Seriously considering this BassCat

[Fisher of Men]

hello guys.  I am seriously considering a AL-2008 Bass Cat P2 - 188hrs on it (actually the one in the classified adds) on the site and he has come off of the price to where we can make a deal!  The seller has been super helpful and its exactly what im looking for as far as length and HP.  However the boat is in Alabama and well.. Im not.  So if you dont mind im gonna ask as many questions as I can to you guys before I make the trip out there.  I know this boat is known a a sportscar and im cool with that but I also want comfortable deck space, storage and leg room at the console(im 6'2) this is just as important to me as going 70mph.  I am taking my tournament fishing to the next level and want this next purchase to be the right one.  Ive heard nothing but great things about BassCats and their owners are very partial to them and seem to buy them over and over again. I have looked at Nitro's, Rangers, etc... you name it but I am going to spend the extra money on a newer model boat and get something I can keep for a while.  Does it fish bigger than 19'1? How does it do in shallow water? Storage? Hull durability? How does it ride? How does it handle rough water? Please be honest and add anything you think i need to know and your testiment to the boat.  Thanks in advance guys I really appreciate it

[18x2]

The P2 is a great rig that will fish more like a 20ftr because of how the trolling motor pedal is pushed forward.  Regarding leg room you will have more than enough and it is comfortable.  Regarding storage I think it really shines with the 2 big open compartments on the deck.  I can also get 8 ft rods on both sides as well.  Shallow water it does great as it doesn't take much to draft this boat and the hull is rock solid.  Rough water wise its really good and will cut through waves or ride on top of them really well.  I did a lot of shopping around before I bought mine and live in a state that is dominated by ranger, triton and skeeter.  I went several states away to get a Cat for numerous reasons.  If you want to speak to me direct let me know.

[Flyswatter]

Yes the PII fishes bigger.  Actually, longer.   The PII may be 19'1" but I'll tell you inside the deck the length fishes more closer to a 20' boat because of the bow forward recessed TM foot pedal.   You actually separate yourself from conglers by another foot in comparison to other 19' boats.  Neat trick and setup that's functional and useful from bass cat.  Also,  being bow forward you won't hit the boats gunnel as much roll casting or flipping under docks.  Great use for sight fishing if you are into that seasonal endeavor.  Hope you get it.  That is one very sharp boat.  If you do you will be on very smart guy.

Fly

[Baldybarton]

Yes the PII fishes bigger.  Actually, longer.   The PII may be 19'1" but I'll tell you inside the deck the length fishes more closer to a 20' boat because of the bow forward recessed TM foot pedal.   You actually separate yourself from conglers by another foot in comparison to other 19' boats.  Neat trick and setup that's functional and useful from bass cat.  Also,  being bow forward you won't hit the boats gunnel as much roll casting or flipping under docks.  Great use for sight fishing if you are into that seasonal endeavor.  Hope you get it.  That is one very sharp boat.  If you do you will be on very smart guy.

Fly

If I didn't know better I would think it was your boat he was looking at, oh wait it is. Haha!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Flyswatter]

Nope,  not mine but posting for a friend. It's great looking boat though.

[Fisher of Men]

Check out the Brech Marine website... Ive actually changed to the midnight blue, red and white boat...Its more my color scheme and the extras i want.  I'm a Yamaha fan and always have been, but ive heard great thiings about the e-tec and this is one sharp boat!!!

Here's the link:  http://www.brechmarine.com/components/com_joomgallery/img_originals/online_inventory_4/boats_2/used_boats_1/img31_20110607_1218756917.jpg

[GRR884]

Sharp boat. I love my P-II...just wish I could drive it Still learning

[Flyswatter]

Gary, 

Seat time and lots of open water to open her up.  I've been there and you will get figured out over time.   Extremes have seen the PII hit 77 plus in cold air temps, 74-75 summer with light load single drivers,   71-73 with co-anglers.  Not bad for a 200HP setup.  That's as fast as many bigger boats with 250 setup.  BassCat knows how to build a bass boat that excels in many bass boat related categories. 

