no drunk buckeyes are in this neck of the woods.

I was in a Bass Club in my younger years as a nonboater…I just was stuck with whoever I got picked with that had a boat. This one guy had a Bullet, I believe that was the name of the boat. We were the 4th boat out that morning. My buddy had just got a new Triton and was 1st out.
Now the boat I was in was where the driver sits behind the wheel and the passenger is behind him. You’re basically tucked under the wind when cruising. I’m not sure cruising is the correct word cause we passed boat #1 like he was having engine trouble. I peaked over the drivers shoulder and his speedometer was reading about 92mph! I tapped him on the shoulder and asked if that thing was right, he said yeah and juiced to to 105mph!
Me and God talked a lot that day!! We did come in second place too!

You have your opinion of safe and I do too. I would never put one of my granddaughters on a 2,000 lb animal to run around a barrel or just ride it in the field. . WOULD NEVER let a 10-12 year old on a 4 wheeler. People on motorcycles are stupid in my opinion. Driving 70 MPH on an interstate on one is a guaruntee for death if you wreck . The fact neither of is even came out with a bump was it luck? Maybe . Was it the fact of the equipment and how it was designed to do what I was doing ? I choose the later with some of the first . Would never ask anyone to do anything THEY think is not safe. But 40-50 in a 21ft bass boat with headlights is not any more dangerous than any of the above activites. Probably NOT NEARLY as dangerous !!! IF you know the lake and have confidence in your ability.

That's an Allison Racing boat that went into bass boats.

You must not have predicted that log was gonna be there.

“ If you know the lake and confidence in your ability”

Let’s see here $20,000.0” damage and the grace of God you weren’t thrown out into the lake!…WOW

I’ll say one thing, that was a smooth riding boat! I just don’t like going that fast with no brakes, lol! But to be honest, I really never felt “in danger.” I’d done a lot more stupid things in a much smaller boat, and I was the driver. And I agree with your other comments. Especially about motorcycles, I personally lost 3 coworkers and have a neighbor that’s now paralyzed living the rest of his life in a wheelchair.

So what you are saying is that it is perfectly fine to leave a lower unit on the bottom of the lake in a nights fishing trip. I get it now. I'll leave it at that and hope you may learn something from that trip. You have proven that lights at that speed are next to useless or that lower unit would still be attached to the rest of the outboard.

Some of y’all think all accidents are completely avoidable, lol. If that was the case we wouldn’t need insurance.

good thing you knew the lake and your ability or else some bad thing may have happened..

glad your safe.

6.5 knot boat. Sometimes I wish she’d do 8. That would really be flying along : ). Never run without a spotlight in the dark. Hit a log and it could become a life and death situation. Couple years ago I picked up a chunk of wood in the rudder. Finally kicked out when I put it in R but bent the prop and 18 hour ride home w vibration ate up the cutlass. I suspect we all take risks we shouldn’t but it’s different if you’re gambling with someone else’s life. To the OP- you’re doing something I know nothing about. Another world

I really can not comment if you were going too fast or not, I don't drive bass boats. I do wonder how many of these experts have ever done so. Personally I do not think that 49mph was too fast. Most people drive faster than that on the roads at night. Glad things worked out for you.

No such thing as accidents.

I've learned accidents are a direct result of stupidity. I've had a few! lol

Well jbyrd, gonna have to step up for you here pal

Whether he was going or 49 or 39 the result would have been the same. I have spent thousands of hours behind the wheel of a bass boat. Jbyrd is correct that most have to be doing around 35mph to be on plane. Otherwise the nose of the boat is sticking straight up in the air and you can't see a thing. I think many that are giving criticism have never been behind the wheel of a bass boat, typical internet judges and jury

Unfortunately things floating in the water are the nature of the beast. All you can do to prepare for these things are to pay close attention to the water in front of you, wear your life jacket, and always have the kill switch attached to you.

I won't ever run around in a night tournament like I do during a daytime tournament. I generally start in areas closer to the ramp and fish my way back, not a ton of running going on.

The majority of guys running in bass boats have far more time on the water than the average person. Definitely much more time on the water than pleasure boat drivers and jet skiers. I would rather have 100 bass boats zinging around at 65 or 70 mph than 10 jetskis zinging around at 70 mph. I trust Johnny who has been fishing since 1974 a lot more than the 16 year old on a jet ski for the first time.

I ain't immune from that malady either.

But whenever it befalls me I can always trace it back to an action taken.

Actions have consequences, or so I tell these younguns. LOL

If he wouldn't have been puttin around so slow he might have won the derby lol.

I have a sad story of a tourny, but will cork it and not dog pile.
If it is your thing, legal and all, have at it.

Glad you’re all right and your partner. Sh- t can and does happen quick, especially after dark. If you think you can’t turn that boat over or get thrown from it , running 49 mph, let alone 70 plus your a fool. What do you think the outcome would have been if it was another boat you hit instead of a tree?
I have been that guy who has had complete electrical failure on the water after dark. Mannaged to get flashlights and head lamps on to keep from getting run over until we fixed the problem. You might think you can get enough lights on your boat to run 50 mph to wide open throttle but you can’t. Your out running your lights and can’t stop or turn quick enough at those speeds to avoid the problem. Bowt like the Titanic, you know the boat that was crash proof and unsinkable.
Hope you confine your bass tournament night fishing to Kentucky and there lakes and rivers. Sounds like you’re making a name for your self, with people shooting at you and all.
Bet you’re looking at closer to 30-40 thousand instead of 20 grand. Your gonna be lucky if it doesn’t total your motor ( I wouldn’t want it after decapitating the lower unit) and more than likely stress fracturing the transom in the process. Don’t know how old your boat is but they would be doing you a big favor by totaling it.

Was on a “boat” that hit a whale. We had fish for the next two days, lol! Only way to get the whale off was to completely stop that beast and put her in reverse. Total accident of course that I guess could have been avoided had we not been out there in the first place…

Accident on the whales part!