ALLISON CRAFT eau 20ee POWER: EVINRUDE 115 he day the V-6 outboard was introduced marked the start of anew ‘era of equipment that could be recognized in a dockside debate on “hot” boats, Those involved with high performance boating know that the cheapest cost to speed ratio can ba obtained using a V-6 outboard engine on the transom of a properly designed 16-20 footer. Dollar for dollar it's Impossible to match the performance (on any of the top rated outooerds and ‘one of the prime builders of this specialized style of machine is Allison Craft Boats of Louisville, Tennessee, For the Powerboat Magazine Performance Trials, Allison Craft presented us with one of their successful race-proven GT-20 hulls. This particular model, the pinnacle of over 25 years of boat building excellence, has eamed ‘a most enviable record in competition showing speeds in excess of 80 mph when rigged for all-out battle, In keeping with these energy conscious times, however, Allison Craft threw us a curve ball when they decided to power the evaluation spacimen not with an anticipated V-6 but with a less potent ‘and more economical Evinrude V-4, 115 outboard In many instances hulls that run well under high speed racing conditions aren't really the proper machines tor recreational boating cemands because the perlormance of the craft is greatly hampered when necessary horsepower is romoved. In ovalvating the Allison, We quickly discovered that this finely engineered outboard marvel can do its performance thing quickly, efficiently and quietly no matterhow much power you hang on the transom. Spinninga 14 x 24 Mercury three bladed prop at 5100 rpm the uniquely designed Allison Craft rocketed past our radar gun at 54 mph without a bobble or hop. This type of mid-50 mph Performance, usinga 115, is remarkable the GT-20iis sipping at a 3.5 gph ‘consumption rate with an increase to 5 gph at 36 anda mere 7 gphat nearly top speed, With this type of scrawny fuel diet you'll need a weekend to empty the 18 gallon fuel tank that is mounted behind a naugahyde covering in the “In evaluating the Allison, we quickly discovered that this finely engineered outboard marvel can do its performance thing quickly, efficiently and quietly ‘n0 matter how much power you hang on the transom.” but the stats get even more interesting when you examine the boat's fuel consumption figures. At the low end cruising speeds of approximately 25 mph REPORT! 4 36 / POWERBOAT back of the boat. Acceleration, an important characteristic in towing water skiers and even getting the “jump” on aninformal competitor if the need ever arises, was brisk. Pushing down hard on the Evinrude 115, the boat springs on lene in under three seconds. ‘Surprisingly, the Alison will remain on plane with the engine properly adjusted at anotch below 11 mph. Tracking on. the GT-20 was goodandit was also noted during our slaiom evaluations where turning is rated that the boat's cornering abilty improved as tho hammer went down end the speeds wont up. Using stock flat transom mounted engine height of 23% ncheson tne angle (22% moacurod straight up) the Allson Creft would surely be susceptible tolmproved top-end performance via increased engine heights. It should also bementioned that if the outboard engine is jacked higher than was used during our ‘valuations, low-end powor and ‘consequently sking periormance will be slightly sacrificed The reason the Allison Graft was s an excellent performer at all speed ranges has tobe attributed to ts cextremaly unique bottom design. Alison Craft, who claims tobe the originator of the “pad” style vee-bottom some 20 years ago, has incorporatad an amazingly ‘wide 1 194" mosified flat spotalong the 0! of tho GT-20 to provice actable ch JANUARY 1980 / 37ALLISON CRAFT GT-20 running surface at high speed. Our test model hada rather deep and soit-riding 22 degree vee that features two sets of lifting strakes. ‘Over the years, Allison has one extensive research and development on the use of pads to improve periormance and has ascertained that to ‘obtain maximum efficiency the pad must be molded with varying degrees of very light vee. Along with the modified keel the GT-20 is also the only boat in the Allison line to feature a step-back or offset transom. Built with a 16 dogroe transom angle, the Allison Craft's bottom is cut out or notched for the last four inches to improve leverage andhandling. In adultion to the step-back transom, Allison Craft elected to shim the Evinrude 115 ‘twomore degrees, in order to aid iow- end performance. Utilizing the perfect blendin the combination of prop, engine hoight, pad bottom and notch back ‘ransom the Allison Graft did everything we could ask of it ‘Although the boat is billed as boing 20'S" in length the actual centerline measurements 19°5" which is shorter _bar in frontof the passenger's seat to aid in their superb placementof the battery because of the offset bottom and the in comfort when whitecaps appear. ‘A special cavity underneath the engine fins that are a moked part of the hull at Storage area on the Allison Craft was _well has been dosignod to provide the back, Although itis notraquired, the abit spartan as the builder elected to excellent protection end increased. boat does have level flotation, Utlize a very “wide-open’' fee! to their durability for the battery. The quailty of The quality of workmanship on the boat which the skiing segment will mold work and gel-coat craftsmanship Allison is excellent, particularly