Speed must be an "age" thing (or not). I bought my rig last year early. The one thing I uniformly noticed when discussions were started about a new rig was "How fast is it."

At first, I was concerned about buying a used Phowler with a 27 HP due to the speed issue. So I did a few calculations. I hunt pool 13 on the Mississippi. My longest run is at the most 6 miles and that is directly from duck camp. At fshing weight, my boat runs 24 mph. When loaded to the gills with one other person, it will run right at 20 mph. 99% of the time I hunt alone. Therefore, on a regular hunting day (no wind ), I am running better than 21 mph and it "snaps" up on plane really well.

6 mile run at 20 mph = 18.0 min
6 mile run at 23 mph = 15.7 min
6 mile run at 24 mph = 15.0 min

In the grand scheme of things, is three minutes later all that much? even when I always throttle back (here and there) in the dark? And another thing, if I need to get there first, I can always leave three mirutes earlier.

Is speed an age "thing" (or not)?

edit: I forgot to mention I will be 72 in August.

if I need to get there first, I can always leave three mirutes earlier

Not if the other guy's rig runs 30

I think some folks like speed and getting all that they can from their rig. Plus a bunch of guys ride all the time I'm sure that comes into play as well. For me speed is not a factor in regards to hunting. I just bought a 36 and other than exhaust I'm sure I'll leave the rest alone for a while. Hydro t/the will be my first "mod". I get up early too kwik. I usually hunt alone so I don't have to wait on anybody or hear them bitch because it's too early. Excluding opening morning its been a few yrs since I've been beat to a place that I really wanted to be.

When your camp is a 23 mile boat ride from the nearest boat ramp you seem to opt for more power.

Actually, I think it is an age thing. Many, many years ago, I took my son to The Boundary Waters. We trained with a canoe months before going. He was too young to portage our canoe because it was a Coleman which meant heavy, not fast and very safe.

So about the third day we were half-way across a huge lake headed to the next portage when I noticed a canoe behind us. They were gaining really fast and my son must of noticed because he was picking up the pace (me too). Not long after we were all out and breathing heavy when two girls went by us like we were standing still. They never waved or acknowlegde us and I'm almost positive each girl had a big smile on their face.

At about that time we relaxed and realized the futility. Not a word was said. Later, I tried to explain to him that it was the canoe. He didn't want to talk about it then, either.

Im 40 and i hunt private land, so nobody can hunt my spot. but i still like to go fast.......... jus sayin

I'm older, landing is 5 mins from my camp. I'm usually first at landing and now my rig goes fast too. I will be first on Indian Bayou except for those who hunt from houseboats docked on private land in middle of Indian Bayou (not fair).

It would be a bitch if the ducks were behind a strip of land you had to slide over and it took 30mph of momentum and you can only go 24... just sayin you can always let off if you are an old fugger...

I've wanted to go places that required 20 mph and can only go 15