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Corky.
I am interested in purchasing a new basscat and trying to learn more about the Puma and Cougar. What are the differences between the two along with the definition of FTD. What feedback does anyone have regarding Mercury versus Yamaha SHO? What are the characteristics of each boat including fishing stability and top end speed. Any other feedback would be appreciated. Thank you.
Just get which one YOU feel has the best compartment layout for your needs. All of them have their own personality and convience of storage layout, just pick which one fits YOU best.Get what motor you are comfortable having and have confidence in and that has good wrench in your local area to work on in the event of a problem. The 250 Pro Xs is now a proven workhorse and flat out screams on the BCB hulls, the SHO is new but has shown to be a very well built motor and the pluses of not having to buy oil at 27 bucks a gallon is an added bonus. AGAIN get what you are confident in and have a service center that can work on them.They are all gonna be within 1-2 mph of each other and will have similar ride, the FTD (or full team deck) models will be a tad faster due to rear fuel tanks. The puma will run a tad shallower and will sit a tad more level in the water, and has much larger rear storage areas, though no under seat storage.You cant go wrong with any of them honestly, same with the motors. Just pick the one you want and pick a color combo that is appealing to you and wont hurt resale (yes believe it or not- not everyone loves LSU purple, crimson tide red, or longhorn burnt orange ) down the road. Honestly the colors will be the hardest part of deciding what you want out of the boat.
Maxdm, Jslaw hit the nail on the head, however look around your area for Service, and see who represents the best, if all things equal get the motor that you prefer, id test drive damn near everything (within Reason) and purchase what suits YOU the best, heck these days its alot of hard earned money, so research this. Sincerely, Brannon
Based on my research so far one of the new boats I am interested in is the Puma FTD. I need help in selecting options and motor although I am leaning towards the 250 Mercury opposed to the Yamaha SHO. I would like to find out if all manufacturers are heading towards 4 stroke only or will the Pro XS will around in the foreseable future. With regard to options I would like to create a wish list and then pare back if needed. I am somewhat ignorant with regard to the electronics side so suggestions with explanations about graphs would be helpful too. Thanks for the help.
If your a tech head you should look at Lowrance, and if you like simplicity then look at Humminbird. The units are your choice. The four stroke engines are eventually going to be in everyones stable and all companies are goin that direction in time, Pro XS is here for several years though. The Puma is a good ride and the net scabbard is cool. The larger rear boxes and the center tank some prefer. The Puma FTD is the most popular and the new Cougar FTD is gaining momentum as it should. The Puma FTD is the most used and most liked, with the most fishing friendly it seems to those who use it.
The FTD is short for Full Team Deck. All the 20 footers other than the Eyra share the same hull design. Therefore, they all are comparable in top end speeds and rides. Choose the layout which you like best and go from there. The Cougar FTD and Puma FTD share the same rear deck. The Puma FTD and Puma share the same front deck. As said above, the Puma FTD is the most popular model and is the one that Ive chosen to use for the last 3 or 4 years. Good luck with your decision.
Would I keep more value if I get a 4 stroke now or is the move to them in the future far enough in advance where purchasing the Mercury Pro XS will not hurt my future value?
If you are planning on keeping your boat for a long time you may want to consider a 4 stroke… They are more expensive on the onset but you will pay the difference in oil eventually depending on how long you keep your boat and how much you run it (if you buy a two stroke). My opinion.. Mercury engines and yamahas are the easiest to sell and the most reliable. I have run both and they are both very good. I am in my 6th Pro XS and have not had a single issue with any of them. My mechanic is a mercury guy and they give great service and support. The new cougar btw is not exactly as it was last year… it is more like the eyra (the rear deck). The new ladder and rigging is clean. You can see photos of it on the link on the homepage (boats by serial number on facebook). I have run the puma, puma FTD and the Cougar… They are all great and all similar in ride now.
I just bought a Puma FTD and love it. About the only differance I see between my boat and a Cougar FTD is the front deck layout and the step-up cooler. The Puma has 2 lids and 2 compartments on the step-up (an ice box) that I think its great. I use one as a sandwich box and one as a drink cooler so if you want a drink you dont have to open the sandwich cooler and vice versa. Also the Puma has net storage at the center of the front deck that is super easy to get at when youre getting a big fish in the boat. They may seem like small things but Id really miss doing without either.
I owned a 2009 Bass Cat Puma FTD that was absolutely the best boat that I have ever owned. I initially planned to go with a Puma with the larger storage boxes in the rear, but after numerous discussions with Rick and Ivan decided on the Puma FTD. The smaller boxes on the rear deck are not as small as they appear and easily large enough for numerous Plano 3700 boxes. Also, the under seat storage of the Puma FTD greatly enhance storage options and are completely dry. The net storage on the front deck of the FTD is also great and eliminates finding a place to store the net. With the FTD, the net is in easy reach all day. I also stored my boat paddle along with the net in the net container. I also love the way the rod storage is designed with the ability to store less used rods under the rod containers. The boat is really thought out well and designed to be as close to perfect as you can get for a fishing machine. Any Bass Cat boat will be great, but in my opinion, the Puma FTD is really a very special boat. I have many times regretted selling mine. Corky
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