I have been an Allison dealer since 1994 and can assure and prove to anyone reading this that a GrandSport with a 225 PM, 1.75:1 Allison mod Sportmaster and a 28p Lightning ET will run 97-98 mph with two 200 lb. guy's aboard. I have sold several GS's with this set up, and no, there were no mods done to the boat bottom or lip, all totally stock.
The GrandSport was not designed to be a top end boat, 100 mph is fast enough for me personally, much over that is risky in my opinion.
When Hot Boat Mag did the article on the GS the writer wanted to drive the boat himself and had never even driven one before as I recall. Jim Barnes who was Allison's Re. at the time told me what went on but I don't remember exactly.
I actually ended up with that very same boat and originally rigged it for a customer with a 150 PM with a bone stock XR-6 unit that was one of three units available on the 150's at that time, the boat would run a very impressive 80 mph with no nose cone. I later rigged it with a 225 PM as described above for the same owner and it ran 97-98.
I ran an SS-2000-Elite in ODBA & ECDBA and in some other small orginations from Pa. to Fl. for several years with 260's and 280's w/260 electronics, @ 1685 lbs. with me in it which was the required weight for the 280 in that class, it would run 104-106 every pass like it was on a rail. Several have claimed one teens and in to the one twenty's, but again, this boat was designed to be quick not run big numbers.
The XR-2002, XR-2001 and even the XB-2002 bass boat are much faster boats.
Someone said something about a 225 PM on a GT-20. A friend of mine had one back in 1996 or 97 and installed a brand new 225 PM on it, it would run 84 mph on my stalker radar gun with he and I aboard, pretty impressive for a 70's designed hull.
The Triad's are without a doubt a much better looking boat than the GT's ever were. I think the world of Wally, but there is no doubt that he was inspired by the GT's when he built his Triad, Stevie Wonder could see that. LOL!!! Wally's father in-law was an Allison dealer for years so he certainly knew what a GT looked like up close.
I almost forgot what started this forum.
Ask Randy McCormick why he switched to Mercury's 10 + years ago.
Well that's my 2 cents for my 1st post.
Say what you will, only the truth hurts!! LOL
Lee
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