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 aninformal 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 / 37ALLISON 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 / POWERBOATerode 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