Home › Forums › Bass Cat Boats › 2017 Sabre FTD Vision
Jstew.
Hey Guys,Im in the market for a new boat within the next year and have been looking at the ranger z185 and just so happened to see where bass cat had put the ftd top cap on the basic sabre. I havent been able to see either boat in person. I know the ranger is 188 and the sabre is 181 but the ranger has a dry weight of 1550 lbs and the bass cat is only 1215 lbs. How do these boats fish and handle? Ive always fished with my dad and hes always had 21 boats. How much of a change am I looking at going from being used to a 21 bullet to say an 18 bass cat? Another thing that I have questions about is the recessed trolling motor pedal being right up on the bow. It looks like it would be hard to step into off the dock. I know on his 21ss even though bullet has the long nose in the front and we have a step pad you still have to be careful stepping off the dock or you can slide off. also how does the 150 4 stroke compare in performance to the 150 pro xs on the sabre? I would love to have a 21ss but they arent in my price range so Im looking at 18 boats. Ill fish mostly the smaller BCDA lakes along with Pickwick, Wilson, and Wheeler. The BCDA lakes dont get rough but when the northwest wind blows the TVA lakes can get pretty rowdy. How does the Sabre handle rough water? Im not expecting an 18 boat to handle rough water like a 21 boat just curious how dry the ride is.
Hi Trapper – You are asking a lot of good questions and your observations are spot on. Obviously the weight between the Ranger and FTD will make a big difference with performance. I dont own one (have the next step up the Pantera 19) but Ive read a lot about them here and have a couple friends who have Sabres. The common theme seems to be they are pretty fast (very fast with the 175) and are a blast to drive. Runs on rails and get up on plane quickly with a 2 stroke or Yamaha SHO. If you can swing the 175, do it especially if fish a lot of tournaments. With the 175 you can keep up with a lot of larger boats with 250s and you will blow them away coming out of the hole.Re the forward position of the TM, you will love it once you get used to it. The forward position is intentional on all Cats and facilitates flipping casting in general. Getting on and off up front isnt a problem at launch/take out. If you can, get the steps and loading pole on the front. Makes getting in and out of front of the boat a snap even for us old guys. Sabres handle rough water very well for a 18 boat and better than some larger boats of other brands. Very dry ride is consistent through the entire BCB line of boats. If you let folks know where you live, there may be someone nearby who will be happy to take you out for a ride or even a day of fishing. Im sure several with Sabres will chime in. Also, if you just go to search and do a search for Sabre FTD you will find multiple threads about every aspect of the boat. Another thing to keep in mind is Bass Cat has been managed by the same family for 45 years, longer than any other brand out there. Ranger/Trition/Astro/Champion have all gone through a take over or two and are all owned by Bass Pro Shops/Nitro currently. But who knows who will own them next year. Have fun shopping, let us know if you have more questions.
I had ranger z20 with 225 pro xs loaded very nice boat but this basscat is a blast and fishes like alot bigger boat I couldnt be more pleased with my 1st basscat
Thanks for the replies. Im In Russellville, AL which is in the northwestern part of AL. I was looking at the vision tour package which if I read it right will have a max hp of 150 whereas the advantage package has the higher hp rating. The lower hp rating on the vision doesnt really bother me Ive played the speed game with dad and although its fun Im more into just having something to get out on the water with and fish. Another thing I thought of are these boats real sensitive to load distribution in front of the consoles or the whole boat for that matter. The reason I ask this is because we ran a Stratos for years and never worried about it, but on dads current boat it definitely handles better with a balanced load and is easier to drive. LoL we keep a 2 level in the boat all the time. As far as tournament fishing goes I kinda burned myself out a few years ago and just like fishing now for fun. Ill fish a few wildcat tournaments in the spring if Im not working, but thats about it. Ive always liked Bass Cat for the fact that they take the time to respond to their customers on forums like this and over on BBC. And it seems as if yall are like a family kinda like the Bullet boat owners which is good.
I have a 2007 Sabre with 150 optimax it will run 62-64. They are definately load sensitive the more weight in the rear the better on mine. As far as fishing they are very nimble in around docks and stump fuels and I swear mine will float in less than 12″ of water lol. I have never been scared in rough water in mine and I fish Logan Martin alot which can get hairy with certain winds and summer boat traffic. If you are buying new get the 175 for sure some guys seeing 67-70 mph . Mine is for sale right now moving up to a Caracal cause ther wife wants a bigger boat lol.
I was just looking online and seen a local dealer had a leftover 2016 sabre vision listed. How much shorter is the deck compared to the ftd?
I have a 17 FTD and it is a little load sensitive. not bad though. I am running a 150proxs and couldnt be happier. You will be very happy with the FTD. As far as the deck shortage the best I can tell would be to remove the step cooler anf the aft center compartment and you have the original sabre deck,
Trapper13 – I have a Sabre FTD with a 175 pro sx. I really like the layout. You are right about being on the front of the boat but you get better sight and better casting angles. You dont have to worry about hitting the guy in the back with a spook. You should not compare a 18 foot boat to a 21 foot boat. If you compare a 188 inch Ranger to a 181 inch Sabre compare cost, quality, and performance I would take the Sabre every time. Not taking anything away from the Rangers they are fine boats. The Sabre FTD in rated 175 the Vision is 150. I went with the FTD because of what I thought the resale would be. The boat will run with a lot of 20ft boats. I am sure that you can find someone in your area that will take you for a ride. The boat fishes great and like I said it will get up and go when you need too. The stripper pole is a good thing to have. John
With the deck extension, $200 or just a bit more, the 2016 Sabre will have a narrower deck. Starboard to Port, higher side walls above the deck, but t will be larger bow to stern. You sacrifice with a smaller ice chest, only one compartment on the front deck although its a large compartment. You do lose a bit of weight over the FTD but its not much, 30lbs I think. One othrt her sacrifice is dash size for graphs but theres a variety of options for correcting that issue. Purchased new 5/4/15Bass Cat Sabre Vision EliteMercury Pro XS 150MotorGuide 75lb Tour EditionHumminbird – Stock (will be changing soon I hope)
I have a standard Sabre w/ 150 Merc. With the “flippin” deck it has plenty of room to fish two as long as youre careful about your casting angles. It has more deck space than the FTD, although smaller cooler, and single front compartment vs. two. The one compartment is more than enough space and in truth – I carry most of my tackle in one of the rear storage boxes and try to really limit what I put in front of the consoles. Mine is also a dual console boat. It has an awesome holeshot and the difference in speeds it runs from the big rigs takes a while for them to catch you. Ive never let boat size be an issue. As to the fishability and pedal position – you can snake a Sabre thru stump fields and shallow water like a tin rig. I really like how much of the front deck is truly useable. I did add an aggregate step pad to the front of my boat to make it easier to step into and out of without slipping. BCB sells them for a couple of dollars and theres a place on the bow for it to go that looks like it was done at the factory. Be careful with tackle loading on a Sabre – they dont like a lot of weight loaded in the front. It quickly kills the lift and speeds youll see.As said – mines a 150 and low 60s loaded ( partner, full fuel, full wells) is the typical. By myself with less than 1/2 tank of gas and empty wells – 65-67gps. Those who run a 175 will see my top speeds loaded and 69-71 aired out light. You really run out of boat before speed with the 175. At those speeds, theres not much left in the water.Big question – would I buy another. In a heartbeat. Its an awesome boat and theres a very good reason more arent available used – folks really rarely part with them…..
© 2026 Bass Cat Boats
