The Jaguar STS is not a new hull, but of course, given its capabilities and Bass Cat President Rick Pierce’s frequent performance testing with ­Mercury Racing, it was a natural to rig and test it with the latest beast from Team Black, the 500R. Impressive is an understatement: This is a true 100 mph boat. We ran the Jag through its paces up to the limit in the conditions of the day, which was blustery and cold, with a stout 2-foot windblown chop. With two aboard, 35 gallons of fuel and a boatload of fishing gear, we recorded 98.5 mph at 6,400 rpm in a very short run (about a half-mile). It’s clear this rig can give you back more than most can handle.

Fuel-wise, this is a racehorse built for speed; our most economical cruise speed occurred at a swift 4,000 rpm and 49.5 mph, where we recorded 2.7 mpg at a thirsty 18.2 gph. The Jag handles big wind chop without complaint; the ride and control is solid, with no bad landings. The performance comes directly from the STS (Soft-Touch Special) hull with a wide footprint.

The Jaguar STS is loaded with features and engineering touches. The sculpted console employs a flush-mounted 12-inch graph that incorporates engine data as well as GPS and maps. Tilt-helm hydraulic steering with an optional Bob’s ­Machine hydraulic setback jack plate keep the ­Mercury 500R in line.

The center console between the seats houses a day box in the upper portion and a cooler underneath.

Three graphs fit at the bow, with two stowed low in the recess and out of the way. A recessed trolling-motor pedal tray features a removable block for fore or aft pedal placement. Built-in rod ramps adorn each gunwale, with large center storage boxes flanked by a rod-storage box on the port side and a general storage locker to starboard. A center step up to the foredeck houses a cooler.

Aft, triangular livewells are engineered to keep water from sloshing, with healthier fish as a result. Small triangular day-storage boxes are located just behind, with larger dry-storage compartments on each side. Easy access to pumps, screens and rigging is under twin hatches at the transom.

High Points

• Unique triangular livewells engineered to keep water from sloshing mean your fish stay healthier. 
• Flush-mounted 12-inch graph at the helm and as many as three graphs installed at the bow; two sit flush in the recess, out of the way.
• Running a 100 mph boat is awesome, especially one like the Jaguar STS that handles so precisely. 
• New, sleeker console redesign directs the pilot’s full attention forward, where it should be. 
• Optional lift latches are patented and preferred by Bass Cat’s Rick Pierce for being user-friendly. 

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury 500R FourStroke 500 hp
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Bravo I FS 15.25″ x 32″ 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.60:1 Fuel Load: 35 gal. Crew Weight: 450 lb.

Pricing and Specs

The post 2025 Bass Cat Jaguar STS appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

The 100 mph Jaguar STS and its 500R Mercury Racing motor isn’t for everyone. In fact, Bass Cat president Rick Pierce personally qualifies each potential Jaguar STS buyer. How? Among other things, he’s looking for a buyer likely to have supercars such as Ferraris, McLarens or Porsches. STS stands for Soft-Touch Special hull. It has a wide footprint and a strategically designed and applied center pad and lifting strakes. The STS hull is not new, but with the arrival of Mercury’s 500R, Pierce had to dial it in for high power. We tested on a blustery day, with windblown lake chop topping 2 feet. This  limited our results to 98.5 mph, but Pierce showed me saved GPS recordings of 103-plus mph.  

Interior and Accessories

As a fishing platform, the Jaguar STS has a new console sculpted to carry a flush-mounted 12-inch ­multifunction display networked to show full engine data, as well as GPS position and charts. Tilt hydraulic steering keeps the Mercury 500R in line. A two-tier center console between the seats provides a step to the aft deck while housing a glove box and a cooler. Sturdy, stylish ­billet grab bars are within easy reach for pilot and navigator.

The large bow panel flush-mounts two stacked MFDs without external brackets, or easily accepts three with a Ballzout bracket. A main power switch, quick trolling-­motor disconnect, and ­digital voltmeter are housed in a ­separate panel in the nose. All lids are supported with new soft-closure seals and “Slam” latches. The trolling-motor pedal position can be customized by fore or aft placement of a removable block. Built-in rod ramps in port and ­starboard gunwales secure rods on deck, and a large center locker for tackle boxes is flanked by a rod-storage box to port and a general storage locker to starboard. A center step up to the foredeck offers a second cooler.

