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
No public record to reconcile against
We don't yet have a public record to check this one against. Boats and personal watercraft are not in NHTSA’s database — that is the Coast Guard, which publishes recalls but no owner-complaint record. 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.
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
Found a specific Bass Cat Cougar FTD?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2019 Bass Cat Cougar FTD in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.
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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