one... I'd either: fix the old motor (though a 40 seems light for that boat) Repower to max specs on the boat.

18 1/2', 150 motor. Anything bigger is a waste, or just showing off on our lakes.

Right...that's pretty well known and understood. There's still no way any company is going to overstate tow limits. Liability would be enormous. Billions, not millions. Defendants and litigators looking for payouts would be lined up for miles if companies did this. ...and that leaves out simple lawsuits against spurious claims... I'm sorry, but I can't buy it without specific, documented, legal evidence.

I think I'd have to challenge that. No company with a legal staff that's even remotely competent is going to allow a company to publish tow ratings that are not safe. It'd be opening the doors for lawsuit after lawsuit and we'd see them all over the place. If anything, I would bet that tow ratings are understated. Liability for doing otherwise would be staggering.

Modern vehicles with built in anti sway and ABS, etc. are very capable...far, far more than the vehicles most of us grew up with. Applying old paradigms to current vehicles is worthless. I towed a 2,400 boat with a 2.0 liter Ford Escape for years, zero problems. Had a couple emergency stops and one deer jump out in front of me @ 60 MPH. Worked much better than a full size truck from even the 2000s would have. Towing the same boat now, with a Ford Edge, have the Escape as a backup... Still no problems, and I tow 2-3 times a week. Don't get stuck in the past.

Why would they publish the actual ratings then? ...makes no sense...

Great work...inspiring!

I wish... Yesterday...in about 4 hours... 11 largemouth, topping out at 22", but none less than 16". One Smallie, about 14". Aggressive sons-of-guns, they be. Three pike, 18" to 28" One musky, just shy of 30". ...not one of 'em hit the pink fly...