"Bob La Londe" wrote in message SNIP

I'm very impressed with the performance I have heard and read about the
Fast Cat, but unless I primarily fished big water I would say a
conventional bass boat is better.

***Why is that? I typically fish waters less than 1,800 acres in size,
having put the boat in on basically ponds, yet find that I prefer to fish
from the Cat. The stability is superior, the draft shallower than
conventional bassboats, the hull is more efficient so I get better fuel
economy and yes, it is faster than most. I'm into performance for sure, but
fishability is even more important. If I was purely interested in speed,
I'd be driving an Allison, Bullet or Stroker.

I have a hard enough time getting in and out of some of the
tight places I fish without pushing a fork in front of me.

***Good Lord, what kind of places are you fishing? I understand that you're
fishing river systems, but unless I have to get in between two tall trees
that are less than 8' 6" wide, I can't imagine anyplace I couldn't get to in
my boat that a conventional hull would. I fish thick weeds and stumpfields
that were a bi$%^ch to get through with my Cobra, yet the Cat goes through
with ease because of the shallow draft.

Having owned a
tunnel hull bass boat in the past I know about the phenomenal ride, and
the unbelievabley stable fishing attitude. That is inherent in the design
of a tunnel hull.

***There is a difference between a tunnel hull and a true catamaran hull. A
tunnel hull is essentially a monohull cut down the midline and a connecting
wing attached. A true catamaran's hull incorporates many more design
features to increase efficiency, stability and handling.

Some days I wish I had not sold mine. Mine did overcome some
of the difficulties I see with the FastCat in that it had a conventional
shaped bow, and it was narrower than most bass boats the same length.

***LOL, and I consider the width to be an asset. Fishing from narrower
boats now feels extremely unstable and I love the increased width at the
bow. I can work with a client, for fish with a friend and although we're
close, we're not rubbing shoulders! The only time I've found the increased
width to be a problem was when I tried to get the boat into a slip at a
waterside eatery. I can live with that.

Even
so it was more stable than any v-bottom or pad bottom boat I have ever
ridden in. The only thing I have fished out of that comes close for
stability is some of the old tri-hulls, and we all know how those pump and
slap in rough water.

***Agreed, I had a tri-hull style boat and it was a wet-riding,
hard-pounding SOB! Nice to fish from, but getting from Point A to Point B
on a windy day was wet and uncomfortable. I consider the safety, stability
and smooth ride to be far more important. I like the fact that at the end
of the day, I am not nearly as tired as I used to be. I think that's from
the stability of the Cat versus a monohull. I'm no longer having to
constantly adjust to maintain balance. It might sound silly and
inconsequential, but at the end of a 12 - 14 hour day of guiding, it does
make a difference.
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com