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Hey Guys, a very very very good buddy of mine is asking me between a Sabre FTD and Phoenix 618 what I would buy, I told him the honest truth and said NEITHER, because I dont fish….either way, for you guys that have researched the HOT 18s out there, what have you guys seen? Up until the Phoenix 618 I always told guys their are 2 Legendary 18s on the market that the companies put just as much thought into, the Champion 183 and Sabre FTD…..Speed wise ive seen and talked to folks that are getting a Legitimate 68-70 like the Sabre with a 175 Pro XS. So please be honest and I already spoke to him of the obvious differences, Fiberglass fenders vs. Stainless steel, 4 plastic Panels, and the Size difference……Please no pissing matches but my guy has to decide today and he wants your opinions….Im doing the same question on the BBC phoenix board……Happy Holidays BCB Brannon 847-450-4011 ANYTIME for feedback
Just the obvious Brannon1. 100% fiberglass construction vs. composite construction2. vacuum compression vs. ?3. best gel coat in the industry4. almost 40 year of family backing vs. ?5. unprecedented customer service backed by 5 years of JD Powers Awards……………the last one noted was the highest rating by any boat company ever6. no BS plastic as you mentioned, brakes standard equipment, no 1997 switches that were once used in a Triton7. theyre cheaper because theres shortcuts…………..it is what it is and you get what you pay for in most cases and more so with boats8. trailer is built by Bass Cat and not some 2nd rate 2nd manufacturer9. future resale value will always be better w/ a Bass Cat10. Ill put any BCB model boat against a comparitable Phoenix and 95% of the others and it will outperform in the ride category as well as top end speed.Five minutes and Ive come up with 10 reasons. To me the choice is obvious!Last edited by PhilAddison on December 23rd, 2010, 7:53 pm, edited 1 time in total.
If you get the Phoenix and pass on the Sabre… you will not be invited to the BCB OI…
Before purchasing the Saber I toured Triton,Ranger and Skeeter when i left Mountain Home I told my wife that when i purchase my boat it will be a BassCat.Not because I own a cat, but i will put my boat up against any other bass boat on the market BCB QUALITY SPEAKS FOR ITS SELF.The Saber talks the talk and walks the walk.
BBC is funny, al caught me and kicked me off!!!!!! Thanks for the ideas Phil, see were like long lost Bros now!!!!!! Well I will see what happens and pass it on. Some parts of the Biz I personally dont like, but Its what I do for a living. Thanks again Sherm.
PHIL – I do understand the love for BCB that we all have but i wouldnt go all out and knock other boat brands that are trying to make it in this $ crunch our nation is in right now,I do like some of your comparisons you have listed and they are all great facts. But then again Phoenix(Gary Clouse) is really just getting started in this buisness on building boats and has alittle more maybe to improve on in some peoples mind ,it floats, gets you to A-B ,motors are the same as on BCB as are the trolling motors and no they havent been in buisness for 40yrs.All because its not what some people like in a boat doesnt mean that its not a good boat.NOW BACK TO YOUR FACTS- (1) Sounds like you are knocking Gary Clouse and Earl Benz with No.6 comparison(2) Darly Hammers and Earl Benz with No. 8 comparison (3) Ken Primo,Earl Benz, Gary Clouse with No.9 comparison (4) My question to you is what is the other 5% boat brand in your No. 10 comparison, you still have 5% to list a bass boat brand. IM NOT TRYING TO BE RUDE WITH YOU PHIL BUT EVERYBODY IN THIS BUISNESS IS TRYING TO STAY ALIVE AND SURVIVE ….but the funny thing about 2 of the 4 men mentioned…. they are millionares and have been in this industry for awhile now.So with what my 2 cents is worth wich is not much on this board ,there it is and im not trying to cause a pissing match. This buisness is like no other out there trying to survive during our nations crunch .
