2019 Bass Cat Cougar FTD — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $45,000–$65,000. There are 2 high-severity known issues you need to know before handing over a check.
Kestrel Take
Bass Cat is one of the premium bass boat builders — exceptional fit and finish, better resale than most competitors. The Cougar FTD is a serious tournament boat. Used Bass Cats retain value well, which means you'll pay more but get more.
What we checked
Not checked against public records
Boats are the Coast Guard’s, not NHTSA’s. It publishes a Cases and Campaigns file, but its model and year fields are free text and the recent entries are mostly hull-ID and capacity-label paperwork, so we have not been able to join it to a specific boat honestly yet. What follows is our own write-up, and it has not been reconciled against an official record. Treat it as a starting point, not a verdict.
Known Issues for the 2019 Bass Cat Cougar FTD
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.
Premium bass boats run high-horsepower outboards hard. Annual service is essential. Verify records.
Repair cost (estimate): $400-$2,500
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Tournament use means the trolling motor and battery bank work extremely hard. Check batteries for capacity and trolling motor for smooth operation.
Repair cost (estimate): $300-$2,000 batteries, $500-$1,800 trolling motor
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Outboard with no service records
- ✗Battery bank that won't hold charge — common on hard-used tournament boats
- ✗Any evidence of hard grounding on the hull bottom
Good Signs
- ✓Yamaha or Mercury dealer service history
- ✓Batteries replaced within 2-3 years
- ✓Hull bottom clean
- ✓Trolling motor running smoothly with straight shaft
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2018 Skeeter ZXR21
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Found a specific Bass Cat Cougar FTD?
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Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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