Looks like Im buying yet another 201.....but I have a few questions

[Rough Stuff Rider]

I went and drove a basscat today and actually kinda hated it. All this time I have thought I wanted a cat without having ever driven one. So now here I am thinking of my next move. I have a deposit on my 94 201 and it will be gone as of monday, all I will have for now is a 17 foot tracker with a 40 on it to hold me over till I find another 201.

My question is, did stratos ever go back to the old design from the early 90's when there was one huge compartment in the back for the batteries and fuel tanks with two big doors to get to them? I absolutely hate the layout on my 94, my 92 had a way way better layout. My 92 was actually a left over 91 I think based on the older style hull.

I will admit the ride quality difference between my 92 and 94 is like night and day. The 94 rides much better hands down. But I cant stand not being able to see my gas tanks and busting my knuckles up every time I try to get to the batteries. Worst design ever imo. Stratos dropped the ball on that no doubt.

I would like to buy maybe a late 90's 201 but only if there is a better battery area and the fuel tanks are visible. I also dont like the fact that my 94 only has one rod locker yet my 92 had two rodlockers, makes no sense whatsoever. Both boats I have owned were dual consoles with extended decks that went all the way to the consoles. Anyone ?

[upscat]

Rough Rider I would just like to know why you hated the Bass Cat? I just bought a new Puma FTD and love it. Not trying to stat anything, just first time I have ever seen anyone say they hated a Bass Cat. By the way I just came out of a Stratos 201 EVO. Just wondering. 201 is a fine boat no doubt. I wish I had the money to buy the Champion molds and start that little plant back up here in Tennessee. I think I could make a go of it with the love that exist for Champion boats.

[Rough Stuff Rider]

first off the trolling motor is set all the way up front to the point ur on the edge of the bow almost. In choppy water I didnt feel safe at all standing there trolling. Also the casting decks were very narrow and small. Not enough room to put 10 rods on the deck and fish the way I do. I do a decent amount of moving around when I fish, not quite as much as Ike but I need space. And that Pantera 3 had no space to move whatsoever.

I also fish 3 people from time to time and theres no way I could have 3 people on there fishing. Also the holeshot was pathetic, those boats just have too much weight in the back for my liking. Also wasnt crazy about the digital dashboard. And the ride to me was good, better then most 19 foot boats Im sure but I got the feeling I was just gonna be paying for a name and not for the boat that best suits my style.Decided I need another 20+ foot boat and finding a Jaguar in my price range will be very tough not to mention its still gonna be narrow. The boat was well made but sure did have alot of stress cracks for a 10 year old boat with 220 hours on it. My 92 stratos had one stress crack on it and more then 220 hours for sure. All in all it was a 19 foot boat that felt and fished like a 17-18 foot boat imo. I cant speak of the puma cuz I have never driven or fished from one.

[Tom B]

Think it sucks that they stopped making it - was going to be my next Stratos - now it will be another brand

[Jason Phillips]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Tom B &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Think it sucks that they stopped making it - was going to be my next Stratos - now it will be another brand</td></tr></table>

Stopped making which one?

[GregInAtl]

I had a 95 Pantera II before my 06 201 and loved it, great ride for a 19' boat and I only had a 150, but it came out of the hole nice w/ the right prop. There is a fishability difference in boats from the 90s to newer boats, I think that is just the designs of the day getting greatly improved I wondered about the Bass Cats front recessed area, it looks WAY forward and like you will end up swimming at some point.
I love my 201 and plan to have it a couple of years , but when I look again I will look at a BassCat, Phoenix and an Strat Evo.

[Rough Stuff Rider]

Judging from pics, looks like they kept that tiny battery compartment for good, I havent seen any late 90's or early 2000's Stratos that have the old style compartment. Plus I cannot find any clean dual consoles for a fair price within 500 miles of me. Might have to reconsider a basscat at this point. Just cant stop thinkin Im gonna fall in eventually with that trolling motor pedal all the way up front.

[GregInAtl]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Rough Stuff Rider &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Judging from pics, looks like they kept that tiny battery compartment for good, I havent seen any late 90's or early 2000's Stratos that have the old style compartment. Plus I cannot find any clean dual consoles for a fair price within 500 miles of me. Might have to reconsider a basscat at this point. Just cant stop thinkin Im gonna fall in eventually with that trolling motor pedal all the way up front.</td></tr></table>

OK, You have to explain this to me; So you'd rather risk falling in every trip (which you are obv concerned about) versus deal with changing batteries once every 3 years in a compartment we all have and have dealt with in minor frustration. Something doesn't make sense here.

