Home › Forums › Bass Cat Boats › Bay Cat question: Been fishing the Gulf from Islamorada to Orange Beach for 7 days
Tx76.
I have been on the seas and found out Im am no high speed troller in my brothers 29 ProKat twin 250 Yamahas. Inland lake 6 footers with a bass boat has to have an adjusting conversion for Gulf and Atlantic waters. . We were in 4-6 with a 6,000 lb catamaran boat with 275 gallons of fuel and was it spine jarring rough. New definition of rough water buy those standards. Not for me!!!!! I definately found out I prefer back water country fishing with bass type takcle. Lots of fun there. Also, we did chum up with a balloon a couple of big sharks in 4 of water too. That was on the big tackle though.Caught some nice Black Fin Tuna, Dophin, Yellow Fin, Speck, Sheep Head few more that I dont remember since Im green fish oriented. Anyway, was really bit buy the bug and was noticing all the bay boats. One thing that stood out on 70% of the 20 bay boats where how small the engines were. Most had 115 to 150 Yamahas (Almost exclusively at Islamorada), at Orange Beach, AL with Etecs and Suzukis sprinkled in and some Mercs too. I wonder why BassCat rigs their Bay Cat with a 250 motors? How much would a 150HP motor reduce price for a Bay Cat? Hmmm……
Look out boys, Fly might be switching boats again.
We would try to keep a Bay Cat in the 200 range as fuel consumption would be similar If not worse on smaller engines.
BassCat,Thats interesting per your motor size recommendation. Good to know. Im priming my brother to get a BayCat when those 3-6 days are called for at his Islamorada home. STAYING INSHORE for back country fishing. I will say your BayCat is very impressive looking vs what I have seen. Ive have researched it a good bit today and the BayCat has some really nice touches. Sounds like upcoming 175- 200SHO inline four could have potential on the BayCat. From what I have been told the new SHO block engines (actually 150 to 200) will have drastically improved mpg performance to an already respectable performer. Dblplasabre, The Bug is gone already after seeing my SabreFTD in the garage when I got home today. However, it would be tempting with a few more trips to Orange Beach.
Oh my. Here we go again.Tom you need the extra HP when you load a rig down and are trying to navigate the swells. You cant run flat out most of the time so top end does not matter. It is the extra power when you are on the crest or trough of a wave. It makes a big difference in navigating rough seas.
Chet,My eyes are openly naive with my observation as to why I observed so many lower HP powered fourstrokes on bay boats. I had a chance to go out with my future son in law yesterday in his 20 Scout (bay boat) with a 115 Yamaha four stroke for inshore fishing. We did get out in to Perdido Bay and Wolf Bay too. He had a 17p prop and I was impressed who quick it got on plane. The boat weighs 1600lbs. All said not as an advertisement for that boat or motor but rather how noticeable the boat got on plane with such a small prop and motor. It only topped out at 40mph with us 1/2 tank of gas and our gear. Also, noticed with all the boat chop and tide related swells you sure dont want to go to fast. Its completely different type of water then what I experience on reservoirs.
most 22ft 250 hp bayboats run about 55 to 60 a few 65 and a handful hit 70 plus. and even then 9 times out of 10 you dont get to run wot. so like you said most boats have 115 to 200 is spending 5g plus to have a 250 worth it on most bay boats to hit 60 over 45 50 and burn a lot more gas. the resale on bay boats is a not really like bassboats where max hp boats sell much faster. i got the dealer meeting baycat and have changed almost everything on it. ill post a few pics when i put my last goodies on it just waiting on them to get here. but on the baycat my 250 is vary good on gas. i just want to know why the running light is on the console? is not a good place for it. witch is about the only thing i dislike about the boat.
basscat632 wrote:most 22ft 250 hp bayboats run about 55 to 60 a few 65 and a handful hit 70 plus. and even then 9 times out of 10 you dont get to run wot. so like you said most boats have 115 to 200 is spending 5g plus to have a 250 worth it on most bay boats to hit 60 over 45 50 and burn a lot more gas. the resale on bay boats is a not really like bassboats where max hp boats sell much faster. i got the dealer meeting baycat and have changed almost everything on it. ill post a few pics when i put my last goodies on it just waiting on them to get here. but on the baycat my 250 is vary good on gas. i just want to know why the running light is on the console? is not a good place for it. witch is about the only thing i dislike about the boat.Yea, really would like to see your boat so please do share. You are absolutely correct per the largest motor on the boat comment for bay boats. Nothing like Bass Boats regarding resale.
I had my Baycat out in some really big water on Mobile Bay several times. I was glad I had my 250 on it. Sherm and I had it in 4 footers running about 45-50mph. I wont say it was a smooth ride, but it was very stable and we took little or no spray over the sides. BassCat builds them like they do bassboats…extremely solid!!
The 250 really helps in the big water. It turns a 21/22ft boat from a barge into a very nimble performer. With the boat loaded it really helps coming out of the trough of big water. The gas consumption is amazingly good and wouldnt get any better with less HP, but performance would suffer greatly. In really big water, performance equals safety.
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