Unique triangular ­livewells on the aft deck are engineered to prevent sloshing and to maintain balance at the centerline. Small triangular day-storage boxes are located behind the livewells, with larger dry-storage compartments on each side. Trays lift out to add access to pumps, screens and rigging already accessible beneath large removable hatches at the transom. 

Read Next: Bass Cat Caracal STS

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury 500R FourStroke 500 hp
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Bravo I FS 15.25″ x 32″ 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.60:1 Fuel Load: 35 gal. Crew Weight: 450 lb.

High Points

• Sleek console redesign for 2024 adds a more aggressive performance look to the deck while focusing the pilot’s full attention forward, where it should be.
• Siren Marine remote monitoring and tracking system helps owners keep an eye on this valuable fiberglass.
• Patented Lift Latches (slang: “Slam Latches”) make closing hatch lids easy and secure; no fiddling and fumbling anymore—just load and slam to close, and push the button to open. Slick!

Low Point

• While Rick Pierce prefers a hand throttle for steadier control for neophytes, we’d rather see a foot pedal for optimal ­performance driving.

Toughest Competitor

• Bass Cat makes it tough to find a close competitor. We are unaware of any 22-footers that can carry 500 hp, but Bullet’s 21XRS (around $150,000) is as close as they come. It measures 21 feet, 10 inches with a 7-foot-7-inch beam, and while Bullet hasn’t rigged one with a 500R, there are many on the water hitting the 90 mph range with a 300 hp outboard. How? The Bullet tips the scales at just over 2,200 pounds.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2024 Bass Cat Jaguar STS appeared first on Boating Mag.

Overview

This new Caracal STS (Soft Touch Series) hull features better load carrying—especially with heavier four-stroke engines—as well as handling and rough-water capabilities.

Test conditions included rough water. Consequently, 74.6 mph was our best—with a very short run-up. In clean water, this rig is capable of 80-plus mph. We went zero to 30 mph in 7.5 seconds, with significant bow rise on initial acceleration. Throttle it at 40 mph, and it quickly accelerates.

Interior and Accessories

The new Caracal STS features long-awaited rod ramps in each gunwale. Large center storage boxes complement a rod storage box on the port side. A small “day box” gives quick access to frequently used items. A center step to the foredeck houses a cooler.

The large bow panel ­permits flush mounting of two graphs without external brackets. Three can be mounted by combining flush fitting and brackets. All lids are supported with new soft-closure seals and Bass Cat-exclusive Lift-Latches, which allow one-step closing with complete water protection. New custom billet wire covers give a clean look.

A recessed trolling-motor pedal tray offers a removable block for fore or aft pedal placement. There are two seat pedestal sockets to match.

New cockpit features include a sculpted console with a flush-mounted 12-inch graph and Custom Reflex padded flooring with STS logos. There’s an optional JL Audio sound system available. Tilt hydraulic steering with an optional Bob’s Machine Shop hydraulic setback jack-plate controls the Mercury 250XS. Billet grab bars are within easy reach of the pilot and co-pilot. The bucket seats were plush but firm. The exaggerated side bolsters delivered support in the rough. Both seat bases tilt forward, revealing storage.

Read Next: Bass Cat Jaguar STS

Aft, triangular livewells, engineered to keep water from sloshing, result in healthier fish. Even the stainless-steel lid latches are mounted on the sides of the livewells as opposed to on top of the lids, to keep the sun’s heat from transferring to the water within. That’s thinking.

This new Caracal STS is an excellent example of whole-boat engineering and design.

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury 250 Pro XS FourStroke
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Fury 14″ x 24″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 52 gal. Crew Weight: 500 lb.

High Points

• Reflex PE floor padding gives a clean look and luxurious feel to the cockpit. 
• Bow panel houses dual flush-mounted  graphs. No brackets required.
• Rod ramps in each gunwale are sure to please serious anglers.

Low Points

• Though Bass Cat CEO Rick Pierce will disagree with me, I don’t like a hand throttle for a 70-plus mph boat; years of racing and high-speed boating have taught me to prefer a foot throttle, which allows for both hands on the steering wheel.  
• Wiring under aft hatches could have used a neatening with a few clamps and tie-straps; Bass Cat assures me that this has been addressed. 

