Home › Forums › Bass Cat Boats › To the doctor… or not
Need an opinion if I need to put my ride in the shop, I have a 2015 cougar FTD merc 250 pro xs two 12 ft talons 4 batteries had left tank full around 10 gallons in the right tank (roughly) I got an atlas hydraulic jackplate and a 25 3 blade fury. Saturday I was fishing a tournament had the live wells full and I could hardly get the boat on pad. I weigh 220 and my partner probably around 240+ I thought I was going to have to make him get on the bow. I use 100% gas every time plus quicksilver fuel conditioners. Ran great once I got it on pad. Should I be concerned?
Talon weight is top loaded, even more on older Talons. If you have the pivot on them feel the hole shot with them down. Extra venting in the propeller helps also.
Most important question. Is this a NEW behavior or has it been like this since you bought the boat? What prop? What about PVS plugs (if any). So many questions, so few answers. Whenever my boats behavior changes, I get real interested, real quick. Because something happened that needs attention. If the load changed, then it could be a simple prop / engine height problem. If you have fished with this same type load in the past and had no problems, then certainly something is wrong. Since it is a Merc, some additional questions: When was the last time plugs were replaced? VST filter? IE the usual annual routine things… Based on your symptoms, Id suspect either you need more PVS openings, or else the prop is on the edge of being too steep. REALLY sounds like you need more ventilation to get the RPMs up on take-off. Of course, plugs will do that as well as that is when the motor is under a heavy strain and proper combustion timing is critical.Edit: Missed the 25p so it sounds like you have a reasonable prop pitch. Now on to the PVS question.Last edited by oldtimer57 on March 14th, 2017, 2:00 am, edited 2 times in total.2008 Pantera Classic2014 Mercury Pro XS 200
I should have told you guys no plugs, it had 1 in it And I took it out. Its always been this way since I owned the boat. I have adjusted talon brackets just make sure they werent dragging. It does have a lateral adjustment I can try. You hear all kinds of opnions but someone said a valve in the motor could be sticking. At one point Saturday it was about 100 yards before I got on pad. Other than that it ran like a scalded cat all day!!
It is fulcrum weight. If you lay the talons on the decks and try it you will find the hole shot. There is no bracket drag as people mention or assume on either Power Poles or Talons. We have video to support that from engine mounted cameras. The new Fury 4 in 25″ will help this, though it wont help the performance on top end. You also could go back in pitch with the 3 blade fury and achieve similar results. BCB does not sell Talon pole systems.
ROBERTC wrote:Need an opinion if I need to put my ride in the shop, I have a 2015 cougar FTD merc 250 pro xs two 12 ft talons 4 batteries had left tank full around 10 gallons in the right tank (roughly) I got an atlas hydraulic jackplate and a 25 3 blade fury. Saturday I was fishing a tournament had the live wells full and I could hardly get the boat on pad. I weigh 220 and my partner probably around 240+ I thought I was going to have to make him get on the bow. I use 100% gas every time plus quicksilver fuel conditioners. Ran great once I got it on pad. Should I be concerned?Had the same problem with my 15 Cougar FTD. Same set up that you have mentioned. I went to a 25P Fury4 and the problem was pretty much resolved. The only difference is that I have a manual Slidemaster that I raised about 1/2 inch after some discussion with Ivan @ BCB from the previous adjustments. I did lose about 2 MPH but still run 70 and that is good with me. It is as BCB stated, you have to get the lift to distribute that weight hanged on the back of the boat. The Fury4 has tremendous lift that you really feel.
© 2026 Bass Cat Boats

