Home › Forums › Bass Cat Boats › 08 Puma w/ 250 Pro XS – Chine Walking @ 70mph+
BasserTX.
After taking my 1st ride in a Basscat, I have put my 520 Ranger on the market and looking to become a member of the “Basscat” family in the near future. Im going to be in the market for an 09 Puma/Cougar FTD. But I do have one concern! I took my 1st ride in a Basscat (08 Puma w/250 Pro XS w/Hyd Jackplate set at 1.5″) last week. I was very impressed with the “Solid” ride of the Basscat. The only thing that concerned me was that when the boat got over 70 mph it started to “Chine Walking”. We had to get off the gas as soon as the “Chine Walking” began. The owner was concerned as well. This is his 3rd puma. He told me this was the first “Basscat” he had owned that “Chine Walked”. He has only had this new 08 for a week. So when he was giving me the “Demo” ride it was the 1st time he had really “opened” it up. Has anyone else expereiced this w/ the 08 Pumas? Is this a common trait w/ the new hull design on the 08s? Do you have to “Drive” through it? Is there a set up problem? Jackplate too high? Thanks!!
Possibly all of the above. Any hull will chine walk if not proparly set-up or driven wrong. The best advice I heard is to slow down. Our cars can go a 100 pluss but we dont drive them normally at that speed.
Since it is new we suspect several things. Is this their first hydraulic plate? First 250? Did the rig have any steering wheel torque, as they definitely need some. The new 08 hull are easier to drive than earlier models to a point. Though they also may need some tweaking from rig to rig and propeller to propeller. The ride has also been improved significantly from the 96 – 07 hulls, which is still on the Cougar Advantage Elite model. The difference is extremely minor, though it definitely helped on the ride as did a new stringer and floor for these models.
BCB- Thanks for the quick reply – We all understand theres lots of variables when considering boat handling. The “Chine Walking” isnt really a concern. Im sure with some minor adjustments the boat with be “fine” at any speed. I just wanted to make a post and tell everyone how great the 08 puma rode. Its the best riding boat I have been in!! Whens the earliest you can order an 09 puma/cougar?
BCB never releases much information on new models or plans for the next model year. They can be ordered at most any time, though will not release until sometime after dealer meeting, which is ending July 22nd now. So delivery will begin around August first which BCB has followed for many years. Rick has recently commented that a few models were going to see significant increases and petroleum impacts all of us as well. Also some equipment alterations are going to impact two models. Pricing is a difficult task as the industry has bounced around our pricing and models the past few seasons. Look for late price availability in the Poker Match of pricing as BCB must hide our hand on this issue. Though one model that has been indicated that it wont change on equipment much and pricing will change on, is the Cougar Advantage Elite model. It has become too cheap from initial price and cost data and really is a value. There should be a future post on some things in relation to this from the main office.
Welcome to the family! I traded my 2001 Jaguar for a 2008 Puma last fall. The Jag had a Merc 250XB and the Puma has a 250 HPDI Yahama on a hydraulic jack plate. The difference in speed, ride and handling between these two boats is night and day. The Jag was very, very fast (80.4 best GPS) and took some amount of seat time and attention to drive fast it fast. I thought the ride was good untill I rode in the new Puma. The Puma is not as fast (low 70s fully loaded) but the ride is by far the best of any boat I have ever be in. I have not had any chine walk. There is quite a bit of steering torque at the top end though. It is very easy to drive. I fished the Texas BASS Federation Nation State Championship a few weeks ago. All of my non-boaters were very impressed with the Puma in every aspect, especially the ride. My understanding is that the Merc 250XS is faster that the Yamaha so there may be a little difference in the handling but I am sure that you will be able to get it tuned it pretty quick.
I own a 08 Cougar FTD with the same hull as the 08 Puma. Its also rigged with the same 250 pro xs. The only difference is the Pumas a little heavier. Believe me when I say this! No one that has never driven a boat over 70 + MPH can jump right in the cockpit of one of these rigs, slam the throttle down to full and expect a effortless Sunday drive. Its not going to happen!!!! The boats movements are triple times faster than before. You have to be focused and prepared for anything. The so called chine walking with this rig can be exaggerated with to much trim. We dont need much over 1/4 trim. Even so, the boat and you will still experience slight chine walk while achieving the higher speeds. Upper 70s lower 80s. You can eliminate most of this with quick reflexive counter movements with the steering wheel. This is what you will experience and what you can do to counter. First put on your PFD, zip and buckle with your kill switch attached. Take off in your rig and throttle to full with the trim in the down position. Be sure to have a firm grip on the steering wheel. Slowly start to trim up in very small increments. When I first started learning, Id just tap the trim. By doing this you will be ready for the boats first movement, signs of the first rock of the boats hull. Meaning that one side of the boat has just lifted. You will have to counter with a downward stroke from the steering wheel. When it lifts right to left, counter with a downward right stroke from the steering wheel. The same with the left. When it lifts left to right, counter with a left downward stroke. The idea is to counter before it happens.Soon you will be micro seconds ahead, be able to anticipate this movement before it even happens and counter without ever being conscious your even doing it. Therefore enabling a more enjoyable an exhilarating ride. Seat time is the only cure. Theres nothing wrong with our rigs design. Its driver inexperience. Both of you will soon learn this and enjoy your new BassCat like I do!!!!!!!! Glynn
Do you have a manual or hydraulic plate?? If manual what height and what prop are you running. I have same rig.
Sorry for the delayed response. I have been out of state working. My Puma has a hydraulic jack and I am running a 27 pitch Yamaha prop. I have tried a 26 pitch Merc Tempest but the Yamaha works much better for me. Feel free to contact me directly if there is anything else I can do to assist. [url=mailto:[email protected]][email protected][/url]
What Nela said is right. However, I learned to control my boat exactly opposite. I put the boat on plane, trimmed to the max 10, then slowly increased speed until she would get loose. It took a few trips out to get the feel. Most times I was 180 deg out of phase, but pretty soon, I could not even tell what I was doing, just no chine walk. The correction on my 04 Cougar is less that 1 steering either way. Since then, I always run mine on trim setting 10 ( on smoothish water that is ) , it seems the fastest there. One I day guess I should test it at a lower trim setting, but it looks cool, and it feels like I am flying a airplane Good luck, you will get her under control soon! Top speed so far 75.1 GPS
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