The Deluxe Tournament has Bass Cat’s 50 years of history stamped all over it. It’s no surprise because Bass Cat President Rick Pierce searched the country to find its original Hull No. 1 to restore and retool for this silver anniversary commemorative boat. The limited edition drew more eyes than a ’72 Cutlass convertible. Like a modern Charger, it clearly has the classic DNA, but with modern all-composite construction as well as state-of-the-art wiring harnesses for both reliability and durability.
The Deluxe Tournament is fast and nimble, especially considering it’s basically a 50-year-old design. We saw an easy 48.3 mph with the smooth Mercury 115 Pro XS FourStroke pulling at 5,650 rpm with a 22-inch-pitch Mercury Tempest stainless-steel propeller. Acceleration was brisk; we hit 30 mph in 6.7 seconds from an in-gear, dead-idle start. However, fuel economy is where this package really shines. With a best cruise speed of nearly 29 mph at 3,500 rpm, the 115 was sipping fuel at just 3.3 gph. (That’s a crazy-high 8.7 mpg!) Range is over 133 miles, using 90 percent of the boat’s 17-gallon capacity.
While Pierce and crew widened the footprint of the Deluxe’s hull, it’s still just over 73 inches wide—that makes it easy to handle and drive around the docks as well as out on the open water. Rough water can be, well, a little rough, but this classic’s narrow beam lets it stay on top at slow speeds to soften the chop. Just trim in, drop the throttle a tad, and power right over it. It was a softer ride than many aluminum bass boats of this size.
Modern refinements include recessed cleats and a trolling-motor foot-pedal well. The bow casting deck has dedicated space for a 10-inch graph (7 inches is standard on the foredeck and console). Bow-to-stern reflex PVA deck padding is custom-inlaid with legacy Bass Cat logos and Ron and Rick Pierce signatures. Two seats are standard and double as fore and aft fishing-platform seats. A Mercury 90 hp FourStroke is standard. (Our test boat’s 115 Pro XS is an option.) The Deluxe Tournament is a limited production build for Bass Cat’s anniversary year, so put your order in now.
High Points
- Retro bass boat is retooled to fish and perform like a modern boat.
- Two large storage lockers and a 9-foot rod locker make ample storage.
- Console has legacy gauges, but with a high-tech touchpad.
How We Tested
- Engine: Mercury 115 Pro XS FourStroke 115 hp
- Drive/Prop: Outboard/Mercury Fury 14″ x 24″ 3-blade stainless steel
- Gear Ratio: 2.38:1 Fuel Load: 17 gal. Crew Weight: 425 lb.
Pricing and Specs
| Price: | $39,950 (as tested) |
|---|---|
| LOA: | 16’5″ |
| Beam: | 6’1.5″ |
| Draft: | NA |
| Dry Weight: | 2,100 lb. |
| Seat/Weight Capacity: | 3/1,100 lb. |
| Fuel Capacity: | 17 gal. |
Bass Cat Boats – Midway, Arkansas; 870-481-5135; basscat.com
