Thankyou FTT, full disclosure when I started boat looking I wanted a boat that would back straight into my 3rd car garage, no twisting or kicking it sideways, i wanted no less than a 200 hp on it. I had 22 feet to work with and that narrows the field. I was paying over 300 a month for storage for the ranger and it was a pain cause I fished in others boats also so I was constantly back and forth to the storage moving my stuff around. Basically there were 2 boats that fit my criteria, the P2 and the ranger 185. I knew Mr. Ed Whaley at bass cat and I have always been a fan of their boats. He found what was available(not many at the time) made a few calls and I picked the boat up sight unseen. The Ross guys were great as was the other one I looked at at another dealer in Harker Heights. I wouldn't hesitate to buy from either dealer again and I suspect Texas Boat works will be great also and Rickwall Marine has a great reputation that speaks for itself. I was in a ranger and liked it, why not buy another ranger? Because Fred at DSM is no longer a ranger dealer. DSM is great the other 2 close to me not so much, Cabelas and Eastland. On to my thoughts on boat.
1. I dont fish much big stuff on big water anymore so size 19 feet is fine.
2. It the quickest boat I have ever been in, on pad in snap of your fingers
3. Its fast for a 200 hp I'm still getting the driving figured out but it's fun. 70 plus in a 19 foot boat with a 200 is pretty good and again I think it's on pad faster than anything on market so I get a bit of a head start.
4. The finish on cats is great. Maybe the best out there.
5. I like the forward tm peddle position i think people take a deep breath and try it.
6. Plenty of storage for a small boat
7. Pretty much zero plastic on it.
8. Easy access in battery compartment, especially compared to my ranger.

It really just does all a weekend hack like me needs. I can buy any boat I want I guess from a money side and if I had the space for storage a caracal or eyra would be the what I would buy.

I have very few negatives on the boat

The sandwich tray is meh, they should lose it or stick a drain in it.
A tool holder would be nice
The live well wants to hold a little, very little bit of water cause of drain position
I would rather just have open rod box rather than the tubes and the grommets for rod butts are a bit small.
And it is a boat you have to learn to drive, it's not point and hammer down

Another plus is Mr Pierce is very accessible on the internet and he has been very forgiving of me so far. Lol I would like him to sell me another one day.

Let me add, if there is a boat that fishes better with the trolling motor down than a ranger I have not fished out of it. There is always some give and take for what you want out of a boat.

I have been running Bass Cats since 2003 and currently in a 17 Puma with a Sho.
In saying that, I have fished out of most other brands, but not once have I had the desire to change boat companies.

Customer service -Excellent
Quality-Excellent
Dry Ride- Excellent
Resale-Excellent

They are not hard to drive,a little seat time and you are set.

Everyone likes there Brand, but mine will always be Bass Cat.

They are butt ugly. The shape of them

Every model of Bass Cat is different and after you use them they all make sense. Every design item on a Cat has a purpose. New for 2022 they have released the Puma STS that has the wide deck of most other boats but keeps the Bass Cat performance. After driving it I changed my 22 order from another Eyra to the Puma STS. The styling isn't for everyone but hey, do you really want to be in the same boat as everybody else?

I will chime in a little.

Basscat is the best built bass boat on the market and I have had my hands on every brand out there. That's partially the reason I run a Cat and I'm fortunate that I could run any brand of boat I wanted. I have had 3 different models and they all have things I dislike.
They aren't the best fishing platform (at least not the Puma, Eyra or Cougar) They get real tippy with two guys on one side. Everyone has had a pitiful hole shot. I hated the Eyra. I hated the ride. Hated the storage layout and hated the overall performance. The Puma has been my favorite boat. I fished out of one for a couple years before I got one so I knew what I was getting into. My Cougar has been a blast. Still tippy but I can deal with that. Hole shot on this one was corrected with a 4 stroke.
In all the time that I have been doing fiberglass repair I have seen 4 warranty claims for Basscat and I cant count the number for some of the other brands.

The livewell lids are for quicker catch and release. As in going down the lake, lids flip backwards and fish jump out.

If that happens then you failed to close them. Not the boats fault. Seen that before in a ranger too. That and the center console. My wallet is somewhere between Veach and Caney on rayburn due to that. Completely my fault

Wrong.

I tried.

LOL

I had the basscat lynx with 300 but just sold it couple weeks ago since my wife wouldn’t ride with me anymore and went to a new bullet. Besides I was offered way more than I paid for it so couldn’t pass it up. Resale value would not be a drawback at all. The basscat family is a very prideful group. I think basscats are very amazing boats and would definitely own another if the chance ever came along. When I test drove the puma, I didn’t like the front deck. Seemed small to me. Even after owning my Bullet, which is narrow but much longer. The basscat lynx had a landing deck up front but with a 3 blade prop, the boat hunted and was something to be aware of. After I went to 4 blade, solved the hunt issue. I liked the oversized console on the lynx. I liked the consoles weren’t mostly plastic like the cookie cutter boats. I felt like the basscat was made like a tank and customer service was second to none. I would say, it’s not something u give a high school kid and send them on their way. This was my 4th boat so I can say this from experience after tossing my wife out of my basscat when passing another boat. I think Rick at basscat just designed the best boat being the puma sts or stealth. All the reasons I didn’t like the puma in the past, changed with the sts.

My opinion. I have to say this apparently as some people get their feelings hurt when I give my opinion.

Trust me...... no one understands better than me brother.

Haha! I can respect that comment.

Interesting take on the Eyra. What about it didn't you like? Debating making the move from my Puma to the Eyra. (Mainly to update to a 4-stroke)