Having 2nd thoughts?

This topic has 9 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 10 years ago by cef1965.

Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)

Author

Posts
May 30, 2016 at 5:35 pm #380282

southernyankee
Participant

Anybody down size and have regrets? Just wandering because did have years ago acouple 20 ft champions then I moved over to bass cat and ordered a pantera classic and liked the boat so much I kept it for 10 years. That move never bothered me but this time I ordered a sabre ftd and having some crazy thoughts. I guess it is allittle to late but gonna retire in acouple years and just wandering if I made a good move. Thanks

May 30, 2016 at 10:40 pm #380285

Jstew
Participant

The Classic was the hot rod of the bunch… 2.5l or 3l 200? Order the FTD w/ a 175?Youre definitely giving up some speed – but getting more useability. Youll have more front deck space & storage. Due to where the extra 1 is located – I doubt youll be able to tell the difference.

May 30, 2016 at 11:38 pm #380287

southernyankee
Participant

The classic had 3.0 but I already ordered the sabre ftd with merc 150 4 stroke. Maybe just a getting older kind of thing. Just havent had an 18 ft boat since my 18 4 champ.

May 31, 2016 at 12:11 am #380290

basscat tyler
Participant

If you didnt have the extended deck on your Classic you probably will like fishing out of the Sabre just fine. Obviously youll lose some speed, but that Sabre with the Merc 4 stroke should be wonderful. I actually moved down in size from a early 90s Pantera II to a 1994 Eyra. Didnt regret it a bit. Enjoy the new boat!

May 31, 2016 at 12:51 am #380293

LB1202
Participant

I went from a 06 P4 to a 10 Sabre ftd. It was a great boat but my wife hated it from day one. It just didnt have the room and she didnt like the 150. In late 12 we ordered a 13 P4 and havent looked back.

May 31, 2016 at 4:09 pm #380298

muddywaters
Participant

I have had 14 flatbottom with a 9.9hp all the way up to a 21 with 250hp and the 18 Sabre fishes big and it rides good and is a quick boat, absolute fun to drive. It is very nimble, and responsive, drafts shallow for the shallow water bite. I have found over the years that for all around fishability and reliabilty that the 18 boats with a 150 – 175 hp is the only way to go. i have the sabre with a 175 proxs and it is the most fuel efficient rig I have ever seen. A four stroker is gonna be even better. More bang for the gas to dollar ratio per trip.

May 31, 2016 at 5:10 pm #380301

cef1965
Participant

For the record, would love to have a 20 Eyra with a 250.Reality check: purchased a new 2011 PII in Feb 2011. Sold it in January of 2015 to ensure my child came out of college without student loans. Purchased a used 2011 Sabre FTD with a 150 OptiMax 7/3/2015, as the price was right.Assessment of downsizing: Had we drove the Sabre FTD first, we may have gone that route. We dont tackle large bodies of water a lot. Most of our fishing is 5 minutes from the house on a power company lake. Have had it on Eufaula when waves were breaking over the bow with no issues getting in safely. For the record, those would have come over bow of the PII. The Sabre FTD has an agility the PII did not have–much easier to drive at low speeds with the bow up in rough water. Would love to have seen what a 20 foot Cat would do in those conditions for comparison. There is a difference in storage, but this may help with fishing in that Tackle Warehouse no longer goes for a ride each time we go out.Last edited by cef1965 on May 31st, 2016, 5:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

May 31, 2016 at 5:30 pm #380304

Basscatbates
Participant

I went from a Classic to a Sabre and I absolutely love it!!! Wouldnt change a thing, just need to add power poles!

May 31, 2016 at 8:08 pm #380307

southernyankee
Participant

Thanks to all that replied. i guess the real bummer is what about all that tackle? When I sold the classic I was glad I had a cover on the truck or I would have to had a yard sell in Alabama before I left. My wife thinks I mite have panic attacks if I can take the store with me when I go fishing.

May 31, 2016 at 8:37 pm #380310

cef1965
Participant

IF you will let it, it will make you a better fisherman. Go ahead and look at what you really fish with along with the lakes fished. Get Plano 3600 or 3700s to organize tackle in. Less time will be spent searching for what really works on the lake being visited that day. In terms of plastics, look at buying less colors and using dyes to achieve colors that may be a little different. Of course this down in the country approach depends on where home is and how many different lakes that are fished along with the time of year. The longer rods are little more challenging to store in the Sabre FTD than the PII. This presents an opportunity if viewed this way with 3 choices:1. Use the tubes, but be patient as they are a little more challenging for long rods.2. Put the longer rods flat in the rod box under the tubes. This does allow more capacity for carrying rods, but gets away from backing down on load.3. Remove the rod tubes and use rod covers. All in how this is viewed. Personally use choice number 2.
Author

Posts

Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 10 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic. Login Register