Toughest Competitor

Ranger’s 520R measures about 9 inches longer, holds about the same amount of fuel, and can reach just over 68 mph with a Mercury 250 Pro XS and 23-inch-pitch Mercury Fury propeller. It sells for $98,000 as tested. 

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

The post Boat Test: 2024 Bass Cat Caracal STS appeared first on Boating Mag.

Powered by Mercury Racing’s new 500R outboard, the Bass Cat Jaguar STS is a true 100 mph boat in the right hands on the right day. On a blustery 40-degree morning with 2-foot chop, the Jaguar STS took us to 98.5 mph with two aboard and 35 gallons of fuel. GPS telltales showed us the boat hit 103 mph on several occasions in better conditions. No matter, this Jaguar STS and Mercury Racing 500R package offers all the performance you’re likely seeking. 

The Jaguar STS’s entirely new console features a flush-mounted 12-inch graph that incorporates engine data as well as GPS and maps. Tilt hydraulic steering with an optional Bob’s Machine Shop hydraulic setback jack plate keeps the Mercury 500R in line. A console between the seats houses a glove box in the upper portion and a cooler.

The large bow panel permits ultimate customizing, with flush-mounting of two stacked graphs without external brackets. A third can be added conveniently with a BalZout bracket that Bass Cat favors. A main power switch, quick trolling-motor disconnect and digital voltmeter are housed in a separate panel in the nose. All lids open with a patent-pending flush-mounted, single-lever latch or on rod lockers with dual latches managed by one lever. The latches lock with a firm step on the deck, and their design prevents water entry. Trolling-motor pedal placement is adjustable thanks to its design in a movable block, an ideal setup for anglers who like to fish in front or back a bit from the nose. Built-in rod racks at the gunwales allow hatch access without moving rods. ­Rod-box storage flanks dual tackle lockers at the center deck. A center step up to the foredeck houses a cooler underneath.

Triangular livewells are engineered to be deep and keep water from sloshing for healthier fish at the weigh-in. Easy access to pumps, screens and rigging is under twin removable hatches at the transom.

Bass Cat has held its premier spot as a premium, high-performance bass boat for more than 30 years. And it does it with enviable, head-turning style.

High Points

• New, sleeker console redesign for 2024 is on-point, directing the pilot’s full attention forward where it should be, given the capabilities of this waterborne rocket.
• Triangular livewells prevent sloshing and are just one of many fishing innovations we noted.
• Siren Marine monitoring and tracking system helps owners keep an eye on this valuable fiberglass.
• Billet grab bars are located port and starboard within easy reach for the pilot and navigator.

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury 500R FourStroke 500 hp
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Bravo I FS 15.25″ x 32″ 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.60:1 Fuel Load: 35 gal. Crew Weight: 450 lb.

Pricing and Specs

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Bass Cat always makes boats to get you there first, fastest and with the best tools to catch fish.

Our top speed was nearly 75 mph at 6,100 rpm. However, we believe top speed will tap 80 with better conditions. At 31 mph and 3,500 rpm, the boat’s most efficient speed, it delivered 4.4 mpg. The Caracal’s nimble hull kept us comfortable in rough chop—an extreme test for any bass boat. The all-new deck on this proven hull is loaded. The large bow panel permits flush-mounting two stacked graphs; three can be ­mounted with ­additional brackets. A foredeck dash panel holds a main power switch and digital ­voltmeter. There’s a landing net scabbard and measuring board built into the deck, easy to access and quick to deploy so you can land fish right. Hatch and latch designs keep gear beneath dry and secure. The recessed trolling-motor pedal pocket allows fore or aft adjustment of the pedal. Retractable, built-in rod straps on each gunwale complement a four-rod passenger rack. A rod-storage box on the port side and a dry locker to starboard flank a pair of large centerline storage boxes. A center step up to the foredeck hides a cooler.

The new sculpted console accepts a flush-mounted 12-inch graph. Ours was talking to the motor, displaying engine data as well as navigation and ­sonar. A tilt wheel and hydraulic steering with an optional Bob’s Machine Shop hydraulic jack plate tame the Mercury 250 Pro XS. A two-tier center step between the seats houses a glove box in the upper portion and a cooler underneath. Port and starboard billet grab bars are within easy reach amidships.

Triangular livewells are deep for safe fish transport and to keep water from sloshing. Small triangular day-storage boxes are located just behind the livewells, with larger dry-storage compartments on each side. Easy access to pumps, screens and rigging is under twin hatches at the transom.

