Got myself a new Cat

[Larson15]

After having some incurable performance issues with my Triton I decided to get myself a new Cat. Here are a few pics.

[paceman]

Wow! That boat is a beauty! Congratulations!

[MN BassFisher]

Whoa, that thing looks sharp!!

[bassfshin24]

Wow...that is one nice lookin rig! Very jealous! What was the deal with your triton and what year did you have? Just curious as I have a triton as well.

[Larson15]

It was an 18x2 with a 150. The holeshot was terrible and incurable with 2 guys and livewells full. On a hot summer day it would not get on plane. Water pressure was terrible as well due to hull design. Lots of guys with the same boat are having the same issues and most have either gotten out of them or are considering a lawsuit against Triton. Also chine walked at 54 mph like a raged bull. Tried raising the motor to lose the chine walk which helped but water pressure and hole shot got worse. I researched, talked with people, spent some money and alot of hours trying to fix these problems without getting anywhere. Just got tired of it.

[Superduty]

Is that a Pantera II? Sharp boat! I'm in the market if I can get rid of my current boat. I'm ready to make someone a sweet deal... BassCat is one of the boats I'm considering if and when I get healed up enough to fish. I have had a couple Tritons and have liked them for the most part. I know you are not alone in your problems with the 18x2. Congratulations on the new 'Cat! I'd be interested in hearing your numbers when you get it broke in!

[Central Bassman]

One word... SICK!!!!! I love the colors!! Is that baby brand new? Sure looks like it!!! Congrats!!!

[Hester]

For those of us that have never looked at one of these up close. Is that post on the tongue for some one to hold on to while cranking the rope up? And is that a little pedistal for standing on?

[Juan Grande]

Looks like a sweet rig Larson, congrats!

[Larson15]

Superduty, its a 2011 Pantera II that I bought new from an awesome dealer in Indiana. So far I have gotten 70.4 @ 5600 rpms out if it loaded (30+ rods, all my stuff around 30gal of gas with just myself spinning a 24p fury. Hoping to get 72 out of it once I get the motor up to around 5700-5750. Most guys are running the 25 and 26 fury on this rig but I propped it low for holeshot, mid range and I tend to carry everything I own in my boat. The hole shot is absolutely ridiculous right now. Pretty much is on plane when you nail it without any bow rise and even at 1/2 throttle it gets on plane with no bow rise. I really dont need to be flying around the lake at 75 anyways. I know the guys who are turning the 26 fury are getting 75-77 out of it. Rough water ride is definitely alot better than my last boat which was expected since this one is a little longer. Last boat seemed really heavy with an underpowered motor and got alot of slap on the water. Seems to get on top of the waves and stay there alot easier and will stay on plane all the way down to 22mph. Once I get 10hrs on her I will start playing with jack plate settings and different props. Let me know the details of your current boat, I know a few people looking. If you every want a test ride or come look at it let me know. I did about a years worth of research before buying.

Hester, the grab post and step on the front is for getting in and out of the boat with relative ease from the front. I wasn't sure if i would like this option or not and everyone I talked to has said that its nice to have especially if you fish by yourself and most who decided not to get it wished they had. So far I really like this feature, no more guessing where I might step.

[Superduty]

PM sent

[mww24]

was indiana the closest dealer? Cat is supposedly coming out with a 17 footer rated for 150 that is supposed to see mid 60's. That might seriously get me out of my ranger in a few years. I believe bass cat has some of the best little inovations to make life on the water easier. I love the little indent on the deck for your reels so they lay flattter and the trolling motor doesn't hit them. Congrats on the new rig. Sure is purrty.

[CAMAN]

I need sunscreen for all the sparkles and bling!!! Very nice looking boat and good luck with it!

[Larson15]

There were closer dealers but chose the dealer in Indiana due to reputation and the customer service he provided me. He met me in Fond Du Lac to do the transaction.

They are having there Excellence in Action dealer meeting this week I believe and the Bass Cat Margaay is the new 17ftr that will be coming out. Pretty interesting it will have a 150. If you look around the web a little bit they have released some photos. I think there facebook page which shows each boat build from start to finish by serial number might have it on there.

[mww24]

yep. its the margay. I saw the build on facebook. It was just rough glass and when i last looked. basically just a shell. No lids or consoles or anything like that. a 150 will be sweet. the hull is going to come in at 1300 pounds. my 17 foot ranger rated for a 130 is about 1600. cat is making one of the best boats right now in my opinion. I wish I could get bigger than 17-18 feet but my tow vehicle and storage space or sub-par. congrats again.

[TonkaBass]

Larson! You did good! Very sweet rig.

[dudewheresmyboat]

Thas a nice rig!!

[TR21HP]

Very nice Larson15, I have a couple of friends that are sponsored by Bass cat and although they get them practically free they will tell you that the Cat is leading the way in quality and performance. Their customer service is second to none and you are lireally dealing with the family who owns it when you need to talk to someone. I got a chance earlier this summer to ride and fish out of the new Eyra. Unbelievable fit and finish and performance. The Pantera you have is beautiful. As a former owner of 2 Tritons isn't that ride without the chinewalk fun?

[st.crioxfishin]

sooo sweet man! congrats. did you have it out on waconia that day you did well out there? If so, I think I saw you fishing up shallow at one point during the day. I just remember thinking how nice of a boat that was.

[fishuhalik]

Wow! Very nice boat, congrats

[kaine]

definitely a nice ride. congrats!

[kt]

Awesome boat. congrats. If you are ever in the Alexandria area and need a fishing partner I'd probably give gps coordinates just to fish in something that nice.

[chuckwagon]

That is one sweet boat Larson! I have a 81 lund 14 foot that I have made more bass friendly. hahah .... some day I will be upgrading to the real deal. I have a question about how full blown bass boats handle the choppy water ... say if you were out on some big water like mille lacs. are they stable? do you take on a lot of water? I have never fished from a bass boat so i have no real knowledge of how they are to manuver or drive in different conditions ... especially when you start getting technical about chine walking and all that good stuff!

[Deitz Dittrich]

Chuck- Seat time will help a ton.. As the sides of a bass boat are not as high as a alum, you can take water on, but its more about boater error, I have been on mille on some tough days and to be real honest, its no more wet than an alum, and at the end of the day, you will be less sore. The biggest advantage a glass boat has is WIND.. even a small wind can mess with a alum boat, blows it around like a sail. Where a low sitting glass boat can stay put much easier.

Granted this is just my opinion from riding in a lot of boats.. but im going to stick with it.

[mww24]

i agree with dietz. even glass walleye rigs tend to sit much lower in the water than aluminum walleye rigs and handle wind better. It makes it much easier to control a drift. The low profile of bass boats invites more water over the bow when fishing into the waves. nothing the two bilges can't handle. Also if you look at aluminum boats the keel usually just gently curves up into flat high sides. Bass boat and other glass boats usually have sharp edges that are designed to throw spray away from the boat usually resulting in less spray coming into the boat. as with any new hobby practice makes perfect. and to be honest, some days on big water a lot of boats and boaters have no business being out there. always wear a pfd and killswitch.