Questions About Puma FTD

[basscat247]

Where are you from. Coming on this board and asking that question you are going to get nothing but biased opinions. Maybe somebody can take you for a ride or let you drive and let you decide for yourself. As for ride in rough water. I ran a Puma for a couple years. Took it to Lake Champlain for a couple months. Never one bit of trouble and never got wet. Is a fishing machine and maybe one of the best running and riding boats I have ever been in. Good Luck

[Anonymous]

Sir, I maintain a home and lived part-time at Lake of the Ozarks for a number of years! I dont have a idea where you are at but I dont believe you will find a more “busy” lake anywhere in the country when it comes to boat traffic, and I mean “Heavy” boat traffic. 35 to 50 cruisers and power boats to get around and have them go around from the middle spring through about the end of fall is a just a fact of life. I run a 07 Puma and must say I never have been concerned either coming or going back to the ramp. I will say that some of the rides have, not been pleasent, but using ones head, then its “no problem”. I must say this, I have seen several G-Boats as well as others that slid behind a wake and I had to look to see if they come up! I have run other boats in my involvement in this sport, some good and some not so good. The best thing I like about this boat, or any well rigged BCB, is the quick pick-up to get around one of these whales!! Dont try it with the Powerboat boys! The only other thing I would tell you, and its, IMHO, rethink your opinion on the dual consule. Regards, Chuck

[fat basser]

Thanks guys. I live in the Chgo area. I can appreciate your point on the dual, but for me, its a single. I thought you could add a second console on the FTD if you wanted?Last edited by fat basser on July 3rd, 2009, 2:15 am, edited 1 time in total.Mike Caponigro Cary, IL 2010 Jaguar/ Merc 250 Pro XS http://www.xtremek9.com

[derek4one]

You can add a console if needed at any time. I personally run a 2008 Cougar but my boss runs a 2009 Puma FTD i have been in it numerous times and in alot of conditions you have no worries if you decide on a Puma FTD. Top of the line boat in all kinds of water i have been in other brands that you need a rain suit to ride in on a sunny day but you will never say that about any Bass Cat i have ever been in. In my opinion a Puma FTD with a 250 Pro XS is the best Bass Boat and setup built…. Period!!!!! Its a total performace machine.

[PhilAddison]

You are correct that you can add the second console at a later date if desired. Im with you on the single vs. dual console debate. Single console gives tons more floor space and room. You are also right in that it is set up as a fishing machine………………ample storage with a net compartment and other neat little features for measuring board, tools, etc, large livewells with large aerators/recirc pumps, stable, consoles set up for large framed electronics which will keep cold air off of you and instruments which are far the most part in view and not behind the steering wheel, and the list goes on as you will experience one day. The new Jaguar will have even more “fishing” amenties! As far as your initial question with the Gambler – Puma FTD comparison………………I think that youll find that the Puma FTD will ride as good or better as any listed 21 foot boat on the market. The Puma FTD and any other Bass Cat is measured right down the centerline of the boat and is a little longer if you measure the longest point to the bow. Others will measure the longest point and post that as the length. In addition, moving the trolling motor foot pedal basin farther forward than others will make any 20+ BCB fish as big or bigger than others 21s. One of the biggest questions that Ive ever wanted ask a Gambler owner is how does it feel to sit on the floor and how do you see over the bow of the boat? While Gambler is one of only a handful of boats that Ive never ridden in, I will guarantee that I would be surprised if the Puma FTD didnt ride as good or better and i would certainly guarantee that the Puma FTD is a much drier ride. In fact, I will give any of the 20 ft. class Bass Cats the highest mark in the market when it is compared against others in the dryness category. In addition, when it comes to top end speed, theres only been one boat that has ever eaten my lunch and that was a Bullet w/ a 300 Mercury. You cant and you wont go wrong by choosing a Puma FTD over any other boat out there if you compare every characteristic there is. A Bass Cat will grade out in the top three in every category if not best in class. Add customer service to the characteristics and its easy to determine why BCB customers are the loyalest and the reason why Bass Cat has won the JD Powers Award 4 or 5 years in a row. I suggest you find someone in your area to give you a ride and let you determine for you own if it fits your needs and answers your questions. In the meantime, if you have specific questions about Bass Cat boats, continue to ask here. Good luck with your decision and hope we see you in a Puma FTD or other BCB soon!

