How Fast Can a Bass Boat Go?

Fishing for bass in a boat is an excellent way to help you access great fishing spots that are further away from land. They can be an effective tool for you to use in order to help you meet your fishing targets with more efficiency and speed. 

If you enjoy fishing for bass on a boat, you must often have wondered how fast can a bass boat go. The answer depends on several things ranging from the weight of the boat and the size. Generally, bass boats travel 70mph, and only the large ones exceed 20 feet in length.

Here’s a quick guide that can help you understand bass boat top speeds!

How Fast Can a Bass Boat Go?

How fast can a bass boat go can vary due to different factors such as its size, weight, and power.

In order to ensure that you make the most out of your bass boat in terms of speed, it’s a great idea to understand the factors that influence it. 

What is a Bass Boat?

A bass boat is a type of fishing boat that, as its name suggests, is often opted by anglers and fishermen on the hunt for bass, and even other freshwater fish.

Due to their light weight along with their sharp, streamlined hulk-form, they are capable of going at high speeds on the water depending on the trolling motor batteries they have. Generally, smaller bass boats are usually around 14 feet long, but the larger bass boats can be as long as 23 feet! 

Bass boats have flat decks and come with a very powerful outboard engine that allows anglers to achieve impressive speeds. They are also particularly known for the fact that they feature live-wells to carry back living fish. 

The fact that they have a low boat profile means that they are closer to the water, thus allowing anglers better viewing of the waters in which they are to fish. Moreover, being close to the water makes the bass boat much easier to navigate during high wind conditions, as well as in shallow waters. 

Additionally, the motors on bass boats aren’t very loud, making them less likely to scare away the fish in the water. 

What Makes a Bass Boat Go Fast?

In order to know how fast can a bass boat go, you can check several things that can help make it speedy. 

Engine Power

The two engine motors are the primary cause for driving a bass boat. The first motor is the outboard motor which is what allows the boat to achieve high speeds.

Anglers can sense the power of the outboard motors that are normally within the 150-250 hp power range. Due to strict fishing circuit regulations, the motor for bass boat engines can’t be more than the upper limit of this range. 

The spot lock trolling motor is the second motor on a bass boat. It enables the boat to move slowly when you reach a fishing spot. Due to its smaller propeller, unlike the onboard motor, it doesn’t scare the fish away. 

Shape of the Bass Boat

To know how fast a bass boat can go, it’s important to consider the structure of the bass boat as it also plays a large part in determining the overall speed that it can demonstrate.

The streamlined sides coupled with the pinched hulk (boat front) help propel it swiftly across the water without getting hindered by too much air resistance. 

The Flat Deck

Having a flat deck makes movement on this boat more accessible and serviceable, while also making more room for people and storage. Moreover, a flat deck offers less air resistance, allowing the bass boat to move faster. 

Usually, there’s enough room on a bass boat for about two people, with even the largest ones fitting up to three people.

The mix of these features and overall boat structure has a significant impact on how fast can a bass boat go, painting a better picture of how these boat types are excellent for bass fishing.

What Speed Can You Reach on a Bass Boat?

Bass boat top speeds can reach up to about 70 mph. To sustain a speed greater than this on a bass boat isn’t possible because the fastest bass boat has an onboard engine of 250hp, which can only allow the bass boat to reach around 70mph. 

With smaller bass boats, you can travel between 30 mph to 50 mph, depending on how much you paid in terms of the boat itself.

The higher the power of the onboard motor, the more expensive is the boat itself. The most cheaply available bass boat on the market would probably not be able to reach even 30 mph. 

Thus, it’s important to remember that if speed is essential to your fishing expedition, getting the fastest aluminum bass boat on the market is the way to go.

Does Bass Boat Material Affect the Speed? 

To gauge how fast can a bass boat go, a vital thing to consider is the material choice.

Bass boats are either made of aluminum or fiberglass. Since aluminum is cheaper and lighter, opting for that material can ensure higher speeds. 

The Impact of Training on Speed

Many people ask the question how fast can a bass boat go before asking themselves whether they are qualified to drive a bass boat at high speeds.

It’s obvious that driving a bass boat requires skill and experience as there are many risks involved when taking a high-speed boat out for a fishing trip.

If bass boats are handled incorrectly, there are chances that the boat crashes or even capsizes, which can seriously harm all those onboard. 

Conclusion

So… how fast can a bass boat go?

Though bass boats are amongst the fastest freshwater boats around, there are several factors that can influence their speed on the water. The factors range from the weight of the boat’s material to the power of the onboard engine motor. 

It’s crucial to remember that in order to have a safe bass fishing experience, the driver has to be trained and well-practiced in the art of driving a bass boat.