Looking at a legend

caddyjoe77 · November 13, 2013, 07:57:50 PM

So, I have a triton 17 footer now but find that the front deck just is not big enough and I would like to go a little faster.

I have been eyeing the alpha 191 because i can still get it in the garage.

I used to want a PII bass cat, but Legend has caught my eye. It seems like the storage might be absolutely perfect with the center rod storage and the side compartments for gear. I also noticed that legend finishes even the inside of the compartments with gelcoat so you dont get a ton of fiberglass in your arm.

I am scheduling a ride for next spring down by the factory, and am planning on stopping by both the BC factory and legend factory. See how they both treat me...etc. I would not be disappointed with either I am sure but I want to see how it goes in person.

Now, this is not supposed to be a BC vs Legend at all.

For the legend owners, what boat did you have and why did you choose legend in the end as compared to your previous boat?

bassmasta63 · November 13, 2013, 09:35:57 PM

I looked at boats for 2 years, Legend boats called me, e-mailed me, and mailed me their info! None of the other boats I contacted cme close. Legend offered me a free stay in a deluxe cabin and a factory tour and demo ride! After the demo ride I picked out colors and ordered my boat!

BassBUFF · November 14, 2013, 04:42:19 AM

Got a demo ride in one and just couldn't believe the way they handled! Got to go on a factory tour and was treated like family from the get go, and have been since. It boiled down to quality construction, great handling, and the BEST customer service I've ever experienced!

I don't think I'll ever own anything else!

Mike Cork · November 14, 2013, 09:51:23 AM

What got me in my first one was the stable ride and handling of the boat. Very easy to drive, very smooth ride in rough water, and corners like its on rails. It's not the fastest bass boat but will keep up with all the major brands, if you take out bullet-stroker-allison. Custom colors, most boats let you pick colors but only Legend has the fade !!!

The reason I'm a repeat customer is the factory. Every time I go back everyone knows my name, my favorite football team, and the tournament circuits I fish. I get a call from the CEO every couple months to make sure I'm happy, make sure I have no problems or concerns. Once you buy a Legend you become a brother or sister to the growing family.

Visit the factory... You'll see the different work stations and the pride that the builders put into there peice of the over all boat. They all love building boats and want each customer to love what they've built for them. It's easy to see and feel.

Russ199A · November 15, 2013, 07:24:55 AM

I was looking at buying a champion, my at the time boat, broke down and the local champion pro-staff went right on by. Mike & Laurie saw me drifting, quite fishing a tourney, helped to get the boat to a safe launch and gave me a ride from the west end of Cross lake back to the ramp in some pretty rough water @65 mph. I couldn't believe the ride. There is more to that story but that's the basic's.
I looked at a Bass Cat but some folks that kind of always rubbed me the wrong way owned them and I didn't want to be in that crowd. Mike & Laurie put me in contact with the factory, I did the tour and brought home a Demo Boat (like new) that only had a few hours on it.
I had to sell my Alpha 199 but was able to buy an LE-21. Even though I went backwards a year I feel I upgraded since I now own a 21 foot model that handles even rougher water.
That's my story.

Elwood · November 20, 2013, 07:20:02 PM

Caddy Joe...make sure that you take a ride in both before you make up your mind. I have been in both in the best and worst conditions and they both have their perks. Legends are awesome boats and if they did not make Bass Cats I would certainly own one. I would have said the Legend was a better rough water handling boat until this year on Toledo Bend...there were times where all you could see was water and sky, we ran 7 miles through it and never felt in danger. I have also been in a Legend on Caddo in 30 knots winds and never felt threatened but never lost sight of land.....lol On a side note...rough water handling is driver input....some boats handle it better but the drivers skills will dictate whether or not you have sore kidneys. You said FASTER!!!!! hands down...Bass Cat. The things that I like about both companies is that you will join a family and not just buy a boat. Bass Cat folks rubbing people wrong?

Look at the forum activity.....four times as much activity on the BCB thread in the last six months...that says something for the family and the excitement of owning a Bass Cat! You will NOT go wrong with either boat!!! Good luck in your search and make sure you do your research online, in person and on the water.

Flyswatter · November 20, 2013, 09:11:29 PM

If you are serious about both boats:

I am a BassCat owner so I am biased. Here is what I can share about my BassCat ownership experience.

Having owned three different BassCats: 18' SabreFTD, 19'5" Pantera IV and 20'2" Eyra. I've also done setup work on BassCat's Pantera II. I have a good perspective to what BassCat has to offer regarding speed, rough water ride and quality fit and finish.

