2000 Horsepower Outboard Overkill

Since Field Notes just posted a story about the use by drug runners of scent elimination products, I though it appropriate to share the following photo of a “drug-running boat on the English Channel” that’s been making the email rounds for the past few years. I’ve received it in my inbox a few times, but always thought it was a photoshop job. This morning it popped up again, so I figured I’d check out Snopes.com to see if it was legit. To my surprise, Snopes says it is.

Apparently a company named Crompton Marine was a front that made boats specifically for drug runners. The boats were between 30 and 60 feet long, featured up to eight 250-horsepower engines, total fuel storage of almost 4000 gallons and speeds up to 70mph. They were advertised as “high-speed, uncatchable craft that have a low radar signature.”

No, this has nothing to do with flyfishing. I mean, sure, five guys could cast on the front of it and still have room for a party. And the B.A.S.S boys would give an arm and a leg for one of these things. But no angler in their right mine would get on one and run it full throttle. How much air would you catch if you hit a wave at top speed? –TR