Wonder why Bullet doesn't offer an 18' boat?

[jigheadworm]

Yeah within 2 and 3 inches might as well say they are 19ft.

Those are both closer to 19 than 18.

[jigheadworm]

There are several of the 17 ft bullets running around here in east Tn.

[basscat tyler]

Those are both closer to 19 than 18.

Correct. I wouldn’t exactly consider those boats 18’

[JR19]

There is a few and when I say few I mean a very few 18ft boats rated for 200 hp. There's actually a formula that NMMA has to determine HP on boats under 20 ft. I don't remember the excat formula but it is something like L x W then you add a set number and divide buy a set number. Anyways I ran the formula on my boat and if it was 1" longer OR 1" wider I would have a 200 rating instead of 175. Several manufacture put a rating of 150 on boats my size because they sell them with 150. You can rate one for lower HP but not higher HP. Most people think a boat rated for 175 HP running a 150 is underpowered yet they think the exact same boat rated for 150 is running max HP because the sticker says 150 but in reality it could have been rated for 175.

Anyways regarding the 18 ft Bullet with 200 HP. If the demand was there they would make them. I 'm not trying to categorize Bullet owners but a lot of them buy Bullet because they enjoy going fast. If you want to go fast your not buying 18 ft with 200 your buying 20 ft with 250 or more HP.

[ttranger]

I doubt there is enough demand for a smaller "speed-type" bass boat when the cost is going to be almost as high as a larger model.

[Black Fox]

If you want a Bullet why not buy a 20 ft & still put the 200 on it? They are lighter than the cookie cutter boat so will be faster. Will Ride better than an 18 and I’d be willing to bet you will never notice the difference in length. Can get a single axle trail under 20 footer. It’s a win all the way around and you still get the size boat you looking for.

I fishing out of a 20’ for several years before moving up to the 21’ and I will say there is a big difference in the two.

[hulapopr]

What are cookie cutter boats?

[JR19]

If you want a Bullet why not buy a 20 ft & still put the 200 on it? They are lighter than the cookie cutter boat so will be faster. Will Ride better than an 18 and I’d be willing to bet you will never notice the difference in length. Can get a single axle trail under 20 footer. It’s a win all the way around and you still get the size boat you looking for.

I fishing out of a 20’ for several years before moving up to the 21’ and I will say there is a big difference in the two.

The 20 xd is more like a true 20 ft whereas the 21 xrs is more like a 22 ft boat.

[dean c]

I doubt there is enough demand for a smaller "speed-type" bass boat when the cost is going to be almost as high as a larger model.

There ain’t a whole lot of demand for any of the go fast boats…and that’s not a slam at all. Just a very small market share.

[MG77]

Bass Cat has mentioned several times that 18’ and under boats are just not what people want these days. The cost delta between an 18 footer with 175 and a 19’ with 200 is small enough most people elect to go with the larger rig. No sense in building a boat that few want.

But yet you have a Sabre lol. I think if Bass Cat built a 18.5 footer with a P classic style layout, it would sell like hotcakes.

[n2ratfishin]

But yet you have a Sabre lol. I think if Bass Cat built a 18.5 footer with a P classic style layout, it would sell like hotcakes.

The Sabre FTD was exactly like a PII with a foot cut out of the cockpit area, well most of it. The deck layout is the same. The PII was a little faster, but the Sabre FTD was no slouch with a 175.

I bought a Sabre FTD the year they came out. Cat quit making them this year but still makes the PII. The market is strong for 20+ plus with 225+ motors.

[MG77]

The Sabre FTD was exactly like a PII with a foot cut out of the cockpit area, well most of it. The deck layout is the same. The PII was a little faster, but the Sabre FTD was no slouch with a 175.

I bought a Sabre FTD the year they came out. Cat quit making them this year but still makes the PII. The market is strong for 20+ plus with 225+ motors.

I understand what you are saying, but I was thinking a 18.5' platform similar to the Classic, not the P2. Honestly, I can't afford anything glass, so it's pretty much just boat porn to me lol.

[dean c]

Bass boat sales are driven primarily by tourney anglers, and the bottom line is they mostly fish out of 20/21 foot rigs.

[John B.]

Because there ain’t no money in it.

[Mcjenson]

What are cookie cutter boats?

A term people use to feel superior about their boats lol

[wareagle24]

What are cookie cutter boats?

That would be a Bullet. They never changed their look for 35 years.

[Bullet 250]

By no means is Bullet a cookie cutter brand or boat

[BassBoatElectronics.com]

The reason Bullet doesn't offer one is they are a small company, the changes and regulations required to produce a smaller rig below 20' is not cost effective in the long run for them. On top of that, they may build one or 2 20' hulls a year if that anymore. the 21XRS, XRD, and XST are the bread and butter of the company these days. Contrary to what most want to think, the go fast days are dying more and more as the years go by. Yes they'll run with a 300R, but even those are few and far between compared to 10 years ago. I have owned several Bullets from 17' to 21' over the years, and loved them all. I'll have another someday, hopefully a 21XRS. But a 20XD has less front deck space than a Phoenix 818. That is a turnoff to a "serious" fishing guy.

[BigEasy]

The reason Bullet doesn't offer one is they are a small company, the changes and regulations required to produce a smaller rig below 20' is not cost effective in the long run for them. On top of that, they may build one or 2 20' hulls a year if that anymore. the 21XRS, XRD, and XST are the bread and butter of the company these days. Contrary to what most want to think, the go fast days are dying more and more as the years go by. Yes they'll run with a 300R, but even those are few and far between compared to 10 years ago. I have owned several Bullets from 17' to 21' over the years, and loved them all. I'll have another someday, hopefully a 21XRS. But a 20XD has less front deck space than a Phoenix 818. That is a turnoff to a "serious" fishing guy.

Sad but true statement. The glory days of the go fast at all costs gearhead are certainly in the rear view mirror, regardless of the type of motor sport.

My favorite racing is motorcycle flat track, especially twins on the mile courses. If you go to one of those races the gray hairs far outnumber the younger crowd. So much so you would think the day trip buses from all the retirement homes in town were parked out front

[wareagle24]

By no means is Bullet a cookie cutter brand or boat

And I thought Bass Cat owners had thin skin.