If Speed is your thing:

18'1" Sabre/175 HPDI, 68-70 plus mph. I've done 72 on the GPS.
19'1" PanteraII/200SHO, I helped dialed in for a friend... 72 mph conservatively, we did 76-77 mph on GPS. 76 has been dialed in with 200 ProXS.... Faaasssstttttt!!!!
19'5" Panter IV/200HPDI 68-72.5 mph on GPS
20'2" Eyra/250SHO 81.9 mph and could have gone faster in the cooler months.

These hulls are fast!!!!

Rough water ride is exceptional. I was out on Kentucky Lake and my little ole SabreFTD last summer and did quite well in the 15 mph swells. On all my BassCat's what I like is how the hull gets on top of the waves/boat chop to smooth out the ride. The Pantera PIV, 19.5" hull is probably the best rough water riding boat I've been in sub 20 boats. It really is impressive. The only boat I've not been in is a Legend but have read they are exceptional. The PIV is often referred to as a Baby Puma. It's front deck is as large as BassCat's signature 20' plus Puma.

Disclaimer: Speed and Rough Water Ride relates to driver input and setup experience. Do not draw any conclusion before you get in both boats with competent drivers.

More BassCat Prideful attributes:
1. BassCat offers Carpeted and finished Fiberglass boxes. Fit and finished are exceptional.
2. BassCat offers lifetime hull warranty that can be passed on to the next boat owner with no limits to the lifetime hull warranty and future buyers. Very impressive value added feature when you go to sell your boat.

If you are serious about these two boats digest all comments and reserve judgement and have fun with the experience.

Respectfully, I can honestly say if I did not have a BassCat the next boat I'd be fishing out of is a Legend. They are damn nice boats, I like the looks and read that their customer support is exceptional. I can see why you would be impressed with the Alpha 191. It has caught my eye too in the past. Someday I hope to test drive one. This I do know you will be happy with either.

Good luck!

caddyjoe77 · December 11, 2013, 06:57:10 PM

Quote from: Flyswatter on November 20, 2013, 09:11:29 PM
If you are serious about both boats:

I am a BassCat owner so I am biased. Here is what I can share about my BassCat ownership experience.

Having owned three different BassCats: 18' SabreFTD, 19'5" Pantera IV and 20'2" Eyra. I've also done setup work on BassCat's Pantera II. I have a good perspective to what BassCat has to offer regarding speed, rough water ride and quality fit and finish.

If Speed is your thing:

18'1" Sabre/175 HPDI, 68-70 plus mph. I've done 72 on the GPS.
19'1" PanteraII/200SHO, I helped dialed in for a friend... 72 mph conservatively, we did 76-77 mph on GPS. 76 has been dialed in with 200 ProXS.... Faaasssstttttt!!!!
19'5" Panter IV/200HPDI 68-72.5 mph on GPS
20'2" Eyra/250SHO 81.9 mph and could have gone faster in the cooler months.

These hulls are fast!!!!

Rough water ride is exceptional. I was out on Kentucky Lake and my little ole SabreFTD last summer and did quite well in the 15 mph swells. On all my BassCat's what I like is how the hull gets on top of the waves/boat chop to smooth out the ride. The Pantera PIV, 19.5" hull is probably the best rough water riding boat I've been in sub 20 boats. It really is impressive. The only boat I've not been in is a Legend but have read they are exceptional. The PIV is often referred to as a Baby Puma. It's front deck is as large as BassCat's signature 20' plus Puma.

Disclaimer: Speed and Rough Water Ride relates to driver input and setup experience. Do not draw any conclusion before you get in both boats with competent drivers.

More BassCat Prideful attributes:
1. BassCat offers Carpeted and finished Fiberglass boxes. Fit and finished are exceptional.
2. BassCat offers lifetime hull warranty that can be passed on to the next boat owner with no limits to the lifetime hull warranty and future buyers. Very impressive value added feature when you go to sell your boat.

If you are serious about these two boats digest all comments and reserve judgement and have fun with the experience.

Respectfully, I can honestly say if I did not have a BassCat the next boat I'd be fishing out of is a Legend. They are damn nice boats, I like the looks and read that their customer support is exceptional. I can see why you would be impressed with the Alpha 191. It has caught my eye too in the past. Someday I hope to test drive one. This I do know you will be happy with either.

Good luck!

Thank you!

caddyjoe77 · January 15, 2014, 08:54:39 PM

So I noticed on the 191, that the front deck is 35 sq feet and the 199 is 40.2 sq feet. On the 191, does anyone have an idea if a 7.5 foot rod can sit without hanging off? I would say probably because they almost fit on my 17.5 foot boat now. Obviously they would be at an angle. For some reason this is a really big deal to me. lol I just dont like rods bouncing off the gel and possibly weakening my rods.

