The Bullet Boat

This is a 20 foot Bullet Boat.  I became the owner on March 19, 2002.  This style of boat is often called a "bay boat" because the low stern and transom make it un-wise for off-shore use on any but the calmest days. Not enough "freeboard" in the boating lingo.  The boat is suited for in-shore fishing, crabbing, water-skiing, etc. It's perfect for our river (the Navesink estuary) and Sandy Hook Bay and I'll plan to bring it along to Thompson Lake in Maine. Here, the boat is in a yard waiting for a spring tune up before I bring it home.

Below is the view from the front. Note the reverse chines and spray rails. This is a fast, dry boat. The beam is about 7' 10".  There's a large casting deck in front. I'll evenutally buy a fitted cushion for this deck so we use it for lounging, sun bathing, etc. There's storage underneath for gear or the catch of the day.

There is space under the front and rear seats for coolers or a bait well. The official CG capacity is 5 persons, although there is only comfortable seating for 4. I'm thinking of some removable seats that can mount over the rear storage areas. Perhaps a poling platform over the outboard too. There is storage and the gas tank under the center console and electronics up top. The antenna is off because the console was covered.

The fuel filler is on the left side of the console. There is storage under two rear hatches. The battery, filters, and oil tank are under the right rear hatch. The compartment at the bow is the anchor locker. The boat has a 115 Hp Yamaha outboard (V4 2 cycle with oil injection) with power tilt.  The transom was modified to accept a long-shaft OB when the motor was replaced in 1993. The former owner confessed that he got a great deal on a left-over outboard and realized too late that the shaft was 5" too long.  What to do? ... raise the transom (it was notched before for a 20" shaft.  I don't mind the look, and the result is a stronger transom that's less likely to wash over.  Note the semi-V hull with lifting strakes (should be fast and stable).  The draft is about 12".

When I get it in the water, I'll add some more pictures.  But first, I have some work to do on the trailer.  It's in need of new wheels, bearings, and a winch.  The former owner always had a sling hoist lift the boat and never depended much on the trailer.

Some history on Bullet Boats Inc.

Bullet Boats were made by a character named 'Sharky' and his brother in a small shop off the Barnegat Bay here in New Jersey.  They got out of the business in the late 80's.  I talked with someone who saw the operation at the time.  They had two molds in the shop one for a 16-foot and one for a 20-foot hull.  These are hand-laid fiberglass and are much lighter than a mass-produced boat of the same size. The hull is compartmentalized below the deck.  Some of the high-quality boats (Grady-White, Boston Whaler, etc) still use similar production techniques to make strong but light-weight hulls. The Bullet Boats were popular with the racing and water-skiiing crowd on Barnegat Bay due to their light weight and speed.

If you do a search on the web, you'll find another "Bullet Boat" company listed.  This is not the same place that made my boat.  The current Bullet Boats is in Tennessee and makes small over-powered bass boats.
 


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