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1958.
Could you tell me the difference between the Puma FTD and Cougar FTD? From what I can see the front deck is slightly different. Puma has a cooler and storage in the step while Cougar has just a cooler. The front storage compartment on deck is different. The other thing is Puma weighs about 80 lbs more. Is there another difference? Construction – like where the gas tank is located? I know the Puma and Puma FTD have different gas tank setups. Also when I look at a Bass Cat, it appears much more narrow than a Ranger, yet it says beam width is 94″ while Ranger is 95″. It sure looks a lot narrower than 1″. Is this an illusion or a difference in how they are measured? Thanks!
You are correct on the differences between the Puma FTD and Cougar FTD, just the front deck layout and weight. Everything else is the same. The reason the Bass Cat looks narrower is because of the trolling motor pedal placement. Most other boat companys place the pedal farther back. Bass Cat places the foot control farther forward to allow you to flip, pitch, and cast with ease. You do not have to deal with a foot or more of bow in your way. This gives an illusion of less width but in actuality you are gaining a lot more room and it fishes a lot better. Jamey
Ive spent a decent amount of time looking at these two boats the last two weeks. Deck width on the z520 at the seat pedestal hole is about 70-71 inches, and the z521 is about 66 inches. This point is actually a bit furthur away from the point of the boat on the Ranger than on the BC. Maximum deck width is actually even wider on these two boats. On the BC, the width is 64 inches a few inches behind the pedestal. A lot of this info is on BBC Ranger forums. Also, the shapes of the boats are different – it seems to me that the Ranger carries more of its width forward to the front deck, though on diagrams it looks like BC does that also. I agree that the BC looks narrower, but its not really more than a few inches when actually measured.
60-60 rule………….60″ from the tip of the bow there will be 60″ in width floor space. If youre looking for front deck space…………….the Jaguar measures about 12″ wider or more.
Also guys when you really study how the 2 brands are built you will always go to BCB. I hope that Rick will chime in here and really go over the Vacuum bag process, the 1 piece flat form fitting stringer that is full width and length, not 2 synthetic boards, BCBs complete Transom Coverage, where the complete transom is used to disperse energy, not 18inches of transom like others..BCB really changed the construction on Bass Boats or really fiberglass boats as a whole. Most brands simply eliminated wood with either Coosa Board a high density foam product, and yes its like it sounds (foam). Compressed Fiberglass, Aluminum and Foam, End Grain Matched Balsa, Honey comb plastics, ETC, I feel after seeing the BCBs in person being built, jumping on a Transom sample Rick had at a dealer meeting, and being in the same position at the Flippin plant I feel that the BCB custom hand made boat vs. Chopper Guns and Virtual reality. I have a BCB folder that they gave me some inside pictures, if Rick would post those and keep a Sticky Post up top saying, BCB Construction up close, showing the whole process, I think for detail oriented people like myself it would be so helpful. BrannonYour Signature …
I appreciate Bass Cats quality construction but Im asking questions to help me understand the differences in specifications. Im looking at buying a bass boat and want to make sure I understand all the differences in models and makes. For my fisrt question: During my research of Bass Cats I was told that the Puma FTD rides better at topspeeds than the Puma because the gas tank position is in the rear as opposed to under the seat in the Puma. Since the Cougar FTD gas tanks are apparently located the same as the Puma FTD then the ride at top speeds should be the same. Is this a correct statement? For my second question: The definition of beam width is “The beam is the width of the boat at its widest point”. I have not put a tape measure on either boat but just looking at the two boats they do not look the same width given the 1″ difference that is so stated in the brochures. I have stood in each boat and the Ranger seemed much more wider. Either I am missing something, seeing an illusion, or one brand measures beam width differently from the other…I would find it hard to believe that the position of hte trolling motor foot pedal would cause an illusion like that. It sure seems either the Ranger is wider than 95″ or the Bass Cat is narrower than 94″. Thanks for you input.
The Puma probably rides better than either FTD models. You have it backwards. Hard to differentiate ride in any of them as well as the top end speed of each where the Cougar FTD is considered the fastest. As far as beam…..Ranger carries their width a little more forward than BCB. Therefore, depends on where you measure. Suggestion: Ride in them all, fish out them, see what happens with the Genmar (Ranger) bankruptcy and then make a decision on your wants and needs! Good luck!
Some other things to take into consideration when comparing a Bass Cat Boat with other brands.1. Start at the back of each boat and lift the battery compartment and compare the accessibility of each item back there; Batteries, oil res, live well pumps, bilge pumps, onboard charger. Bass Cat places everything where it can be accessed.2. Check out the live wells. Thought you wont find a volume listed, BCB has some of the largest live wells on the market if not the largest. They believe you should only list the capacity of water it will hold below the overflow, not how much cubic capacity is in the well. Other companys try to show they have a larger live well by listing the total capacity in the well even though there is no way it can hold that much water.3. Take a look at the console. BCB does not use any fake wood or plastic. The entire console is made of fiberglass. All that fake wood and plastic other companys use wont last long getting beat up in the elements day after day.4. The front trolling motor pedal area is built the same, all fiberglass, no fake wood or plastic.5. When you open any of the storage compartments you will see an all fiberglass construction with no cut outs. Other companies will cut out of their top cap to drop in plastic boxes as compartments. This weakens the overall construction of the boat and will produce stress cracks after a short time. BCB is very meticulous on using all space available to give you the most storage space possible.6. All fiberglass construction. No wooden stringers!! BCB uses a vacuum compression process that is unmatched by any other boat company out there.7. BCB makes their trailers right at the factory. Gator Hyde coating, step and grab post, roller design and placement, new suspension system, back up lights. Lots of great options.8. BCB is a pioneer in the boat industry when it comes to innovation. The recessed trolling motor pedal and lighted compartments were both seen on BCB boats first. Grab post on the trailer…now copied by a motor vehicle company. How about the new Jaguar?? Lots of firsts going on there.9. Owners Board: Need help with anything, someone is always there to answer a question. Most of the time its Rick Pierce himself. If you need to talk to Rick, just pick up the phone and call. Cant say that for other companies.Customer service… JD Powers Awards Bass Cat Boats its Fifth (5th) Consecutive Award.
Again – Im just asking a question about the specs. I think the Bass Cat is the best boat built so you dont have to sell me. I was able to put a tape measure on the beam. Sorry but it was not 94″ wide. They need to correct the brochure because stating 94″ width is misleading. Boy, do I wish Bass Cat came in a wider boat. That would be the perfect bass fishing machine.
Oh, and the new jag is wider I know but I cant find a used one yet. Ill wait till they put a windshield on.
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