Who says cats are quicker than monos in chop.

[Mr__Bean]

Some of the fastest mono non-race boats that I can remember are those that were built by the Victorian serial abalone poacher Cam Strachan. He not only out run the police boats but he also reportedly out run a helicopter on one of his chases as they pursued him into Westernport Bay.

Another of his chases was reported to be over 400Km and the police craft had no chance as they kept running out of fuel.

[SatNav]

1. Cough Cough Cough

[Mr__Bean]

1. Cough Cough Cough

What is that meant to mean?

if you have something to say then say it.

[Homer_Jay]

Some of the fastest mono non-race boats that I can remember are those that were built by the Victorian serial abalone poacher Cam Strachan. He not only out run the police boats but he also reportedly out run a helicopter on one of his chases as they pursued him into Westernport Bay.

Another of his chases was reported to be over 400Km and the police craft had no chance as they kept running out of fuel.

Outrun a helicopter? I would like to see that.
Doesnt a helicopter do a 100mph or something like that.

[Mr__Bean]

Because it was quite a few years ago now there isn't much internet history to his crimes and the chases, but at the time it was all over the local newspapers and he developed a status as he out ran the authorities.

here are a couple of links I could find.

https://www.facebook.com/lakesentran...4206377264211/

Also read the OCR text at the bottom of this page, you have to roll the text to keep reading it all.

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/123041815/

[Noelm]

One of my relatives had a "Camcraft" as they were called, pretty flash boat in their day, I don't know the full history of his Abalone poaching exploits, but there is certainly some truth to MrBeans statements, my nephews boat has twin 200's on it, which was pretty speedy for a fishing boat, I do believe that Rex Hunt had one at some time, and gossip has it that it sank!! don't know whether that is true or not, just what I heard from someone who might have known.

[Noelm]

But, to get back to reality, I guess outright speed is simply related to HP and how good/stupid/dare devil the driver is, and how much punishment the occupants can take.

[Mr__Bean]

I can't seen to get the link to the Lakes Entrance Fishing Fleet page that has the video on it to work properly, here is a snapshot of the post with the video.

Attachment 115393

[scottar]

Outrun a helicopter? I would like to see that.
Doesnt a helicopter do a 100mph or something like that.

Sounds ridiculous but with the right boat it is exactly what happens. Take a look at the top level offshore power boat footage.

[Homer_Jay]

, I do believe that Rex Hunt had one at some time, and gossip has it that it sank!! don't know whether that is true or not, just what I heard from someone who might have known.

if I had to put up with Rex Hunt babbling all day, I would sink myself too!

[Mr__Bean]

One of my relatives had a "Camcraft" as they were called, pretty flash boat in their day, I don't know the full history of his Abalone poaching exploits, but there is certainly some truth to MrBeans statements, my nephews boat has twin 200's on it, which was pretty speedy for a fishing boat, I do believe that Rex Hunt had one at some time, and gossip has it that it sank!! don't know whether that is true or not, just what I heard from someone who might have known.

One like this?

600hp on a boat this size.

[Noelm]

It was a bit bigger than that, had a giant marlin board/swim platform on the back, and a full hard top.

[sea-rash]

What is that meant to mean?

if you have something to say then say it.

I am with Kerry. A boat that is outrunning a helicopter and being used for commercial purposes I call BS. I have only been in two boats in excess of 160 km/h and they were purpose built ski race boats that were 18 and 21 foot long with motors producing around 1000 hp. to generate that sort of speed. No expert on choppers but the different ones I have been in were cruising at close to 100 knots or around 180 km/h. Not sure of top speed in a pursuit. Saying that not exactly sure what they would do if the caught him in a helicopter.

R

[Vromme]

If there is any truth (big if) sounds more likely the chopper had to go in for fuel (possibly been out for a while) - therefore outrun by outlasting. Oh or there may have been a tunnel through a mountain pass.

[Mr__Bean]

I think that is correct, the big chase they called it.

It started in Tasmania and he ran across Bass Straight in a converted offshore race boat to the Victorian coast with about 700Kg of poached abalone on board, it didn't stop there as he ran them over the South Australia before pulling up. They caught up with him some 14 hours later from the old reports. Said to be a chase over 400Km involving a helicopter, fisheries and police launches and he lost them all during the chase.

He didn't have fast commercial fishing boats he has offshore race boats that he converted for poaching runs, mostly unlit at night.

He rolled the 40 foot Cigarette off Lakes Entrance and from memory he drove one into a small island at high speed in the dark.

When he got into Westernport Bay (no swell) on the big chase is where he was reported to have out run the helicopter.

I don't really care if people think it is BS or not, if you were into fishing and boating in Victoria back in the 90's and early 2000's you knew of Cam Strachan and his escapades.

When fisheries confiscated one of his offshore racers they kept it and converted it into an intercept boat.

If you google around with his full name (David Campbell Strachan) you still find old references to the chase.

I don't in anyway condone poaching, but I do kind of admire people doing this stuff well and leaving authorities behind.