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1958.
So, Ive been looking very hard at my finances. I refinanced, paying off credit card debt, and squaring up my bills. Id love to attempt to get into a newer boat. Im looking at a newer PIV. Im wondering some opinions on people who might have made a switch from a puma or a cougar down to P4 or P2. Is the size difference very noticeable. The ride in big water? MPG? Im attempting to get into a 2010 or 2011. Thanks!My current boat is an 03 cougar FTD with yami 250.
Hello, The funny thing about the Pantera 4 is you will receive a Larger Front fishing Deck!!!! Shallower draft, and a better MPG….You may prefer the individual compartments vs. The large boxes….also the Rough water ride of the Pantera 4 puts it in that Special class of bass boat that Does everything right…..If it only had a 225 rating for the 225 HO and Yamaha…..Ive sold a Pantera 4 with a 200 Opti in 2008, its shown here as the Welchs Grape Soda edition…. http://www.bbcboards.net/zerothread?id=215784&page=11 Scroll down to the Welchs Edition, it will be quite evident….. The Pantera 4 was the 1 BCB that did not necessarily come with a Mercury,(if you like Yamahas or Evinrudes) you will see alot of 200HO Direct Injected 03-04 Evinrudes and 200 HO Etecs from 2005 and up, some with Yamaha Series 1 or 2 HPDIs and some with EFi and Optis….The Pantera 4 hull is quite different than other BCBs, with a planing surface under the transom with more setback (it looks like more setback?), its hull is a continuation from the Loved Pantera 3…..You can find used ones in the 20s, newer in the 30s, and New for low 40s……If you play your cards right Flyswatter got his with a Loyalty discount, and the Advantage options, making it the Price of a Pantera 2 with that Wave Crushing hull, but you get the Advantage dash,not premium of the 20fts…….Brannon
You wont notice much difference in ride on most days. The P4 is a very good riding boat. You will notice a difference on big lakes with big waves as you are losing 1 in length. You will also not notice much with regards to fishing. The most significant difference in area will be around the cooler. The biggest difference youll see between the two will be the top end speed. Difference in top end speed may be as much as 10 mph. MPG is based how hard hard you run each with the Optimax getting the best of the 3.Dropping down to a P2, then some things change. Ride is not comparable, but top end speed wont be as drastic of a change. You will also lose some inches on the top deck. Good luck in your decision/s!
The decks are more different than larger or smaller. A Pantera IV will not get better MPG over a Cougar FTD. This is relative to engine horsepower and there is no simple answer. It does run very well with a variety of engines as is pointed out, and there is a reason in the hull for that. It also is a Premium boat and has the same dash assembly design as the Puma FTD or Cougar FTD. BCB Admin.
i advise you to ride in the piv before buying. i have a 2010 piv with 2010 sho. i am very disappointed in the all around performance. mpg, top end and hole shot stinks. the engine is a lemon or this is the characteristic of the piv hull either way i would not recommend this boat. had a cougar ae before. i would consider the puma ae that is being offered.
The P4 is lacks nothing in performance or ride. If someone is having an issue with holeshot or performance it is in the set-up or engine., nothing to do with the hull design. The P4 hull is unique to the BCB line though, and is made for guys like me.(older and not so graceful on my feet) Ive had two and now run a Cougar AE(which is also a consideration if you want a runner) and would go back to a P4 in a heartbeat !Properly set-up it is a low 70s performer with one man, and loses little with a tournament load. It carries a load better than most, and has more storage than the Cougar AE, basically the same storage as a Puma, and has the best fishing platform available in a 195″ hull. It is in my opinion the best laid out hull ive owned, and like i said, lacks nothing in true tournament fishing performance.There are several used ones available now, and are great boats. They perform great with the Merc., Yamaha, and 200 HO evinrude. I swore the last one i had made gas, and was very pleasant to ride in in big water. The boat will handle anything you can possibly put it through,(8rs,,,dry!) and i wouldnt hesitate to explore big water with confidence.Again, VERY stable fishing platform, great ride, and top end that will run past many larger rigs, especially in the really rough stuff.I can get you in contact with several P4 owners for more information if you need it. Let me know if i can help in any way. Good luck, D.Here is a unique opportunity for one i noticed on the board.http://basscatowners.yuku.com/topic/14931Last edited by dbasketman on October 29th, 2010, 7:52 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Rbcat, Have you given your Dealer or BCB the oppurtunity to make your package work to your expectations? Sometimes (im sure you know) a error can happen in building the motor,control box,wiring harness, and or engines emm systems, the Hull of a P4 is killer, whole shot is terrrific, and speeds are more than adequate, the performance of this 19ft hull which looks like a 20footer (in REAL WORLD MEASUREMENTS) is better than some 20ft 250powered units…..I hope your dealer has been told of this issue, that way they can make things right, whether they need BCBs help or Yamahas, then if you dont mind, release those results on a New Post, so customers of the SHO by Yamaha or a BCB knows that your frustrations were handled correctly and your opinion of the correctly working boat package….I no longer sell BCB (unfortunately) and havent sold Yamahammers in a couple years, but I hate to see New Boat Frustrations, Thats the beauty of your choice of boats, any other brand and theirs NO forum to vent on or to get 24/7 Factory help or Know it all Help!!!!! Sincerely, Brannon 847-450-4011
Ditto, Where r u ? How can we help ? We will do anything to assist, D.
I have an 09 Pantera IV with an etec 200HO, my experience has been just the opposite of rbcats. The hole shot is great, even when loaded with gas and full livewells. Mine runs 68-70 tournament loaded at sea level and 66-67 up here at 2400 feet in Montana. I moved from a 20 foot Jaguar with 225 Opt. I saw a 2-3 mile an hour loss in top end speed, no change in big water performance. The only thing I really lost was cooler size, now I just plan what i bring a little better. Mike
HOMan – when you say larger deck are you saying longer or wider?
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