[buttermilkbiscuit]

You can add me to the list of people who hate bass cats. I had a 2008 Cougar FTD.

their ride is very, very hard. I can't see where these people keep bragging on it. I've heard one or two of the pros actually put sit on cushions to keep their backs from hurting.

The deck is waay too narrow. I was completely surprised by how little space there was up there. The front storage, while massive, is just an empty bin. No organization whatsoever.

No holeshot, and while they are fast, you have to drive them too much. I can eat a sandwich going wide open with my Skeeter or the Stratos 201 I owned.

BC is a very well put together boat for sure, and great customer service. But poorly thought out in my opinion.

I'm actually restoring a 94 201 right now. I kind of like all the floor space and the large cooler up front. I just sold a 2007 201, and I took alot of measurements over the entire boat. It's surprising how much of the hulls are the same. Yes, battery compartment is small, but you don't have to get in there too often.

[Rough Stuff Rider]

All I said is I may have to re consider a cat. Spoke to Mike Allen who had a P3 and he said he never had any close calls on the trolling motor at all. I havent heard anyone complain about falling in or almost falling in either.

The test drive I did was in some steady 3 foot chop. I got on the trolling motor with no seat behind me and tried to troll around a lil. It was nerve racking but when am I gonna fish in chop without a seat ? I dont even fish in chop much to begin with. I still think its narrow but my research says the beam is 93 inches which is actually wider then the stratos I just sold. Question is, where do they measure the beam to get that number ? Sure seems like the stratos is alot wider but at its widest point it actually isnt. I'm going back and forth in my mind cuz I wanna figure out what is most important to me. The lake I fish mostly now which is the private side of lake anna, doesnt get choppy unless its really wndy and even still we're talkin two feet max.

Being able to see the gas tanks at the gas station and getting to them if they ever need to be cleaned is a factor in my book. Sometimes I dont wanna fill up and if Im pre mixin oil I need to be able to see exactly what is in there. The cat is so well made but I wish it suited my needs a lil more, I can say the same bout the stratos also. I have loved my two stratos but hate the bilge compartment after 91 models. What to do.....

[Jason Phillips]

Beam is generally measured at the widest point of the boat (which is usually around the middle). Front decks can get very narrow but still have a wide beam on the boat.

[Jason Phillips]

I love the idea behind BassCat (private ownership, good customer service, nice build quality, etc.), but I do not like the layout (including storage, trolling motor pedal....), the looks, the console, etc. So, I found a boat that has all of the things I like about BassCat, AND the things I don't like about them corrected.

They are great boats. Just not for me. I would say though, that I would run the new Eyra.

[Tom B]

Replied on wrong thread - stratos 200

[earl]

BC is a very well put together boat for sure, and great customer service. I feel they have not redesigned it as others have and i don't like the seats especially the back seat and how it is made- good quality boats and the fiberglass peple tell me through the years one of the best made

[Bassngolfer]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by Rough Stuff Rider &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">All I said is I may have to re consider a cat. Spoke to Mike Allen who had a P3 and he said he never had any close calls on the trolling motor at all. I havent heard anyone complain about falling in or almost falling in either.

The test drive I did was in some steady 3 foot chop. I got on the trolling motor with no seat behind me and tried to troll around a lil. It was nerve racking but when am I gonna fish in chop without a seat ? I dont even fish in chop much to begin with. I still think its narrow but my research says the beam is 93 inches which is actually wider then the stratos I just sold. Question is, where do they measure the beam to get that number ? Sure seems like the stratos is alot wider but at its widest point it actually isnt. I'm going back and forth in my mind cuz I wanna figure out what is most important to me. The lake I fish mostly now which is the private side of lake anna, doesnt get choppy unless its really wndy and even still we're talkin two feet max.

Being able to see the gas tanks at the gas station and getting to them if they ever need to be cleaned is a factor in my book. Sometimes I dont wanna fill up and if Im pre mixin oil I need to be able to see exactly what is in there. The cat is so well made but I wish it suited my needs a lil more, I can say the same bout the stratos also. I have loved my two stratos but hate the bilge compartment after 91 models. What to do.....</td></tr></table>

You REALLY need to IM me. That is...if a 2007 201 in black/red/silver with most every bell and whistle, a 225 H.O. and under 25,001.00 interests you...

*bells and whistles = 80 lb MinnKota, 8' Power Pole with remote, hydraulic plate and steering, 2 Lowrance color GPS/graphs (linked), tandem axle trailer with break away tongue...I'm sure I'm forgetting something