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Bama96.
I am leaving legend tommorrow have le21 dont need a 21 footer anymore. I am ordering tommorrow. Want to know how the pIV is the PII is too small. If the pIV is too small going with puma. Info is appreciated
Its really up to you, personally i would go with the Puma, though your needs may dictate a better fit to the P4. The P4 is an awesome boat, i ran one for 4 years. It carries the beam of the boat alot further forward then the Puma does so it fishes two up front a little better. The ride of the P4 is about the best you will find in a 19 foot boat. If speed (most P4s run right at 70) is not a major concern of yours and you fish in good sized waters, the P4 is an all-round great boat. Now the Puma is a totally different animal, while the layout of the boats is pretty close to identical, the rod lockers are much more accessable, and the boat has a roomier feel to the drivers area, the cooler and day box area is set up perfect and has lots of space. Speed on the Puma is going to be dependant upon which motor you sling on the back (225 vs. 250) how much gear you carry, but will be in the 72-80 mph range. Again I absolutely loved my P4,but there is no way i would give up my Puma for another P4. Though I will say that 200 optimax sipped fuel on that P4 compared to the 250 im running now, but thats an acceptable disadvantge to me
Eyra is another option that would be inbetween the P4 and Puma.
Thanks, speed is not important anymore i am getting rid of a 300 xs, is the p4 going to handle big water well. How long of a rod will the p4 handle in the rod box
As JSLAW stated your needs would be the deciding factor. When I was boat shopping(for almost 3 years) my search came down to the P4 or Puma. I fish a lot more then I ever did in the past but hardly ever tournaments anymore. Being able to run around the 70 mark with a 200hp would be all that I needed. The P4 gas consumption will be better then a 225hp or 250hp. The boat is 300lbs. lighter to tow so your tow vehicle will get better gas mileage. It has a very roomy front deck. More storage then you could imagine in a 19.5ft. boat. The P4 and the Puma are very similar in the front and back deck layout. It will handle rough water as well as many 20 footers on the market. The boat has all the bells and whistles that are on the Puma. If I were to decide to move up to a larger boat it would be a Puma as I see it as the same boat but a foot longer. The beam across the back is 94″ on both rigs. Try and fish out of both boats if you can and let that be the deciding factor as well as the way you plan to fish. You cannot go wrong with either boats. Good Luck in your search.
If you have been in a 21 legend with a 300xs I would expect you need to slowly push yourself away from the speed bar- not quickly as a p4 with a 200 might be. I have owned a p4 and currently own a puma FTD and have driven the design you are discussing.Id get a puma AE with a 250 proxs or Jeremys eyra with a 200. Im just afraid the speed drop will be too much for someone who knowingly bought a motor with a short warranty for speed.The other factor here is water over 3 waves. My p4 rode great in “larger” water however the reach improvement in larger water with a longer boat is a factor.If you are the kinda guy that isnt gonna go when the water is bad then that factor doesnt really matter as a p4 has gotten me home dry as a bone in that kind of water. The 20 er just makes it easier if its gonna be commonplace or youre gonna fish derbies no matter what.C.O.D. Jr. III
As Ward was addressing, the water you run on will help dictate your choice. I am at Lake of the Ozarks, one of the roughest lakes in the country. I was torn between the boats you listed and ran both at LOZ. There is a difference in the ride between the two. At 63 yrs. old, my old back (and butt) felt much better in the Puma.
Doug McGee would probably be best to answer your question on the size of the Pantera II, as he owned a Cougar FTD and a couple of Pumas we think before the Pantera II he has now. Doug plays with them a few months used and resells them now. He does his own glass work and can polish them to a spit shine. As for the difference in a P4 and a Puma AE, that would be the package we think you are speaking of in the 225 Pro XS. We dont think you will mind the Puma AE and 225 and the fuel will be greatly better than your present rig. BCB hulls are better generally on fuel from testing others have done, and the 225 to 300 is a large difference also. The 200 on the P4 is a really nice overall combination and the boat rides and drives somewhat different than other BCB models. They have brought up a very nice point and that is looking at a 200 or 225 on an Eyra. Those are really efficient, still 20 2″ and a very nimble ride. We do appreciate you looking at a Bass Cat. The folks in at BCB all try very hard to build the best that they can. BCB Admin.
If it was my money Id do the cougar AE as the price difference usually isnt much if any between it and a nicely equipe P4. If you had a few extra $$$, Id get an eyra with a 200 or 225. It would run as good or better.
What kind of budget are you on? If money is not a problem I would get the newly redesigned Cougar FTD with a 250. That striping on that hull is flat out stunning. You cant go wrong with the Puma FTD or Eyra either. Not sure you would be happy with either 19 model coming out of a 21 300 HP rig.
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