fishnfireman
Well-Known Member
Ronnie.Around here even the small local tournys don't really care what the Coast Guard sticker says they want to see the max.hp from the boat builder..
I have been fighting this issue since 1999.. At that time there were very few tournaments that I could not fish. I spent 2 months getting a letter from FLW to make sure I could fish even there smaller tournaments. BASS was the first I knew of 2 adopt the wording that basicly states--if it does not have a max hp rating by the manufacture or the coast guard---it's not legal to fish there events. Two years ago FLW also changed there's to read the same.
Now it may not seem to most that there are that many who fish with the big boys out of an Allison......However both BASS and FLW put on a LOT of smaller circuits. Plus there are becoming more and more independent trails that figure, if it works for the big boys it will work for us ----So they have started following suit.
At present I have the new 21 with a 2000 model 225 pro max...and I am legal to fish all tournaments. However I plan to re-power soon and it will not be with a 225. So I am either going to limit my entrys, or do as JR says, until someone catches me. (Then what) most circuits have a rule that says if you have ever been DQ'd from a tournament don't even bother with entering ours..
It's still sad to me that Darris has built these fine machines to target the main stream tournament fisherman. But continues to limit there sales. By forcing people like jimmy and countless others to choose a different boat. Because of the HP rating, or lack of.
I refuse to believe that Stroker and Bullit are building a better boat than Darris. That is almost what we are led to believe. They are proud to put a much larger or unlimited HP Rating on there boats.
I can see putting a 200-225 rating on the 20 ft Allisons because of what they are capaable of running. But the new 21's are NOT going to run with a Bullit or Stroker. by giving up 50 to 75 HP.