There is a large hump or sandbar a ways north of the dam at Tawakoni. We were by the dam one day and I saw this guy headed right at it in a center console boat. I said to the bunch with us "watch this." He hit that sandbar probably no more than I would guess 20's or so. I bet he wishes he had been thrown out vs. down. He came to a dead stop---"thud." He managed to pull himself up and motor off of it. I bet it was a brutal fall.

Kill switches are mandatory in the salt now, or just lakes? I have never worn a vest or hooked up to the kill switch in my life lol.

Nope nope lol.

My boat topped out at 40-45, that's plenty fast for me in a fishing boat.

Be like seeing a wreck on the interstate and saying well I'm glad I drive a go cart.

I had a Gambler that would run mid 70's and I loved it. Peaceful and serene going that fast on water.

I also can't believe that boat didn't have a hot foot. Hot Foot's are the greatest thing for a bass boat, allows you to keep two hands on that wheel.

I rode with a friend in his hot rod boat several years ago and we got just over 80. I don't recall where the line was where we went from fun as hell to getting a little concerned, but I do know we crossed it at some point (at least for me).

I wonder if you could install a kill switch in a boat seat like you do a riding lawn mower or tractor? Or would water cause havoc on a switch like that?

Not so much water, as would the bouncing up and down when running over other boats wakes or swells when it's windy. Plus, most of the time I'm standing up when running the boat when it's kinda rough out.

I HATE "safety" switches on lawn mowers, especially the seat switch. The first thing I do after buying a new mower is bypass every safety switch on it. I'm not mowing on steep hills and don't need them. I'm always getting off of the mower to move limbs etc, so it's a PITA if not bypassed.

Good to know so when they find your body parts all over the lawn

My middle name is Safety, I need safety switches about as much as I need the "safety" spouts on the new gas cans.

Never used mine but it would top out at about 30 knots. That's about 33 MPH. I think

Organ doners....

I beoch about how fast folks drive on the hwy too!

Im an old fart at heart.

AMEN! Hate those stupid things!

those aren’t safety spouts those are EPA eco friendly spouts...

I think In any state waters. And yes it’s annoying, but I get it, especially intercostal with some of the bigger boat wakes

When I first moved to LAke Fork 12 years ago I had a 1998 BassCat PAntera with a 200 MErc I had rebuilt. I ran that thing MANY times cruising at 72-73mph peer GPS. I was 30. Now that Im 42, I just would have no desire to go that fast in a boat again. Ive also never worn the safety switch except while on a jet ski. Now I just have a slow pontoon boat , lol.

I've run a gambler. Bout the worst boat made imho. Hate how low they sit, terrible hole shot, being on fork with one you've gotta crank the outboard every 10 minutes to get that flat rascal off a stump. Worst of all that tongue will grab while that rear will slide. Don't ask me how I know.

What are you talking about, gamblers draft low. They also have a good hole shot if propped right.
Now I will agree on getting stuck in the stumps, it was terrible at that, not a good boat for a stumpy lake.
Also sounds like user error on the front grabbing, never once had mine do it, but I knew that boat inside and out.

Interesting fact, a gambler and equal sized ranger weigh the same. Just goes to show you how superior their hull is. They're an excellent rough water boat too.

Probably 10 years ago I had a very close call that taught me a very valuable lesson. I own what many consider to be the best rough water bass boat ever built so kill switches and life jackets were never much of a concern of mine. One day the wind was blowing about 30mph as I was headed south down the lake. I had to swing real tight to a long point to safely run through some timber and then hang a sharp left across the point. As I made my left turn I caught a wave just right and it ejected me from the drivers seat and into the passengers seat. I promise you no matter how strong you are you cant hang on to the steering wheel in a situation like that. Thankfully I have a hot foot so when my foot came off the pedal the boat came off plane and slowed to an idle.

Looking back two things could have happened with much worse outcomes:
1: I could have been thrown the other direction and into the water without a life jacket or kill switch attached.
2: Without a hot foot my boat would have been up on the land before I would have ever known what happened.

Now days its a kill switch and life jacket anytime the boat is above idle.

Knots?

I miss Ethyl

When I say sit low. I mean a guy my size ain't meant to sit that low to the bottom of the boat. The slide was not full on. I used to tease my nephew by running right up on a bouy and yanking the wheel and going right around it. Always did it in my Skeeter. Did it in that gambler and I took it as a warning shot.

Can anyone answer my question about boats with no factory kill switch?