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Midnight Rider.
No one actually weighs any brand boat to verify weights. The Sabre FTD does weigh more than the published weight and that guarantees you will get what you are expecting when they are heavier. Just don’t read too much into any boats posted weights.
Huh??
I am reminded of the old Lost in Space tv show robot when he says, ” that does not compute” lol
I really thank you for answering my post but I respectfully disagree because in their same 2019 boat catalog they are listing the following weight for the Margay, 17’7″ with a 90″ beam at 1250 lbs. How does a shorter and narrower boat weigh heavier then a larger boat?
Any boat manufacturer has to list the correct weight for not only the hull weight but for the trailer as well, if not could you imagine someone with a minivan towing a boat that’s supposed to weigh 2000 pounds when it actually is 3000 lb and their transmission blows up, and a slick lawyer sees this discrepancy? Oh boy.
Eventually I will be purchasing and I want a bass cat boat but I need to know more information on their 18-footer. If it is too ” light” with hull materials I will have to look at the Pantera or some other boat.
I thought this was a catalog error but my buddy who owns a Cougar has the last several years of catalogs and they all list the Sabre’s current weight the same as in 2019.
An 18 foot boat would fill my needs perfectly because of the smaller electric-only Lakes near me. This is the only reason for me bringing this up.
The trailers are listed at GVWR. That indicates and dictates everyth8ng in the line of towing weights.
I’ve got the Sabre FTD. My last rig was a Puma. Yes, the Sabre is much lighter, and the wind does blow me around easier while fishing. Aside from the lighter boat & being 2’ 3” shorter, the ride is very impressive. In average chop (Up to 1.5’), I can’t really tell much difference from the 20 footer. To me, the Sabre feels like a 18’1 Puma. In 2’ waves or bigger, then I know I’m riding in a 18 footer and I have to take it easy and break out some driving skills. The Sabre rides dry, and the only way I’ll get water sprayed is to idle sideways in rollers or spear a wave…same as the 20 footer. Hole shot is crazy good, mid range is nuts, and top end is 68-70 no matter what prop I run on my 175 Pro XS. The boat is built and feels rock solid just like 20 footers. The 93” beam is at the transom, and I can see the boat taper gradually toward the bow when standing behind it. It’s built for speed and performance, and it’s not a widebody hull. There is nothing skimped on the build of the Sabre FTD, and it feels every bit the quality of my last boat. It fishes (2) 200 lb+ people very comfortably. I’ve looked at those models you mentioned in the 18’ class, and they are all nice boats with pros and cons to me. They are more egg shaped and wider through the middle, and for some this is a plus. I don’t think there is anything wrong with those brands. For my money, it’s Basscat in any model. The overall quality and performance is just so impressive…even in the Sabre FTD. If you fish small to medium size lakes or highland type reserviors, the Sabre FTD will do the job just fine. Bigger, wider lakes like Sam Rayburn or Toledo Bend, then the P2 would be a better choice. I do fish these lakes in my Sabre FTD. The only disadvantage is when there are 2’+ rollers, then I wish I had another Puma. My Sabre still keeps me dry in the rough stuff though. The ride is really good for such a lighter boat that’s 18’1.
A big thank you for your Sabre experience! I like everything I hear in your reply.
As an update to this “weight” issue I contacted Dallas from BCB and he returned my call and was looking into this discrepancy in the brochures over the years. He stated the hull weight listed should have included the weight of the outboard motor in his opinion. Also the hull weight which is heavier on the Margay than the Sabre FTD is in need of addressing even though it is a shorter and narrower.
Once again a big thank you for information on the Sabre FTD.
On a different note I was at the Columbus, Ohio fishing show (awesome show!) and I met Sherm from Sherm’s marine along with his wife and they had a Pantera Classic with a Caracal as well. Sherm and his wife were awesome folks and I was able to sit behind the wheel of the Pantera Classic and was surprised to find out that my knees were touching the console, this had the hot foot option. I am 6’2″ and was wondering if the Sabre FTD has more knee room?
