1998 300 Drag

[Paul Nichols]

Can any of you guys tell me what a 1998 300 Drag engine without a gearcase is worth? The engine is stock and has only been run 2 times in the last two years. The engine is very strong and has pushed a (800 Lb) 20' Bullet bass boat close to 120 MPH. I'm trying to get an idea of what it's worth so I can sell it for a friend...if your interested let me know.


Thanks, Paul

[mardyn]

Hey Paul, I think someone is pullin' your leg... The Mercury Drag Engines are fantastic outboards but 120 is a bit of a reach... more like 100 to 105 is realistic in my opinion. We've seen several of these engines in the $10K range with a gearcase, probably ought to be worth $7.5K if it's a nice one. Maybe a few others will weigh in with some opinions. Anyone care to comment? David Berry.

[Scott Gilmore]

Paul, if the Drag is super clean & needs nothing it's worth $9000 W/O the greacase, easy. Heck, I've seen a bunch of drop on powerheads go for $7500 range ! Scott PS..... I know no one's pullin your leg with the close to 120mph speeds because that was you driving @ those speeds right ? :D

[Paul Nichols]

Thanks for the the price range on the drag engine. The Bullet I ran it on was a 800 lb Bullet featured in the Aug 2000 B&WB magazine at 117.3 MPH. The engine is 100% stock and has pushed the boat past 118 MPH. The engine has only been run a total of around 10 times in the last 3.5 years...it only comes out on special occasions.


Thanks Scott, The engine is real clean and needs nothing but a gearcase...If you know anyone interested let me know.

Thanks, Paul

[onemarine1]

Hi > If you are selling this engin
Call Pat Simmons 410-682=5112

[mardyn]

Hey Paul, I'm always aware that there are exceptions to every rule, but based on what we've seen on the drag race circuit, the 120 MPH figure is tough to believe. Jerry Pettifer's 600 pound Bullet with a Pro Gas Style "Drag" engine (*horsepower probably 385 or so) dominated our Lake Racer class for two seasons... but that was at 1900 pounds and was a quarter mile sprint with speeds of 105 or so. With everything out of the boat and a big prop I think he could run mid- one/teens. His boat was tough to beat as many competitors found out. Maybe with at 34" prop, a long "downhill" section of river, a good tail wind, and a lot of luck, maybe high one/teens is possible, but like everybody says."I'd have to see it in person"... and with a "stock" engine??? If you can find a buyer, in today's economic climate, at $9K, by all means SELL IT! Those kind of buyers are tough to find right now in the DFW area... Good Luck David Berry

[dbolton]

hey guys if Paul said he ran 117.3 than he ran 117.3 he has no reason to say it if it's not true

[TUG]

Say David in addition... What do you think about all these 132mph STV"S with stock power???:D :rolleyes:

[Paul Nichols]

David, Jerry only runs 1/4 mile I run over 1/2 mile to get top speed. I know Jerry very well...Frank Collins owned the boat before jerry did and won several races with it. I run a 14x30 cleaver at 8600 RPM's...like I said you can read about it in the Aug 2000 B&WB magazine or you can make a trip to Knoxville if you have doubts. I have no reason to lie...I have a little experience with boats and how to drive them as well.

Paul Nichols

[Kevin from FL®]

Paul doesn't throw numbers around, he only states the truth. He has no reason to make things up. When he says he did something, he did!

[Jrocket]

Last summer I bought a brand NEW 1998 260HP power head with 1 year warranty for $7500.It was still in the crate from Mercury all wrapped up nicely.So I would think you could get a good price for what you have ,if it's in the shape you say it it's.Dont forget to be REALLY clear about what you are selling ,especially over the internet.It can come back to haunt you later..............JR:p

[mardyn]

Paul, While I remain a bit skeptical,( remember I'm in this biz too), I'll concede. I know you're not B/Sn' about the speed and you have no reason to distort the facts, and as I said, there are ALWAYS exceptions to the rules and I accept the possibility. This is what I also see. Maufacturers build a special "one off" boat/engine/set up combo for a magazine test and puts up big numbers... say 117 mph plus or so. John Q Public goes to my business associate Key Puckett @ Fishin' World and buys a similar rig. Monday morning, he's back at our service shop pissed off because his Bullet/Merc combo set up stuggles to surpass 90 ... never mind he's got a 24 pitch Trophy/Tempest on a Torque Master, 135 lbs of compression, Live wells full of water and fish, 25 gallons of Unleaded gas, tackle, 200 lb fishin' buddy, you know the rest of the story well. All they want to know is why is my new boat 30 MPH shy of the one in the magazine? And now I'm the guy that has to break the news to the guy that just spent 35,000 bux to have the fastest bass boat out there... and he doesn't.


