Home › Forums › Bass Cat Boats › Margay vs. Sabre
Tx76.
I have been wanting to get into a Basscat since I met Billy M. at the LR boat show years ago, he got me hooked on BCB (pun intended) pretty bad, although I have resisted temptation and never pulled the trigger on a BCB (or any other boat, for a variety of reasons). But the new promo on the Margay with the Vision Tour package has me thinking hard on making a visit to a local dealer. This will be my first real boat and am pondering a few questions and am hoping to get some input from the board:1. Is there a performance difference in the Sabre vs. Margay from the extra length of the Sabre?2. I have fished txs as a co-angler for several years, and with a boat, plan on moving up to the boater side eventually. Will the Margay suit the needs of the casual tournament angler (BFLs, BMWS etc…) or am i better off holding out for a 20er that is several years old?3. Most of the fishing I will be doing will be on the Deleware River and the Chesapeake Bay (Susquehanna Flats, Gunpowder, etc…) is the Margay a good match for tidal river fishing, or better suited for lakes and impoundments?Thanks,Eric
We would take the Margay over the Sabre Vision ourselves. The rides will be different and the Margay is a good one. Though on a Sabre FTD we would take the Sabre FTD for the equipment and options. Speeds on a Margay may be better, though livewells, storage and the difference in many areas would put us back in the Sabre FTD. Of course it also will cost more for a Sabre FTD. BCB
Just my opinion and not based on any experience riding in a Sabre or a Margay. But I did just sell a 07 P-2 so I could get into a 2011 Puma. I loved my P-2 and for the kind of fishing you’re doing, I think it would be ideal. The price for my 07 was comparable to what you’d pay for a new Margay. Just looking at the size and layout of the Margay, I think it would be very cramp for any regular tournament guy. IF you were brand new to bass fishing and wanted a really nice entry level boat to learn the sport the Margay would be ideal, but it sounds like you’ve been around a bit and probably have a lot of experience with bigger boats and use a lot tackle.Bottom-line, you’d probably be happier with a good used 19 foot Cat and I’m guessing you’d pay about the same price.
Go with what you can afford. I fished between 25 – 30 tournaments a year for three years all over Arkansas in a Sabre. At that time, that was all I could afford and never once did I have second thoughts about my decision. I won a lot more money in that boat than I did in my current boat.
Eric- Either one would suit your purposes for most days on the delaware and chesapeake. Now we dont always get to choose most days especailly if fishing the BFLs or Weekend series. And the lower delaware and most certainly the chesapeake can get rough and rough very quickly depending on tides and winds. I would probably choose the sabre over the Margay just for these reason. Personally I would give even more consideration to the Classic for fishing these waters, or as you stated possibly a couple year old puma or cougar. Now if you know your gonna stay up the rivers and not venture down to the flats or lower delaware (south of burlington) then i feel either of these are very suitable for what you are looking for.
I recently upgraded from a loaded 07 Sabre FTD sitting on a tandem trailer with a 175 Pro XS to an 08 Cougar with a 225 Opti with Sherms Marine. He has the first Margay with the 150 sitting on his showroom floor and has spent time in my old Sabre on KY Lake. I fished all over the South on big lakes with that boat. At 51 I simply wanted and could afford a 20 footer. If you are considering a Sabre FTD and want a decent price on a good used one give him a shout. Dont forget in overall cost either of the smaller boats can be towed with a smaller vehicle than an older 20 footer. You will always find better deals used, that being said there is just something about the pride in the new glass smell. That decision is all yours.
Ok I have to say something! I own a Cougar but, I do get puzzled when people say that you need a larger boat for tournaments than something like the Margay. I am now sixty two and have been fishing since I was six. Bass fishing with my own boat far the last 31 years and at no time did I ever feel that a 17 clas boat coudnt getr done very well. I have fished Lakes as large as Mead in terrible weather no problems with my Caracal 172″. For the years that BASS had the 150HP rule the prototypical bass boat out west here was the 1710″ Ranger. Judging by the opionion of some here it is amazing that any of us managed to catch bass let alone do very well. Lest anyone think there werent bigger boats there were several. Now that the rant is done. I think the Margay at 17 plus with a 150 would be a great tournament boat and in tight places around docks etc. it would have advantages. Driven with a little common sense there is nowhere that I could go with my Cougar that I bet I couldnt go with the Margay. The only limitation would be the range of the boat and motor combo. The Cougar carries 52 gallons and the Margay a fair amount less. So look at the runs that you would want to make and judge it as you need.There! I feel betterIrv
I did fine 40 years ago with a zebco, bobber and nightcrawler. But I sure do better now with all the upgrades and years of experience I’ve been through since.Personally I’m not suggesting a Margay or a Sabre would be a terrible mistake. But, at least from my perspective, the extra size, power, storage of one of the Pantera’s would be a much better choice for the way B2Z will be fishing. A 19 foot boat with a 200 on back makes the perfect bridge between a little boat and a big one. It’ll fish big water well but also be extremely maneuverable and economical. And I know if you do your homework you can find one well maintained and at a very fair price. Obviously it’s not me buying the boat, just offering my 2 cents from my experience.
jpost has summarized our position very well.
JohnM17 brings up a valid point– sucks to have a 250hp beast you cant afford to haul or fuel. Its no fun being stressed out about the fuel burn. Not that I dont think about it, but I simply couldnt have afforded to fish a few years ago. There were times I REALLY loved my old 90hp. Guaranteed a Margay with a 150 is fun to drive….and pull…..and pay for…
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