Home › Forums › Bass Cat Boats › Puma vs. Eyra comparison
I had posted something similar on BBC and a couple of folks asked that I copy the information here as well. There was a post asking about the Puma/Eyra differences and this is what I came up with. I modified it slightly to add a little more info.
I have a fair amount of experience in both hulls. I’m currently on my second Eyra in 5 years and have several very close friends with Puma’s.
–Puma front deck is slightly bigger at the trolling motor pedal. It’s not a huge difference but I find it noticable. Better for the guy on the troller
–Eyra front deck is slightly wider at the consoles and the middle of the deck extends slightly further rearward towards the consoles. Better for the guy standing behind the guy on the troller
–Top speed is very close between the two. I think the Eyra has more potential with a light setup. However, loaded out on tournament day both are capable of Mid to upper 70’s every day with a full tournament load. Very close here and should not be a deciding factor in my opinion.
–Handling will go to the Eyra. Once you learn the little details of driving an Eyra it will carve turns and bayous like no other I’ve been in except an Allison hull.
–Hole shot goes to the Puma. The hole shot times are very similar, but the Puma comes out a little flatter which is helpful in extremely shallow water like we fish here in Southeast La.
–Rough water ride is a toss up. They both do very well. I find the Eyra’s handling makes it easier to correct and navigate in between rollers. The Eyra almost refuses to stuff a wave unless you are really off of your game. It has compensated for my poor driving and saved me from getting wet several times.
–Storage is also a toss up. I am in love with the coffin lid setup on the Eyra and is one of the main reasons I went with another Eyra instead of the Puma. You may prefer the split front storage and more traditional box on the front deck of the Puma. I also believe the Eyra has slightly larger openings on the rear deck for rear storage although the actual boxes are the same size.
–Ice Chest goes to the Puma. It’s bigger and deeper. Don’t underestimate the importance of the ice chest when fishing in the heat of summer. We go through a bunch of drinks down here and The Eyra’s cooler is adequate but not as good as the Puma. Thankfully they both have an additional ice chest under the center seat/step. Since the latches were changed to the new style they both hold Ice exceptionally well.
–Seating is a little tighter in the Eyra. You sit lower and there is less leg room under the console in the Eyra. I prefer the lower seating as it makes me feel more secure when running hard instead of sitting on top of the boat. It’s important in the Eyra because it turns so hard. I am 6’1″ tall with a long inseam and don’t have an issue with the Eyra cockpit but it is different and you should sit in both. The cockpit area overall is smaller in the Eyra.
–Handling on the trolling motor goes to the Eyra. It is just more nimble and goes where you point it effortlessly. The Puma is great on the troller as well but can’t match the quick direction changes and “backing up” abilities of the Eyra.
–If you fish offshore mostly, I believe your decision is easier. Go with the Puma. It is slightly more stable and the little bit more room up front by the troller will help.
–It’s really tough to describe the differences without spending time in both. Overall I’d say the puma is slightly bigger, Just as fast as the Eyra in most conditions, a little roomier in the cockpit, slightly more comfortable overall. More of a sport touring type setup.
–The Eyra feels much more sporty. It handles like its on rails, It’s an overall slightly smaller package, has a unique but wonderful storage layout, and I personally think the body lines are just beautiful! It’s a stunning looking package even now after 9 model years.
–I prefer the sporty feel, looks, storage layout of the Eyra. But we each place different value on certain things so its important to find someone to spend some time with before making the decision.
I hope this helps some of you who are new to Bass Cat and anyone trying to decide on your next model.
Chris Coupel
Paulina, La.
Chris
Best write up on the differences of the two boats without bias input…because you have owned both. This can also be used to compared the Eyra vs the Cougar. Minus the layout opinion as the Cougars is different, but hull is the same as the Puma. The additional info you added from your BBC post was perfect.
I loved my Eyra. The coffin lockers are the best set up in my opinion. I believe the only place my PII stands out compared to the Eyra is the super fast Hole shot to 65 mph. Other wise… I miss the Eyra!
Again, great comparison!
Don
One other consideration I made in a comparison is overall length for storage. It may seem trivial, but the Eyra has a 3 inch shorter storage length and just fits in my 23 foot deep garage. This cat can sleep nicely in an air conditioned garage! That is important to me living in Florida.
Good comparison Chris. Thanks for posting.
Drop back to the shorter plate (3”-4”) if you need the storage length on any model.
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