At any rate, I'm not trying to start an argument here, just stating my opinion and passing time waiting for the D500 to get started. Later guys, it's green flag time! David Berry

[Paul Nichols]

David, Yes the boat is not the standard 1150 LB 20CC, it is a 800 LB 100% kevlar hull which can be purchased for a little more money, but this was also stated in the magazine artical. I have talked with Key for many years over the phone and met him once in Jasper, I'm sure he would let the buyer know what kind of speeds to expect with any rig before it is purchased. You are right...there are people out there who don't weigh apples to apples, but these are also the people who couldn't drive the boat in the first place. There are also people who hear the big speeds on different internet sites and think if they buy the same boat/engine they'll be running as fast, but you and I know better than that. If you still remain a bit skeptical, the speeds that I ran in the mag artical (believe it or not) were up stream runs with the fuel set on +1%...there were also 12 people that witnessed the runs. I'm sure down stream runs with the fuel set on -2% would produce a 120+ MPH run, but the wind kept that from happening that day. Believe me I can understand you being skeptic...this IS the fastest boat Bullet has ever built, even though the pad has only been straight edged and the engine is stock.


Paul

[Steve Zuckerman]

David:
You're not getting "out" enough man! Paul did it. Your example
of Jerry Pettefer's drag #s do not cross reference to a stretched
top end run, nothing against Jerry, he ran GREAT with that 20CC.
I'm sure Darris is glad it's retired..............
Here's an example......my old ('97) Mirage Jaguar, prior to running
N20, typically 105/106 through the 1/4 mile on Chrondeks and GPS with a 24" L ET. With just a 28" Yamaha "stretched", it ran
dead nuts 120 MPH on GPS, and yes I have witnesses. By the
way, like Paul, I have no reason to BS. I CAN and WILL back it up
anytime.......ask ALLISON 771. I've NEVER been beaten by anyone
on the lake here in Nashvegas, inboards included.
Paul can drive a Bullet. He may not have mentioned it, but he was
running a Steckbauer. Yes, it was a "special" boat.
I saw the motor at Lawrenceburg Marine and it sure looked like
a stock 300DR to me.
Unrealistic expectations for your or Key's customers? Only if someone exaggerates the speed potential for a standard hull.
Regards,
Steve ;)

[T-REX]

if it pushed a bullet to 120mph, it's got to be worth at least 50 grand...Hell, I seen that yeller 20 foot 21footer center console that weighed 900#'s, that really weighed 1900#'s wit a modified 200 XRI run 110, but tha damn GPS stuck on 83...Damn GPS's...Berry, U oughta quit tryin ta stirr up **** over here...U no Bernie Little iz gunna run a Bullet next year...U need to git out more!!!:cool:

[Steve Zuckerman]

TREX:
Yawl's prablum is yore watta's as slow as yore bote. Kina like
mollassas..............
Up here in civilized Tennessee, our water (with an R) is FAST.
That's why WE host the ODBA Championships. Hell I bet even
your boat picked up 3 or 4 miles an hour at Jasper.
Steve :rolleyes:

[Paul Nichols]

Steve, I saw your post about inclosing a 20CC(like Colin's) a while back, but forgot to respond. I inclosed the area to the left and right of the console all the way back to the dry storages...I've got a small triangle hole to sit in now. When I inclosed the boat it handled MUCH better and picked up 3 MPH. You need to buy this Drag engine...it's got your name written all over it!!

T-Rex you nut if it's worth 50 grand I'd sell it to you for 40...LOL!!!

Paul

[Steve Zuckerman]

Paul:
Interesting........I always thought that would work. It's a shame
that the factory doesn't retool this deck. It could do some damage
in this "cleaned up" form.
Re your motor. May be we can work something out? I'm taking my
2000 Jaguar to Lawrenceburg this week for them to show and
sell. It's less motor, SO, if someone steps up without motor
looking to go ZOOM................maybe.
Regards,
Steve;)

[Jrocket]

What the hell does a 20cc Bullet look like?.....Rex help me out,we dont see too many of them out west..............JR

[jesel]

OK OK I will give you $ 5,500. 941 269 5359

[Darrin Baxter]

What do you want for the motor?

[Paul Nichols]

The engine is Bill Hill's (the owner of Bullet boats) he ask me to find out what the engine was worth then try to sell it. From what I've heard the engine should be worth around $8,000-9,000...I'll see what he'll take for it and let you guys know...I would think around $8,500 would be a fair price.


