Crockett A Scratch For Shootout—But Paying Close Attention – Speed on the Water
As of late July, Tyler Crockett was still considering competing in something other than his famed 26-foot Joker V-bottom powered by a single 3,000-hp engine at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout this weekend. Crockett, who owns Crockett Racing Engines in Ruby, Mich., has been too busy with work to even touch, much less prep, the 26-footer this year. And his potential alternative ride—an unusual 35-foot V-bottom called a Rumble Phish—didn’t pan out.
So Crockett will be on the Shootout sidelines this year. But that doesn’t mean he won’t be watching closely, especially since Canada-based Tuff Marine’s Mark Weigl is planning to eclipse Crockett’s 132-mph single-engine V-bottom record set in 2021 in a new Tuff 36-footer.
Though he’s not competing at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout this weekend, Tyler Crockett (above) will be closely watching the performance of a single-engine creation from Tuff Marine. Photo by Pete Boden copyright Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.
“The boat is a fast; it’s doing everything we hoped it would,” Mark Weigl said in a speedonthewater.com story announcing his Shootout return. “It’s gone 148 mph on the rev-limiter in 1,100-hp mode and we’re working on a new propeller that we think could push it to 150-plus mph. Anything can happen at the Shootout, but we’re expecting to properly take the record back.”
That statement got Crockett’s attention. For now at least, he’s content watch the Tuff team run this weekend, especially since his own boat isn’t prepared to compete on the three-quarter-mile course.
“I’m waiting to see if Tuff can break my record so I have something to shoot for,” he said. “They claim 148 mph but I don’t think they can run that speed in three quarters of a mile.
“I’m putting Tuff on the spot,” he added, then laughed. “I’ll be back, trust me.”
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