Bass Cat has a reputation for being first and best in innovation and outstanding in style and durability, and this ­latest STS version of the Caracal proves it.

High Points

• STS (Soft Touch Series) hull improves load carrying, handling and wave-slicing capabilities.
• Reflex PE floor padding is soft on the feet.
• Bow panel holds dual graphs without using external mounting brackets.

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury 250 Pro XS FourStroke
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Fury 14″ x 24″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 52 gal. Crew Weight: 500 lb.

Pricing and Specs

The post 2024 Bass Cat Caracal STS appeared first on Boating Mag.

The Caracal STS made nearly 75 mph at 6,100 rpm, with a short run in choppy water. This package is easily capable of 80 with better conditions. She’s powerful but fuel-stingy, ­giving us 4.4 mpg at 31 mph at 3,500 rpm. Plenty of wakeboard rollers in rough water proved that the Caracal is solid, tight and like a nimble cat—always landed on her feet.

An entire new deck layout for 2024 is loaded with great features and engineering touches. The large bow panel permits flush mounting of two stacked graphs; three can be mounted with ­additional brackets. A foredeck dash panel holds a main power switch and digital ­voltmeter. So you can land them right, there’s a landing net scabbard and measuring board built into the deck, easy to access and quick to deploy. Hatch and latch designs keep gear beneath dry and secure. The recessed trolling-motor pedal pocket allows fore or aft adjustment of the pedal. Retractable, built-in rod straps on each gunwale complement a four-rod passenger rack. A rod-storage box on the port side and a dry locker to starboard flank a pair of large centerline storage boxes. A center step up to the foredeck hides a cooler.

The new sculpted console accepts a flush-mounted 12-inch graph. Ours was talking to the motor, displaying engine data as well as navigation and ­sonar ­displays. A tilt wheel and hydraulic steering with an optional Bob’s Machine Shop hydraulic jack plate tames the Mercury 250XS. A two-tier center step between the seats houses a glove box in the upper portion and a cooler underneath. Billet grab bars are located port and starboard within easy reach for pilot and navigator.

Triangular livewells are deep for safe fish transport and to keep water from sloshing. Small triangular day-storage boxes are located just behind the livewells, with larger dry-storage compartments on each side. Easy access to pumps, screens and rigging is under twin hatches at the transom.

Bass Cat has a reputation for being first and best in innovation, and this ­latest STS version of the Caracal proves it.

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury 250 Pro XS FourStroke
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Fury 14″ x 24″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1
• Fuel Load: 52 gal.
• Crew Weight: 500 lb.

High Points

• STS (Soft Touch Series) hull improves load carrying, handling and wave-slicing capabilities.
• Reflex PE floor padding is soft on the feet.
• Bow panel holds dual graphs without using external mounting brackets.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

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Rick Pierce, Bass Cat president, is a fisherman at heart and an engineer who loves bass boats. Pierce and his design team continue to refine Bass Cat boats such as the Jaguar, squeezing in more fishability, more speed and better handling in each passing model year.

Last time we ran the Jaguar with a Mercury Racing 450R outboard, we made 88 mph. Pierce’s team has since refined the boat with its new Soft Touch Series hull form to give easy, smooth handling and better top-end speed. The new Jaguar officially topped 93 mph in our test, but the GPS telltale later showed 94 mph. And we could’ve gone faster, but while the Jag was still gaining speed, we gobbled up water too fast to let the ride develop. We think 100 mph is achievable. But what we liked most was that 75 mph was like a cruise down a country road—easy peasy, with no pressure on the skipper. The handling in turns, the ride in rough water, and the solid way it met the chop were enough to sell it to us, but the boat was built to fish.

So, how does the Jag fish? When a serious bass angler gets in the engineering room, details develop that never occur to most boatbuilders. Examples include the dual angler rod boxes, plus one more amidships, and tackle racks that extend accordion-style, offering Plano boxes. Patented latches snap open at a touch and latch just as quickly at the tap of a toe. Thanks to their positioning and creative design, they can’t leak into the compartments. Deep, triangular livewells stop sloshing—better for the fish and the ride. The bow deck can handle two 12-inch displays, allowing you to use side scan and live sonar concurrently. Rod lockers have small tackle trays for keeping pesky gear in place, and a deep helm compartment lets anglers stow items securely out of the way. The wide beam and narrow gunwales afford two anglers breathing room on the wide casting deck.