Mike Cork · January 16, 2014, 08:25:00 PM

Yes they will, you shouldn't have any problem.

caddyjoe77 · January 16, 2014, 09:01:13 PM

Quote from: Mike Cork on January 16, 2014, 08:25:00 PM
Yes they will, you shouldn't have any problem.

60 days until the first day of spring officially. I am dying over here!! Cant wait for three things: my two pickwick trips and the trip to the legend factory.

Mike Cork · January 17, 2014, 09:43:49 AM

all three will be a blast

Polaris425 · January 17, 2014, 10:26:05 AM

Quote from: caddyjoe77 on January 16, 2014, 09:01:13 PM
60 days until the first day of spring officially. I am dying over here!! Cant wait for three things: my two pickwick trips and the trip to the legend factory.

Let us know how you do on pickwick! I need to get up there!

18x2 · January 17, 2014, 11:30:52 AM

When I was boat shopping in 2011 I researched and really took my time making a decision on what 19" boat I wanted. I test drove almost everything, drove miles on end to look at certain boats and came up with a decisive decision that I wanted a BassCat Pantera II or a Legend 191. At the time we did have a Legend dealer in Minnesota and it "made sense" to go that route being there was no BC dealer close by. There were a few things that I knew I wanted and was not going to sacrifice, 1. A boat that was an absolute rocket out of the hole (last Triton was a terd out of the hole when loaded), 2. Big front compartments to put Plano XL boxes since I like having all my plastics in 2 big totes, 3. Be able to run 68-70 loaded, 4. Longest front deck for fishing 2 guys and to be able to lay 8' rods down without hanging over. Based on this the Pantera II was a better decision based on the needs I listed.

If I was you, I would go about it the same way with the needs you would like and decide which is better. I am a big fan of both boats and been in both brands quite a bit. Let us know what these are and I can do a pretty good job on comparisons.

Either way you will be buying a great boat with great support and family

caddyjoe77 · January 17, 2014, 12:17:23 PM

Quote from: 18x2 on January 17, 2014, 11:30:52 AM
When I was boat shopping in 2011 I researched and really took my time making a decision on what 19" boat I wanted. I test drove almost everything, drove miles on end to look at certain boats and came up with a decisive decision that I wanted a BassCat Pantera II or a Legend 191. At the time we did have a Legend dealer in Minnesota and it "made sense" to go that route being there was no BC dealer close by. There were a few things that I knew I wanted and was not going to sacrifice, 1. A boat that was an absolute rocket out of the hole (last Triton was a terd out of the hole when loaded), 2. Big front compartments to put Plano XL boxes since I like having all my plastics in 2 big totes, 3. Be able to run 68-70 loaded, 4. Longest front deck for fishing 2 guys and to be able to lay 8' rods down without hanging over. Based on this the Pantera II was a better decision based on the needs I listed.

If I was you, I would go about it the same way with the needs you would like and decide which is better. I am a big fan of both boats and been in both brands quite a bit. Let us know what these are and I can do a pretty good job on comparisons.

Either way you will be buying a great boat with great support and family

Thanks very much. It is basically down to the same two boats. And an Eyra is in there along with a alpha 199.

I too, want a ton of room up front. And, my triton is also a turd out of the hole when loaded/livewells full.

Cant wait to get to both factories.

caddyjoe77 · January 17, 2014, 12:54:36 PM

Quote from: Polaris425 on January 17, 2014, 10:26:05 AM
Let us know how you do on pickwick! I need to get up there!

Feb 14 - 15 and March 14 -15.

caddyjoe77 · February 26, 2014, 11:12:25 PM

I saw my first legend in person tonight and all i could say was wow.

The only thing that i did not like was the fuel tank hogging the rear compartment. Why?? I noticed they conveniently updated that for me in the v20

Mike Cork · February 27, 2014, 07:39:17 AM

The fuel tank in the rear compartment had several reasons. Most of all was the ride it gave the boat. To be honest it has never been a problem for me. You can still reach all the pumps and all batteries.

The V20 is saweetttt

Nelsonv1975 · February 27, 2014, 07:46:50 AM

I never get my rear compartment for anything so I could care a less how it is set up. I can get to my batteries and pumps if needed like Mike said. Anything else needed and it goes to the dealership to be looked at. I have the 211 now and will be ordering the V20 in October. You will absolutely love a Legend!!