Paul

[T-REX]

U don't see'em out west cuz theyz so fast, U jus don't recognize'em...Ya'll need ta cum out dat slo poke closet and git wit da program...Hell, I see I'm gunna have ta brang my 160mph Laser out there and kick sum westcoast redneck ass...Chrysler powered!!!...Paul...I kan't afford one ov them bad ass 300's.., I got a 40K 2.0...I kin amagine how much a 2.5 300 would wind up costin me...Steve, that Jasper water didn't help me a dam bit, It took me 10 minutes to git from the lights to tha ramp, I do have to say one thang bout yalls water, It wuz COLD...I had to bail off in that cold crap to load my dead fish, and I had to set down to pee for 3 days after...REX:cool:

[Paul Nichols]

The engine has been sold....thanks guys for giving me an idea of what it was worth.
jrocket, You can check out a 20CC Bullet on www.bulletboats.com

Thanks, Paul

PS. Stay out of that cold water T-Rex...cold water does crazy things to certain body parts!!!

[Dave@DunnWright]

Man I am glad that thing sold. I live here in beautiful East Tenn. and I would have been scared to death to get back on the water this spring knowing there was a 118mph Bullet and a 112mph Stroker lurking out there. I am putting a 30" chopper on my Allison drag with a full tilt 2.7 Merc and I guess I should expect to see at least 145. All I need is a GPS and a witness. T-Rex, I would say I could tow you at 120!!! Just funnin' guys. It does sound like we need to look into a new style of racing. Maybe we could get the KDBA's traps, set them up at the end of a specified distance and time them through one at a time. Might be interesting to see who would show-up.

[Brad Zastrow]

I have to ask the obvious question. Why the heck would anyone run a drag Merc on a fishing boat? Race fuel required, no charging system to speak of, and a high rpm power band. All the time I see guys running drags with soft heads so they can run regular gas. Detuned they are more like 280's. Why not buy a 280 which is nearly the drag block anyway?

[Paul Nichols]

This boat is just a play/go fast boat...not a ture tournament fishing bass boat. It's not too much different than most drag racers...it's just a fun hobby I enjoy, but the sweet part is, it doesn't cost me a dime to run. Bullet boats has owned the boat for the last 4 years, and I've been the only one who has ever run this boat. It has never had a trolling motor on it, but it will soon after I buy and repower it. The boat doesn't get run very often(10-12 times total) so there is not need for soft heads(I run race fuel)...I've run many 280's and they were no where near the power of a Drag engine. Trust me if I had the money I would do some drag racing, but with limited funds it's not possible. Just like you guys that enjoy running the 1/4 mile I enjoy running boats for nothing but topend speed.I don't know of any 112 MPH Strokers any where, but I can assure you their is a 118 MPH Bullet in Knoxville...ask John Tiger he knows he was there holding the radar gun while I had the GPS on board.

Paul Nichols

[Dave@DunnWright]

Paul, maybe we will have a little get together this year on Chilhowee lake like we did a couple of years ago. Probably have to whup a bunch of Stroker owners just to get to the ramp. I quit the lake running and went to ODBA cause nobody would come out and play. Interested?? I sold the white XB2002 and the red XB2003 and bought a 2001 drag. Might just have to lay my hands on a 2002 again and get tuned up. Some cat in Hendersonville, NC is supposed to be running 117 in a 2002 at altitude. Might persuade him to come. Dave Hensley, 865-984-1845. Let me know when you get that bad boy back out. Just for fun you know.

[JEFF C]

I HEAR ALL KINDS OF BIG SPEED NUMBERS ON STV AND NOW A BULLIT WE HAVE A GUY UP HEAR CLAIMS HE CAN RUN 118 WITH A STOCK 260 OR 280 DONT REMEMBER.I JUST WANT TO KNOW IF THESE NUMBERS ARE FOR REAL?AND HOW MANY MILES IT TAKES TO GET THERE I KNOW I CAN RUN 117 WITH A 24 IN A QUARTER MILE AND GET THERE NOW.HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE THESE BIG SPEED NUMBERS TO GET THERE.THAT HA TO BE ONE FAST BULLIT?MAYBE WE NEED TO SET SOME NEW SPEED RECORDS WITH SOME BIG END RUNS TO FIND OUT THE TRUTH AND MAYBE SOME BETTING ON THE SIDE 100 DOLLARS FOR EACH MILE AN HOUR SLOWER THEN THEY SAY IT WILL GO ME AND DAVID WOULD LEAVE THERE WITH ALL KINDS OF MONEY.