If the Bass Cat team thinks of anything else to make your fishing easier, you can bet it will be built into the next model. Bass Cat is always improving its boats, which is why we always look forward to the next new model year. 

High Points

• Ingenious stainless-steel latches close with a snap and won’t leak in the compartments.
• Bilge hatch slides off of hinge pins to ease access to the batteries and pumps below.
• Dual fuel tanks balance the load for performance.

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury 450R
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Bravo 4 20″ 4-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.60:1 Fuel Load: 30 gal. Crew Weight: 400 lb.

Pricing and Specs

Bass Cat Boats – Midway, Arkansas; 870-481-5135; basscat.com

The post 2023 Bass Cat Jaguar appeared first on Boating Mag.

STS is Bass Cat speak for “soft touch system,” which refers to the boat’s penchant for soft landings and easy handling in the rough stuff. It’s the easiest boat to coax to 80-plus mph, and in our tests, we touched 79.3 mph with a full complement of gear, half-full livewells, an engine not yet broken in, full fuel, sticky and slick -water, and muggy conditions. Best cruise with the 300 Pro XS was at 4,000 rpm and just under 39 mph, where we recorded 9.2 gph and 4.2 mpg, giving a healthy 227-mile range leaving 10 percent in reserve.

This Bass Cat’s appeal is not just performance and economy. It’s a thoughtfully designed and executed fishing platform that will delight experienced and weekend anglers alike. First, the fit-and-finish is second to none. Bass Cat gelcoaters have the experience and talent to pull off complicated and attractive gelcoat schemes. All Bass Cats are built of the toughest woven roving, laminated between a chopped skin, and feature top coats with premium-quality resins that optimize tensile strength and flex. The process protects boats from print-through and adds impact resistance. 

An 18-layer-thick special transom bonds with the stringer box grid. The hull is foamed in, then layered with fiberglass to keep it intact and water-free. There’s no wood to rot, which helps to ensure a long life span.

On the foredeck, it’s now standard to stack LCD graphs in a convenient and accessible location to the starboard of the trolling motor. A recessed foot-control pocket is adjustable for placement fore and aft. Bass Cat’s new exclusive “slam” latches on all compartment lids latch at two points with a solid touch, but open with a single tap and pull to the latch lever. New hatch seals are guttered to drain water overboard and keep contents dry.

The driver’s console houses dual graphs flanking the Mercury multifunction gauges for a compact and safe cluster that doesn’t block the pilot’s view. SeaStar Pro hydraulic steering is standard, as is a molded platform for a foot throttle. A newly designed transom reroutes discharge ports for bilge and livewell drains to avoid water splashing back on Power-Poles and accommodate a three-step boarding ladder.

High Points

• Rigging below the deck is easily accessible through removable hatches.
• Speeds up to 80 mph couple with confident handling.
• Innovative features abound and show off Bass Cat’s attention to detail and dedication to function.

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury 300 Pro XS FourStroke 300 hp
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Fury 14″ x 24″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1 Fuel Load: 25 gal. Crew Weight: 450 lb.

Pricing and Specs

Bass Cat Boats – Midway, Arkansas; 870-481-5135; basscat.com

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The Deluxe Tournament has Bass Cat’s 50 years of history stamped all over it. It’s no surprise because Bass Cat President Rick Pierce searched the country to find its original Hull No. 1 to restore and retool for this silver anniversary commemorative boat. The limited edition drew more eyes than a ’72 Cutlass convertible. Like a modern Charger, it clearly has the classic DNA, but with modern all-composite construction as well as state-of-the-art wiring harnesses for both reliability and durability. 

The Deluxe Tournament is fast and nimble, especially considering it’s basically a 50-year-old design. We saw an easy 48.3 mph with the smooth Mercury 115 Pro XS FourStroke pulling at 5,650 rpm with a 22-inch-pitch Mercury Tempest stainless-steel propeller. Acceleration was brisk; we hit 30 mph in 6.7 seconds from an in-gear, dead-idle start. However, fuel economy is where this package really shines. With a best cruise speed of nearly 29 mph at 3,500 rpm, the 115 was sipping fuel at just 3.3 gph. (That’s a crazy-high 8.7 mpg!) Range is over 133 miles, using 90 percent of the boat’s 17-gallon capacity.