[markdille]

Phil, I wouldnt be so quick to judge the Gambler ride. Those that havent been in one assume a fast, but rough ride. That is not the case at all, quite the opposite actually. Sitting on the floor actually becomes quite comforting if you dont have medical issues getting in and out of the seat. It feels safe and secure. One of the best seating arrangements for high performance driving. If youre idling in stumps, you are defintely kind of blind in the Gambler, but in any other case, the trim tabs keep the front down during the hole shot. Another huge advantage of the Gambler console design that most dont notice is that the windshields are never in the way during a sidearm cast. Its like fishing from a boat without any consoles at all. Now, to the point. The Gambler fishes “front up”. With only one person fishing, it flattens out fairly well. With two aboard, it goes nose high again. It makes the platform less desireable, but is designed that way to extract more speed from the hull. It is also quite a bit thinner than the Puma FTD at the bow. However, the 2200 has the quick access rod boxes and an insanely long front deck. Ive never fished from a 2200. Some love those boxes (I think I would but dont know for sure), and some hate them. They eliminate the need for the whole slew of rods laid out on the front deck. The rest of the layout is really thought out quite well. It wont have the volume of storage that the Puma FTD will have, but its well done. As for handling rough water, theyre both high performance bass boats with a 20″ transom design. Definitely in the same category. What one can handle, the other can as well. As for the quality of the ride in those conditions, that will be debatable, but like I said, dont count out the Gambler too soon. Mike, If youre wanting the best riding BassCat, then wait for the release of the new Jaguar. It will be a full 12″ longer than the Puma FTD. Apparently, it looks to be quite a bit wider as well, which surprised me. However, that may have been a little bit of an illusion from the mold picture. I would bet that it will be awesome, especially with a 300 on it.Last edited by markdille on July 3rd, 2009, 2:16 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[PhilAddison]

markdille wrote: Phil, I wouldnt be so quick to judge the Gambler ride. Those that havent been in one assume a fast, but rough ride. That is not the case at all, quite the opposite actually. Sitting on the floor actually becomes quite comforting if you dont have medical issues getting in and out of the seat. It feels safe and secure. One of the best seating arrangements for high performance driving. If youre idling in stumps, you are defintely kind of blind in the Gambler, but in any other case, the trim tabs keep the front down during the hole shot. Another huge advantage of the Gambler console design that most dont notice is that the windshields are never in the way during a sidearm cast. Its like fishing from a boat without any consoles at all. Mark I dont think I judged the Gambler ride from my comparison. I pretty much summarized that it would be hard to beat a Cat in any category you want to throw out there. Not the case in a Gambler as you pointed out at least two negatives of a Gambler yourself. The guy asking a question already knows what he has in a Gambler as he is trying to get rid of an 09 model! Obviously he is not completely satisfied with the way it fishes, etc.!

[fat basser]

The Gambler ride is very stable and comfortable. It takes a little getting used to sitting “down in” the boat, but I liken it to sitting in a corvette. The ride is not as dry as my Bullet, but overall I would say its like a corvette with a cadillac ride. The storage is abundant but rod lockers are shallow, due to it beiung a double hull design. The front deck is massive, but the read deck is small and with the 2nd console, makes things a little cramped. The Jag will probably not be an option for me due to price. I heard that is will be over $60K.Mike Caponigro Cary, IL 2010 Jaguar/ Merc 250 Pro XS http://www.xtremek9.com

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