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nivek.
Im looking for some advice from some of you guys with more seat time than I have. I presently own a pantera classic with a 200 evinrude. I love this boat it runs good and it is in excellent shape. I would consider upgrading to a larger platform if I thought the difference in the big water ride was significant. Most of my tourneys are on lake champlain in vermont average day is two and three footers but every so often fours and fives will be the order of the day. I struggle in these waves spearing some and just not that comfortable in them. Do you feel a erya or cougar would make a big difference or is it just more seat time for the driver. As always any input will be appreciated.
I can tell you there is quite a difference between the PII and the Puma FTD. Definitely worth the price. I am on Winnebago.
Ive ran either a Puma, Puma FTD, or Cougar FTD since 2003. Over those years Ive only taken two waves over the bow on lakes that can typically see large waves. One of those times was in the dark. Getting the longer boat will help prevent taking some over. Good luck with your decision.
The key to those larger waves in an 18 or 19 BCB is the speed and trim at mid range. You have to throttle the speeds up and down to tack those waves. A 19 boat will not reach out like a 20 model, though a 19 BCB hull should be able to run without tipping or spearing most waves as you throttle in and out.
Many would argue with me, but I think as far as really big water (5 feet plus) the P-2 might be better to get you home than a 20 footer. I own a Puma now, but owned a P-2 before. What I found is when youre in really big water there is an advantage to a shorter nose when youre tacking back and forth between waves and in troughs. The P-2 is way quicker making tight, quick turns than a Puma.With that said, there is no comparision between the rigs in moderatly choppy water — The Puma glides through 2 footers like butter and has a MUCH smoother ride when compared to a Pantera.
We agree jpost, and a Sabre is also able to do that. They dont tend to get hung in the falling waves either and submerge the engine as much. Sometimes nimble is good!
Hi Kevin? (I guessed that was your name as your handle spelled backward), I have more than a few days on Champlain in the Cougar/Puma hull in the 2008 and 2011 models. I have been, more than once, in those waves you describe. Part of life on Champlain. That being said… You will be fine either way. I am a fan of the bigger is better theory here as there are a lot of days where the waves are spaced far apart enough that getting on top of them is the way to go. I have had smaller boats where this was a chore. In the really big stuff, a bigger boat can be a hindrance if it isnt responsive. You have to be able to run troughs or climb and fall while keeping the nose up. I can tell you that there is nothing to worry about with the 20 hulls. While I havent driven an Eyra, I will vouch for the Cougar/Puma. Throw in the added storage and other features of the 20 footers and it becomes a no-brainer. Call me any time and I will talk your ear off about how good a Champlain boat Bass Cat makes. 802-309-3653. Bill SpenceBill Spence St. Albans, VT [url=mailto:billspence@yahoo.com]billspence@yahoo.com[/url] http://www.twinstatebassin.com Bass Cat Boats http://www.basscat.com Vexilar Marine Electronics http://www.vexilar.com
I have been fishing the FLW Tours, Everstarts, and several other tournaments for some time now and while I reside in the Ozarks, I have been on Champlain, St. Clair, Erie, etc…. and understand what 2,3,4,5 and 6 footers on your Northern great lake impoundments are. The great lakes waves are a whole different animal than the waves in the Central US. End of story!I have been running the Pantera Classic models for over 10 years now. I have been in nearly every model and make of every boat designed in the past 20 years from all manufacturers and until recently, there is a reason why I keep buying the Pantera Classics…. I do not have to tell you how awesome of a boat this model is as you already own one… (not to mention it is BCBs “economy model”, has the best resale value of any other brand, best ride in its class, blazing speed and flawless performance, etc….), but what I can tell you is that you DO NOT want to go for a ride in an Eyra or you WILL have your Classic up for sale! One thing you should know about me is that I am the biggest tight-wad you have ever met. I do not make a lot of money and purchasing a “premium” anything is a huge step for me. Now with that being said, I recently took a trip over to Mountain Home and test drove both the Cougar and the Eyra to compare them and see what all of this hype was about and let me tell you, if you are not running a Cougar or an Eyra, you are missing out!It just so happened to be a 35MPH+ windy day when I took my test ride and we went out to the open water in front of the dam (needless to say, the conditions were brutal). You are going to have guys tell you the Puma and Cougar are a better ride over the Eyra, but I am going to tell you the opposite. Believe me, there is NOTHING wrong with the Cougar/Puma hull (in fact, I almost bought that model, but decided against it because I liked the layout of the Eyra better), but I also think the Eyra is a slightly softer ride in big waves. Kevin Short just happened to be over there that day and when I asked him, he said the same thing. Either one is night and day difference over the Pantera Classic. One thing I might mention is that the Eyra has a cockpit design for the on plane seating. If you picture the cockpit of a fighter jet, the design of the Eyra is similar. You sit down in it like a pilot instead of sitting up high over the top of the console. While it may seem awkward at first, I think you will love this design as you feel safer and more secure in those big waves when you are sitting lower. One last thing I might mention is how “dry” the ride is in these models. BCB designed these hulls to push water away from the boat and for the spray to sort of cap over and go back down quickly. The best way to describe this is to think of an ocean wave that a surfer rides through. The new hull designs force the water out and then back down, thus keeping you more comfortable and drier than most. What it really comes down to when comparing the Eyra vs. Puma/Cougar is the layout of the boat. I chose the Eyra and I think the cockpit type design of it is going to be awesome for the Great Lakes!Do yourself a favor and go get a new Eyra…. Women will want you and fish will fear you!
The 20 BCB hulls do great in the big water, but i liked the P4 over them although i was in water where the 200 seemed a bit weak, and a 225 would have been better.The P4 is nimble driving, as well as fishing, and i wouldnt be afraid of any water in that boat after what ive seen in one !
Thanks to everyone who responded to this post and I hope other people got useful info from this. There is no doubt I will find myself in a erya or cougar some time soon. I think I will spend one more season with my classic learning how to drive her a little better. Who knows after that maybe I wont feel the need for the upgrade but I doubt it from what Im hearing a classic will do it but a erya or cougar will do it better. Either way I loves these boats and respect the company that builds them. This board is unbelievably helpful and I appreciate everyones input.Best Regards, Kevin Weeks
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