I had the same problem with mine. 23 Puma STS. Handle wouldn’t stay locked. Dealer added spacers to the main block and added brake fluid. It works great now. I will monitor for leaks.
SLummp…..very helpful. I also found a video on line that said the same. Just got back from vacation where I left the boat on the water for 5 nights. We had rain and I was nervous about getting too much water in the boat as it was close to the end of the overhang. So, I should turn main switch off and put bilge button to auto and leave it during times of rain, etc. This should not drain much battery, as it’s really just the little light that is on continuously?
thanks.
I have a new 23 Puma STS also. My latches have, for the most part, been great. Occasionally a couple of the buttons have been a little “sticky,” but overall they’re great.
my net storage has a simple hole drilled at the lowest point. Nothing fancy, but functional. Perhaps an oversight during the boat build?
this is my first boat with a smartcraft gauge I’m not sure I’ve seen a speedometer function on mine, but I really haven’t looked. Mine doesn’t show water pressure is it supposed to?
The lighting issue…..I was recently cleaning out my boat after a big day in heavy rains. I had the front compartment lids open. One of the front box lights didn’t come….until it did. Seemed ok after a brief period of not working. Then, after a period of several minutes, all the lights began flashing. Turning the master switch on and off solved the problem.
The panel resetting/turning off on cranking the motor sounds like a voltage issue.
good luck
I had the MG 109 on my previous boat. It finally died (after 16y). Switched to Garmin. My advice would be, find someone who works at Garmin to get you the discount, buy the Force and run it on 24volt. Would be faster without having to go 36v. The discount takes some of the sting out of the cost.
First, I’d make sure you’re getting full throttle. Then I’d try to optimize my weight distribution….heavy stuff in the back, light stuff in the front. Take an honest assessment of what a “tournament load” is. Subtract weight where feasible. Does the boat seem to lift……does it ever get “lighter” as your speed creeps up? As you’re running, does the water spray break rear of the console? Does it respond to trim? Is the boat “plowing the water?” Don’t know max rpm for that motor, but 5400 seems low.
Without knowing the whole story, hard to know exactly what may be wrong. Are you new to driving a bassboat? Not trying to offend…..just don’t know.
I think you should be seeing better numbers than you are.
I would stay with the 23pitch for now and keep working on your setup as far as weight distribution. As you break in the motor, you can have brief periods of WOT and can find the sweet spot.
Others may be able to recommend a good starting point for engine height.
make sure you have a long stretch of water as speed takes time to develop. Trim up just enough to get the hull to lift.
I believe, on this site, there is a good write up on driving a basscat hull……check that out as well.
good luck
I bought a little pry bar from harbor freight for 5 bucks. Wiggle it under the bottom of the post and it pops right out.
I have a 23 puma with two 10 inch graphs on ram mounts.
Basscat has provided a very nice step and pole on the front of the trailer. Having said that, at 75 years old, do yourself a favor and get the trick step. Even with the factory steps, you really need to be pretty nimble……regardless of what graphs you have and how they’re mounted…..to use the steps and get up on and over the nose of the boat. It would be very easy to get tangled up and slip, and that’s a ride you don’t want to take.
You’re putting together one hell of a boat….. do whatever you can to stay healthy enough to use it.
You’ve earned that boat and you’ve earned those fancy steps. Figure out what graph mounts you prefer and get those……just don’t make climbing over them a part of your decision.
best of luck.
Corky,
I just happened to have a Ram Mount from a previous set up and decided to use it…..because I had it. I have a Ram mounted on each “step” in the front graph area on the bow. I thought I was going to like being able to swivel the mounts to get different viewing angles, but honestly……I pretty much just lock them down and leave them alone. I think I will eventually use one of the longer arms available to put a graph up higher (closer) so I can see it better while dropshotting. But , honestly, I rarely dropshot.
I have friends that use forward facing sonar a lot, and they have a mount where the unit slides up and down a “pole” and that’s a pretty cool setup. They use it primarily for crappie fishing. If I was going to be fishing while seated, I’d give something like that strong consideration.
You could also just mount each unit straight to the built in steps without any mount at all. In hindsight, I think that would be a good way to do it. It would keep the graphs more flush with the front of the boat, and keep them out of the way of casting. If it didn’t mess up the placement of the cover, I’d seriously consider just doing that. (I haven’t moved my Ram mounts at all yet……so why even have them?)
All kinds of choices out there. I say, have fun with it (you’ve earned it)…..and choose what pleases you. Set it up knowing that you won’t need to worry about climbing over it (get the trick step or something similar).
With your health considerations, I would make things as easy/safe as possible and not look back. I provide anesthesia at a trauma center here in the Midwest, and I see cases all the time where someone gets their feet tangled up and falls……needs surgery for broken bones or worse, and pretty much changes things for the rest of their life. Don’t be that guy if you can help it.
Enjoy the process.
Good luck, Tim
I’ve dealt with the same issue. Small pry bar is what I use.
© 2026 Bass Cat Boats