[us1ss]

I hear ya Jeff. You would be amazed at how many fewer 100mph boats there are in Jacksonville now that we built a couple Supersport boats that run in the 80's. Those little 150's just seem to make 100mph boats disappear.

Maybe there use to be more fast boats here than there are now.
Right!

[Paul Nichols]

Gee wiz guys, I don't guess It really matters if you guys believe me or not, but all you have to do is look at the 2000 AUGUST BASS & WALLEYE BOATS MAGAZINE or ask John Tiger! Anyone who knows me knows that I don't need to defend my integrity or character to you guys or anyone else for that matter. It blows my mind that you guys think your the only ones who can run a boat at high speeds...no I don't drag race, but I didn't know you had to in order to go fast. The funny thing is I've been running the boat for 4 years and no one ever questioned my speeds because people know I'm honest with my speeds. Now that I've sold the engine everyone wants to question the speeds that I ran with the boat. Jerry Petiffer is picking the engine up tomorrow at Bullet boats...it's to bad we didn't have all this skeptism before today, I could have made a few people scrach their heads. As I stated before, it takes just over 1/2 mile to get the boat streched out to full speed, the boat weighs 800 lbs and turns a 14x30 cleaver at 8600 R's(Steckbauer gearcase). I can promise you there would be NO money leave my pocket from losing a bet. The next thing you guys will tell me is that I didn't take a crash at 114 MPH a few years ago. Tell me this...how fast do you ''professionals'' THINK I should be running?

Paul Nichols

[XBuddawg]

"Cabin Fever" has set in!...hehe...

Later,
Buddy

[dbolton]

It seems to me that there are few people out there that are little scared of Pauls 20cc bass boat I said bass boat not drag boat all though it was'nt set up for fishing at the time I think Paul said he was running for top speed not for 1/4 time If I thought I could get another mph out of my boat I would run 10 miles past my favorit fishing spot and paddle back to it

[Dave@DunnWright]

Never questioned your speed or integrity Paul. Would never try to guess your speed or anyone else's. That's why there is water. As far as professionals go, running ODBA isn't a qualification. There for a minute I thought there might be a chance to have some fun this summer. Maybe Bill can sell a couple more boats and buy a brand new Drag motor so we can play. Playing is fun, writing in to the board is just part of the wait. If you get the boat and decide you want to get together, you have my number.

[JEFF C]

ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS THAT IS ONE FASTTT BULLIT A FEW YEARS BACK I HAD A XR2002 ALLISON WITH A STOCK DRAG WITH 23CCHEADS THAT TURNED 9200 RPMS WITH A 30 SMALL EAR CHOPPER DONT KNOW HOW FAST IT WAS GOING?WITH A CLE BOBS BUT IT WAS TRUCKIN YOUR SPEED IS BELEVABLE IN MY BOOK .I THOUGHT U GUYS WERE TALKING QUARTER MILE.THAT GEAR CASE PROBALLY GAVE U 3 TO 4MPH.

[T-REX]

It's time fer a reality check...ya'll livin in a fantasy world...Jeff livez up der in yankeeville, and ya'll no dats tha fastest water in tha world...If U don't thank so, jus keep readin sum of dem numbers them northern boyz iz runnin...Paul, I dun seen a fast bullet, but it didn't look very good to me...I quit runnin Lake Racer so I din't embarrase no body and let Jerry put dat bullet on tha books:D...Did U give Jerry tha 40K deal, or did he pay full price??...OH well, Ya'll be nice, I got to go put plugs in my 160MPH 2.0...REX:rolleyes:

[Paul Nichols]

OK...sorry if I got a little testy...I just got a little frustrated because I'm always honest with the speeds I run. I did get the engine sold, so I guess my main goal was accomplished. I'm going to repower the 20CC with a(stock) Yamaha 250, so the speeds will be no where near the speeds in the past, but It should still run well over 100 MPH. The only thing I'm worried about is the weight of the engine, but I guess I'll just have to wait and see how it does. I'm moving to Chattanooga in a few weeks, so if anyone lives in that area and wants to come out and play this summer send me an email. Dave if you guys get together up in the mountains let me know and I'll try to make it if I can. paultnichols@earthlink.net

T-rex, I didn't give Jerry the sweet deal I offered you...he paid the full 50 grand..LOL!!


Thanks, Paul

[Dave@DunnWright]

Man I hate to see you put something besides a "Black" motor on that boat. I have built a couple of the Yams and admire the finish work on the castings but....... Good luck and I will keep the board posted on "Thunder in the Mountains" 2002.