We dont feel Phil was in any way out of line in most of your opposing position. 1. Composite is urethane foam board vs. Fiberglass in those comparisons. 6. From recollection the switches on a 97 were not moisture resistant and there is no plastic. 8. There has been a good bit of comparison in trailers and construction.9. We dont know on resale, as there are not any methods to measure much more than depreciation.10. We have a proven performance, fuel mileage and ride track record and a proven commitment to continuing to improve those. Earl built one company and sold it with minority partnership, and he sold the second with more stake in the game. Though Earl also made a significant amount managing other items than boats, and where would he be now had he not sold them in this economy? We all like Earl at BCB so dont take this wrong. Though he is no longer partner in Triton and we dont think Phil took a shot at anyone, though was comparing aspects of the products. BCB remains as the only dedicated bass boat company with a track record of 40 years. And the only one to start with its own products and molds with All development progressing from there which is in business now. You seem very intuitive on bass boats and the business track, though there are other opinions varying from yours. Brunswick took an $18 million write off on the sale of Triton, let alone the annual expenditure nearing that to keep the company afloat in the prior year that would also stagger everyone. And all while the mentioned folks were under contracts.Last edited by Bass Cat Boats on December 24th, 2010, 4:02 am, edited 2 times in total.
The initial request was seeking an honest opinion on the differences between a 618 Phoenix and a Bass Cat Sabre. As I said above it took about 5 minutes to come up with those 10 things. From my #10 above, I know that Bass Cat doesnt outrun every boat on the market, but I do know that it will outrun a Phoenix! And thats on every level! A BCB wont outrun an Allison, Bullet, Stroker. As far as ride, a BCB wont ride as good as some Champion models, maybe a Charger, and maybe a big ole Toon and then as I was writing this I thought about the Jaguar. I guess I should move that number up from 95% to 98%. I will say too when it comes to dry ride…………..not a boat drier than a Bass Cat! Total package is Bass Cat hands down. Sorry if you think I’m biased. Handling is what all the ship jumpers want to tout. What is handling? Is it top end speed handling? Is it rough water handling? I wish one of the ship jumpers would be more precise when comparing it to a Cat or others. It certainly can’t be rough water handling as one of the ship jumpers ran a Jaguar all last year. If it’s top end speed, then it’s hard to compare handling when a boat is approximately 5 mph slower or more. As far as the knock on the “millionaires”…… Dont know them and not knocking them. They are/were very good at selling boats and a bunch of them. Were they the best? Not even close. From 1998 to 2002 I ran 5 Triton Tr21s. Since 2002, I have continued to fish from time to time out of Triton Boats and get to work on one often. My team partner has one and gets one on promo deal every other year. While the styling has changed and there have been modifications to the hulls, they are built out of the same material as they were 10 years ago. Thats where I know about the switches. Knowing where Clouses roots are, looking at the styling of the Phoenix, and seeing the materials and equipment used, its nothing more than a cross between a Triton and a Stratos. To say that getting from point A to point B makes a good boat, then a canoe would be considered a good boat. If one happens to be more expensive than the other then there is a reason! Bass Cat Boats are expensive and I don’t think anyone will argue that. BCB does less advertising than others, has a smaller pro staff than others, does less boat giveaways than others. Therefore, the cost of Bass Cat Boats I can say without a doubt the expense is in the hull and the equipment that is used. Rick tells me his prices are as low as he can go and remain in business. I believe him. Hes not a millionaire and just a middle class ordinary man such as you and I. If he is a millionaire, then he sure hides it well. I’m sure Clouse learned a few things from Bentz and will try and gain market share in the much the same manner. When the question is asked for a comparison with a Bass Cat, then I will give my 2 cents. If the individual is comparing a Phoenix to a Cat, then that individual is looking at price and doesnt know the real story. Not a pissing match as you suggest!Last edited by PhilAddison on December 24th, 2010, 2:56 am, edited 2 times in total.
Well boys ill keep ya informed on the comparison when I see the Bird boat. Ive read ALL positives on their product and with glass boxes with alum lids, and alot of BCBs company strategies Im sure they will do well, their definitely on fire. He made up his mind on some other variables……….Like I told swatted ill investigate with a fine tooth comb……..thanks for all of your help and feature listings…….Sincerely, Brannon
A canoe? A peirot? Now I cant kill me no poule deau with a peirot!And for the motors all being the same on a BCB?Uh….no.C.O.D. Jr. III
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