Previous boat was a 2006 Cougar FTD. Current boat is a 2012 Cougar Adv. Elite.IMO there are a few noticeable differences. The bow does not rise as much on take off, and seems to take a bit longer to plane. This maybe due to an increase in weight as well as hull design. Low speed tracking is vastly improved. Cornering at slow speed seems about the same, while turning at high speed is much easier and doesnt want to hop in turns at high speed as much as the 06. The ride in rough water is better in side chop as the new boat doesnt jar when running across the waves. Honestly, I thought the old boat was slightly better at going directly into or down wind. I might be the only person who thinks this is the case???? The down side to me of the new boat, it sprays you more in cross wind. I never got wet in the old boat. Now I have to be very careful in 20+ winds to prevent the wind from blowing spray back across the boat. Im referring to slow speeds. Once on plane, this is not much of an issue. Seems the new hull breaks waves further forward and this gives the spray more chance to get you. Looking underneath, the hull features are very sharp and seem more accentuated (like the concavity of the pad). I think the sharpness of the chines and corners provide more efficiency. Amazing to me these newer boats weigh more (300 pounds??) yet the do not give up any ground on top end speed. BTW, I have a 26P Fury and a standard plate set lower than most. I have no prop torque and hardly any chine walk at WOT. Very smooth and easy to drive. The old boat took much more input at speed.Overall, noticeable improvement in performance, just be careful in the wind to prevent spray in no wake zones.
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