Thanks in advance for any input.
I’m 6’2 as well. 34×34 pants with a pumpkin head. It’s alot easier for me to surf big waves with just the hand throttle, so I don’t use a hot foot. I have plenty of leg room in my Sabre, but definitely get the tilt steering wheel. I keep mine tilted up all the time. I’m not sure about legroom with a hot foot, but I keep my right foot on that raised “hump” all the time to sort of brace myself without any issues. I think if your knee bumps on the Classic, it would probably do the same on the Sabre FTD.
If you fish solo a lot, the Grab Pole & Step option on the trailer is worth every penny. It’s much easier and safer to climb in the boat when launching by yourself.
Every Sabre or any other model will not be the exact same weight, so a figure is published that’s “close enough”. I can promise you that it doesn’t weigh more than 1250 – 1300 lbs, if that much. The process BCB uses to build the hull is why their boats are lighter than some others. Vacuum bagging the hull is not something other manufacturers do and enables BCB to use less resin while maintaining strength. The stringer system is better as well, and nobody builds a better transom.
Bottom line: you need not have ANY concerns about the quality of any model of BCB. I can run mine on Lake Martin in Alabama, which can have a ton of wake boats, and wind to boot, and I have never gotten wet. If you get into some 2.5 – 3 foot rollers, you have to drive any boat. With normal 1 foot heavy chop, the Sabre just eats it up.
Thank you so much for your information Midnight Rider!
I want to start by saying that I will be buying a Bass Cat boat and I never had any doubt about the quality of their boats, never. I enjoy the “Mom and Pop” feel even after they were sold, the videos are captivating about the boat making process, especially “From Buckets to Boats”.
I never been behind the wheel of a Sabre FTD only a Pantera Classic at the Columbus Fishing Show and my knees were hitting the console so I need to travel to find a Sabre FTD.
I want to ask nicely about something that still puzzles me, I did watch the vacuum process videos and understand it is superior to other methods and it removes the excess weight of unnecessary resin, but a narrower and shorter Margay is heavier, and I assume they vacuum the transom on that model as well? Also when you move up to the 20 foot models the weights of a Bass Cat are almost identical to Rangers, Tritons, Skeeters, and sometimes a bit heavier and they use the vacuum process as well. I am thinking this a catalog error, Dallas from Bass Cat told me on the phone he was looking into this and other items as well.
Anyhow I want to reiterate that I will get some model of Bass Cat but not sure what model currently.
Thanks and I hope everyone has a great and safe weekend!
The Margay is heavier than the Sabre do to the construction technique. The technique is different on the Margay and Pantera Classic than the other models. At least that is what my understanding was on the weight differences.
As said, the Margay and the Classic use similar build techniques, so that may be why the Margay is listed heavier than the Sabre. With regards to leg room, having a hotfoot might cause you an issue…hard for me to know since I’m 5’8″ with a 29″ inseam. Since the FTD comes with the tilt wheel, it becomes less of an issue, and you can always not get the hotfoot. I like the hotfoot, BUT, they can be a pain on longer runs. I’m just used to one.
I think the reason for the 20′ boats being close to the same weight as other 20′ brands is due more to the top cap being so big/wide. The exception would be the Eyra…it’s sort of the Ferrari model with regards to handling. If I was going to get a much larger boat, that’s the one I’d get. I’ve also owned an older PII, back in the mid 90’s. The PII is probably the best 19 foot boat on the market, bar none. It will outrun most boats with a 250, with only a 200. Having said that, the layout is virtually identical to the Sabre. I have a 175 SHO on mine, and with a worked 24″ Tempest Plus, I’m right at 70 mph with a full load, solo. It becomes a bit of a handful above 65, so I am almost certain that when I get the driving down pat, I could do better than 70. At speeds of 45-60 it’s very capable and is a good cruising speed for the hull, and the fuel consumption goes down significantly. But I still like to goose mine a bit. With my Bravo 1 FS 25″ prop, the hole shot improves by a second or two, and the speed is an easy 69.
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