in light of be particularly fond ol. The GT-20 has ski__on the GT-20 was without laws, it's under $10,000 price tag. The bottom racks which run along each gunnel but —_ However, the boat's wiring could stand ofthe GT-20, overan inch thickin the otherwise storage is severely limited. some improvement and the wood grain ad, has three stringers including one Allison Craft should take special pride decal mounted on the dash will probably that runs down the center of the boat and another on each side of the keel line approximately fourteen inches up the chino, During our wake jump segment, the Allison got skyscraper high so we don’t recommend this type of maneuver for boginners but we did notice the hull's - solid construction as the boat landed —— firmly without flax. — ~ The interior of the craft is just what > you might expect froma high performance outboard bullder. The front twin bucket seats are adjustable fore and aft for the driver anda full 360 degree ‘swivel for the passenger. In addition, at the rear of the boat, Alison features twin 3°10" floor mounted loungers that will accommodate an additional set of passengers for a short trip. In our evaluations it was noted that the passenger's seat swiveling capabilities wore appreciated, especially during the skiing portion, However, a permanent locked-in stop should be added for stability in rough water. While on the Subject of less than perfect running conditions, Allison has thougnttully atached a dashboard mounted chicken 98 / POWERBOATerode in hot midsummer usage. ‘The instrument panel on the Allison GT-20 inckided a 10-65 mph. ‘speedomater, 0-6000 rpm tachometer, trim indicator and a {uel gauge. Under various lignting conditions, the instruments were all visible and the hand throttle could be operated without interference. The engine was not ‘equipped with vertical adjustment abilities but could be mosified in and out. The boat was very susceptible to trim but even under full power it did not want to kite or tector past the point a confident driver could handle. After leaming that Allison Craft was ‘going to bring one of their top performing hulls to the Powerboat Trials, we wouldn't try and deny our disappointment that the boat wasn't outfitted with a potent V-6 outboard .... that is, until we had a chance to drive it. The decrease in anticipated power stil left us with a strong running package that was agile, easily controllable, very responsive, a superb skiing machine and most importantly, a miserin fuel consumption Who could ask for anything more from @ boat that will be in strong contention, for our Outboard of the Year Award. __accevenation HULL SPECIFICATIONS. Make/Model. . Alison Cratt GT-20 Huilconfiguration . Pad voe bottom Length, 20's" Beam SS 89" Hull weight (nithoul engine)... . 800 pounds Gonsiruction process Hand Passenger capacity 4100 pounes Retailpriceas testec $0,875 {not including trailer) STANDARD EQUIPMENT: Two bucket seals, ‘wo lounge seats, adjustable driver saat, swivel passenger seat, carpeting, switch panel, glove box, dual steering, 18 gellon gas tenk with fuel gauge. OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT: Grab rai, wind shield, tachometer, speedometer, biloe pump, 24 gallon ces tank, OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT ON TEST BOAT: Grab rail, tachometer, speedometer, blue pump, windshield, COLOR OPTIONS: White, siver gray or ory hu with blue, red, tangerine, sade brown or dark gray trim. Interiors match tr, ADDRESS OF HULL MANUFACTURER: ‘Alison Cratt Route 4, Box 1A Louisvile, Tennessee 37777 ENGINE AND PROPULSION SPECIFICATIONS Make /Model Evinruce 115 Cyiinaer type. v4 Cubic inch displacement... 906 Maximum HP. at rpm. 115at 6000 Ful Regular of unleaded 50:1 of mixture Drive ‘Outer Prop 14x24 Mercury, 3 blades TEST STAFF Test river Bob Nordskog Tost cbsorvor Dick DeBartolo, Sk driver. Wade Worley ‘Sk observer Matk Spencer Sker Lisa Emry MEASURED PERFORMANCE DATA Indicated top speed - calorated speedometer. Indicated top speed - stock speedometer Focorded top speed radar epeed gun Measured too speed measured 1/8mie, ., Maximum RPM = ccallyated tachometer Maximum RPM - ‘stock tachometer Time to reach plane. Minimum plane speed Disience to stoo from 35 moh ‘Time to stop from 35 moh Decibel reacing (35 mph at 50 feet), FUEL CONSUMPTION DATA 25 mph consumes 35 gph 35 mon consumes 5 gph 45 mph consumes 7 gph 50 mph consumes 7.6 gph ‘CONSTRUCTION-QUALITY- WORKMANSHIP EVALUATION Quaily 0 fiberglass lay-up Mold deta and tnish Golcoat/painttinisn Placoment and quality of eck hardware Placement of instruments and controls Steering system Trrotiie controis Inctllation and neatnoss of eleottical wing Overall engine installation Instllation of fuel tars Seat padding ‘Access to mncr services PERFORMANCE EVALUATION LOW SPEED Tracking Throttle response Shiltng of pessenger weight Docking maneuverabilty Visibity Ease of boarding and dobarking Noise level (n cockpit. CRUISE SPEED Tracking Throttle response Slalom course at 20 mph Slalom course at 30 mph Slalom cource at 40 mph Wake jump. : HIGH SPEED Tracking Throttle response ight tum Lett turn Visibility Noise level (ni cockoit. WATER SKI EVALUATION ‘Take-off power ‘Tracking consistency of hull Throttle sensitivity... Vistlty coming on plane Visiilty at speed wake. ase of boarding and debarking 340 538 540 534 5100 5200 2.68 seconds 11 mph 185 feat 7.26 secones 82 dBA) 774 mpg 7 mpg 6.42mpg 6.661mp0 40 90 dB(A) 4 1 NSdeeee JANUARY 1980/39