Home › Forums › Bass Cat Boats › Basscat Does not like 21 foot boat?
Ritt.
I was talking bass boats other day with buddy and started thinking about Basscat. I have owned at one time or another multiple Basscat, Rangers, Skeeters, Triton, Stratos, and Phoenix. I have owned a cougar FTD, Puna FTD, and latest a 2020 Eyra. I don’t claim to be an expert but just owned a lot of different boats for past 30 years.
Question I have is why does Basscat only have one 21 foot plus bass boat? Does Basscat not like 21 foot bass boats?
Jaguar is a huge boat but what if instead of before when you had the Cougar FTD and Puma FTD you had a 20 foot and 21 foot FTD.
I would be so interested in a 21 foot Cougar FTD. I believe a 21 foot Cougar FTD type hull could be even better ride than a Puma STS or Jaguar. Am I totally wrong?
This is coming from just a life long bass boat owner. I don’t know anything about hull designs pros and cons!
12 inches. it really does not matter. I dont like 21s either. Just more money and does not do a thing a 20 foot boat does. The only reason you see 21 foot boats is because some moron of a manufacturer decided if everyone has a 20 footer, Im gonna make a 21 so I have the biggest. Thats it.
I completely disagree
I have owned numerous 20 and 21 foot boats from same manufacturer and due to big wave spacing I believe the extra foot to foot and half can at times make a huge difference in rough water ride. Same as going from 19 to 20 foot boat.
i believe if one measured longest point and not centerline like BCB then the length would be different.
Most 21′ boats are a pointed nose that extends to create a more wedge nose, than a blunt or triangle shape. To make most boats 21′, they simply wedge the tip. When measuring back from the tip of the boat, for example a Lynx or Puma STS, take a cross measurement at 1′, 2′, 3′, 4′ and 5′. You will find many BCB models are wider at those points than some boats perceived as 21′ wide bodies.
There are exceptions on this, viewed from various brand aspects, and someone will always come behind and attempt to poke holes in our thoughts with their personal view point. The numbers are real and they tell that story.
Most companies include the offset in their overall length and we do as well. That offset on a XYZ model may include the extension for the engine which gives no rear body width. It also may include a body in some brands that does have more cost and more labor than the narrower tailed brands. Some of this is taken as perspective, though it’s reality that there are no corners on popular competition, where we have corners. Those corners do cost to build and they add body and buoyancy.
There are lots of views on this, though always realize we could simply point a Puma STS hull with a wedged bow and make it 20’2″ easily. It’s just not a functional extra 7″ and that also gives us more challenges on fitting a trolling motor in the fashion we prefer. This is mounted with their shafts on centerlines and trying to give room.
BCB
My opinion and it may be wrong is the extra weight of a 21’ model doesn’t run fast enough tournament loaded with a 250.
I understand boat manufacturers might measure differently than Basscat but that does not answer my question. Basscat has one 22’ foot boat and four 20 foot models.
So again just curious why does Basscat not have a 21’6 type model? Cougar FTD is 20’4 what if you took the same beam and had a model at 21’4 foot. Seems like if you extended the nose section it would help cut the waves better in rough water. I have been in numerous 20 foot and 21 boats from same manufacturer; triton, Phoenix, ranger, and more recently Caymas and in all cases I think the 21 foot models ride better in rough water especially when the wave gaps start spacing out.
Have you ridden in the new Puma STS?
Ride is not only about length and BCB models have been known for a dry ride. The 20’7” or 20’ 8” models qualify as 21’ models by the Standards, as they are over 20.5’.
Usable space does matter and beam width at the front is a factor. Some companies just design a pointed bow to give the impression of a longer (21’) boat, when all the design team did was point the nose. It’s not gaining usable space, as simply pointing the bow is often done over the last 24”-30” of the bow. It’s just a lot different than you explain it and there are dozens of tricks in hull builds that make boats appear larger. Wedging hull sides for beam is an example which doesn’t give more buoyancy or stability to the hull. Which is why BCB hulls have scoop sides for fender clearance.
I think how fast you can drive the waves makes a difference in how a boat rides through/over them and Basscat build the best all around boat for rough water and high speed imho as there’s a compromise to doing both well. The weight of a boat also plays a part as well as the prop one is running along with the driver inputs(trim/throttle). I’d much rather have a 20’ Basscat with a person who knows how to drive over a 21’ boat with someone who doesn’t have a good set up or know how to drive. The 22’ model is for the non tournament folks as don’t imagine many of them get sold with a 250, but BCB can correct me if I’m wrong.
Wareaglecat: BCB is correct it is about design and what we always called the “shoulders” of the boat that give it stability in rough water. I at one time owned a Gambler where the hull was based on off-shore racing hulls and considered one of the better rough water rides. My Puma is just as good in rough water as was my previous P2.
If you are expecting another 12″ or less to help you reach out to the next big wave, make sure you have your PFD on and working bilge pumps. I can guarantee on Lake Erie or Ontario that with that approach you will be taking several over the nose.
Yes Lake Ontario has waves that are often 21 to 23′ crest to crest and unless you have a longer craft you will spear waves. Interesting that the 7th wave syndrome is world wide.
Pricing and sellablity for 21′ plus bass boats makes them a rare sight .
Dwayne, c’mon you know we can get on the backside of the crest and if they are going the right direction you can ride the same wave for a long time…..LOL.
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