Oh,  and your PII looks absolutely awesome.  Great color scheme.

[GRR884]

Gary, 

Seat time and lots of open water to open her up.  I've been there and you will get figured out over time.   Extremes have seen the PII hit 77 plus in cold air temps, 74-75 summer with light load single drivers,   71-73 with co-anglers.  Not bad for a 200HP setup.  That's as fast as many bigger boats with 250 setup.  BassCat knows how to build a bass boat that excels in many bass boat related categories. 

Oh,  and your PII looks absolutely awesome.  Great color scheme.

Tom, What I do is get the boat to max speed trimmed all the way down. Once I've achieved that then just the slightest bump of the trim. You'll eventually feel it "pop" up and sit on pad. I'll bump the trim just to the point where I start to see the bow of the boat slightly bump around. At that point I'll kick it back and it'll run straight but top out at 69. It has more room to go but if I do she'll start chining uncontrollable.

High temperatures next week at LSC will be around 70 and with water temp in the 60's I hope to put a new max speed on the GPS.

[Flyswatter]

Gary,

Hopefully Gchagler will chime in and can help with your merc setup on motor height.  He's one of the top Merc setup guys on PII and he's busted 76 with his setup.    What prop do you have? 

Also, Yep,  you got a lots left.  That is a BA combo you have there.   ProXs is one strong motor!!!  When chine starts try timing quick little jerks to the left feeling pressure or torque on the steering wheel going left all at the same time.  I know there is lots to process here.  Just before you feel the bow sway to the right is when you want to jerk a little to left on the steering wheel.  You'll start to feel it and sometimes will make bigger turns to the left to prevent the bow swaying to the right.  It's a timing thing.  Also, try keeping pressure on the steering wheel to the left when you start feeling the chine. 

Once you learn that and you will watch out.  They won't catch you.   

[CarkyF]

Fisher of Men,

Your height will be no problem for the pII.  It has plenty of leg room, even for 6'2" guy.  Prior to buying a new PII in January 2011, I studied the owners board for 3 years reading most posts.  For me, a boat is a major investment.  Countless hours were spent studying each model.  The final decision for us was the PII.  At 19', it is very maneuverable for fishing boat docks.  It takes rough water better than a lot of the 20' boats I have been in.  My cousin owns a 20 foot Ranger and was shocked at the PIIs ride in rough waters faced on Eufaula and Guntersville.  The storage is very generous.  I like the way BCB does not put anything in the front storage compartments.  This let me set up my own tackle storage set up.

Having said the positives, let me touch a few things you may encounter if you have not run a BC before:
1.  Loading and unloading the boat is a little different.  BCB rigs are designed to drive on and drive off of the trailer.  Make sure you do not get the trailer to deep in the water.
2.  The PII may not need all of the trim the outboard can give it.
3.  The owners board at www.basscatboats.com is your owners manual.  Tremendous resource.
4.  Parts and service departments are excellent.  No automated phone nonsense to deal with.

Good luck with your decision.  That red, white and blue PII you mentioned belongs to a friend of mine.  Fished out of this boat 3 weeks ago.  Super nice rig.
Carky 

[TexaBamaBass]

Personally I think its a GREAT boat, perfect for you!  Tom and Carky have seen, ridden, even driven this boat...they know it!

[Flyswatter]

I'd be all over this boat.  That boat is BA and can run as fast as any PII out there too.  Looks better in person too.

[merc1997]

i have ran basscats since 1980.  once you own one, you will never change unless someone is giving you a boat for free.  and, then you might just trade it in for another cat.

bo

[H2O_Fowl]

Knowing what I know now about how they are built and have been built I will never own another brand.  They are built head and shoulders better than any brand I have owned.  And the customer service has to be the best of any company, boat company or not.

[Flyswatter]

There are many good quality boats to choose from but there several value added BassCat attributes that really stands out to me that goes beyond a quality build and that is the online support to gets answers to better educate ourselves with our boat purchase, finding solutions to the unexpected issue and the community spirit that full circles a great ownership experience.  As I stated earlier there are many great boats but very few that has the depth that BassCat offers.