While Pierce and crew widened the footprint of the Deluxe’s hull, it’s still just over 73 inches wide—that makes it easy to handle and drive around the docks as well as out on the open water. Rough water can be, well, a little rough, but this classic’s narrow beam lets it stay on top at slow speeds to soften the chop. Just trim in, drop the throttle a tad, and power right over it. It was a softer ride than many aluminum bass boats of this size. 

Modern refinements include recessed cleats and a trolling-motor foot-pedal well. The bow casting deck has dedicated space for a 10-inch graph (7 inches is standard on the foredeck and console). Bow-to-stern reflex PVA deck padding is custom-inlaid with legacy Bass Cat logos and Ron and Rick Pierce signatures. Two seats are standard and double as fore and aft fishing-platform seats. A Mercury 90 hp FourStroke is standard. (Our test boat’s 115 Pro XS is an option.) The Deluxe Tournament is a limited production build for Bass Cat’s anniversary year, so put your order in now. 

High Points

• Retro bass boat is retooled to fish and perform like a modern boat.
• Two large storage lockers and a 9-foot rod locker make ample storage.
• Console has legacy gauges, but with a high-tech touchpad.

How We Tested

• Engine: Mercury 115 Pro XS FourStroke 115 hp
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Fury 14″ x 24″ 3-blade stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 2.38:1 Fuel Load: 17 gal. Crew Weight: 425 lb.

Pricing and Specs

Bass Cat Boats – Midway, Arkansas; 870-481-5135; basscat.com

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The Bass Cat Cougar FTD is engineered and built to handle all the heft and torque from the latest four-stroke performance powerplants. Our test rig combined a near-80 mph top speed with tight, predictable and smooth handling in our choppy test waters. It’s efficient too; we clicked off 4.7 mpg at a best cruise speed of 33 mph at 3,500 rpm, giving a fishing range of 220 miles.

The Cougar is also available in the Hybrid 203 version, which engages the venerable Champion 203 running surface, and now boasts Bass Cat’s latest construction and materials while maintaining a solid reverence for the Champion’s V-bottom and reverse-chine shape. Rock-solid on the water, it generated 73 mph in our tests, with a gentle ride and steady steering at speed.

Both models are fast, but also designed to fish hard. A wide foredeck—FTD stands for Full Tournament Deck—enables anglers to stand shoulder to shoulder when fishing between docks or in timber. A padded deck keeps them comfortable, as does the custom trolling-motor pedal pocket and dual leaning seat sockets. Rod lockers are dry and padded, and keep rods secure. LED lights come on in compartments when the hatches open. Livewells are triangular and deep instead of broad and shallow, which stops sloshing that can injure the fish.

The FTD is tastefully flashy too. The gelcoat is glossy, with brilliant metal-flake and crisp color accents. Both Cougars are 100 percent fiberglass, with an 18-layer factory-built fiberglass transom bonded together with the stringer-box grid in a vacuum process that produces a rigid hull that stops oscillation. The rot-proof hull and structural grid add strength and performance, and reduce weight.

The Cougar’s piping and tubing were true and plumb; its tinned-copper wiring harness was properly loomed and supported all the way to each terminal or component. Custom touches abound too, such as undercompartment lighting activated by stainless-steel lid switches, and illuminated Lucite gunwale grab bars, and a custom-molded console fitted with all standard instruments and plenty of space for a multifunction display.

High Points

• Wide, spacious fore and aft decks make for a platform that won’t crowd an angler and partner.
• Heavy-duty Marine Town stainless locks and hinges, plus extra-thick seals, ensure hatches and lids close watertight and don’t rattle.

Specs

LOA: 20′4″

Beam: 7′10″

Draft: 1′2″

Dry Weight: 1,805 lb.

Seat/Weight Capacity: NA

Fuel Capacity: 52 gal.

Price: $87,850

How We Tested

Engine: Mercury 250 Pro XS FourStroke 250 hp

Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Fury 14″ x 24″ 3-blade stainless steel

Gear Ratio: 1.75:1

Fuel Load: 15 gal.

Crew Weight: 400 lb.

More Information

Bass Cat Boats – Midway, Arkansas; 870-481-5135; basscat.com

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