Let's See Your Cougars-Boats That Is!!!

[Johnny Five]

FYI I have a Facebook page called “Cougar MTR” I’d love to have you guys post some pics and info about all your beautiful Cougars! Thx, Johnny Five!
FYI I have a Facebook page called Cougar MTR I’d love to see more of your pics and info

[Johnny Five]

ok, so I spent the winter swapping out all my gauges and going to a full NMEA 2000 system. I installed a VesselView 903. I still have my iPad for Navionics. I also upgraded my hydraulic jack plate to a Seastar Extreme complete with ProTap. As well as a heavy duty setback bracket that is 3 inches higher than my last one. I purchased a Hill Signature 400 in 29P, which gave me just over 95 mph my first time out! And honestly, it might have a little more top end still. I’m still loving this boat!

[Chiselchst]

Thanks, but personally I don't do FB.

I was also looking at mounting a 9" screen on my 22 MTR, and was checking your out. That's a good option! Rather than having the dash modified $$$

FYI I have a Facebook page called “Cougar MTR” I’d love to have you guys post some pics and info about all your beautiful Cougars! Thx, Johnny Five!
FYI I have a Facebook page called Cougar MTR I’d love to see more of your pics and info

[Hydrogasm]

ok, so I spent the winter swapping out all my gauges and going to a full NMEA 2000 system. I installed a VesselView 903. I still have my iPad for Navionics. I also upgraded my hydraulic jack plate to a Seastar Extreme complete with ProTap. As well as a heavy duty setback bracket that is 3 inches higher than my last one. I purchased a Hill Signature 400 in 29P, which gave me just over 95 mph my first time out! And honestly, it might have a little more top end still. I’m still loving this boat!

Johnny Five
The boat looks great! Keep us posted on the numbers with the new engine.
Thanks
Gary

[jsisson10]

So I broke in the 300R and also bought a hill signature 400 15.5 x 31. Spent last saturday getting used to the new setup and dialing it in. Just finished machining up a plate to go under the setback bracket and jack plate which will hopefully help getting on plane but other than that i am so impressed with the new engine. Hit 113 which is a 9mph gain from my 300xs with a DBR and it runs neutral trim. Its also significantly better on fuel. Very happy with the setup. Also bought an engraved prop shaft cover for trailering.

[luv2gofast]

Wow, somehow I haven't been getting notices of new posts. I'm behind over two pages, lots of great stuff!

Cougar Dave contacted me and we have had some great communications...thanks Dave! Lot's of great information and history of Cougar Boats, confirmed some of the stories that I had heard about my Boat and got a bunch more cool info. It turns out that my boat was used for the brochure for the 23MTR and also featured in Hot Boat. I'm looking for a couple of issues, Aug 96 and Oct 96. If anyone has those issues I would like to buy them.

It looks like everyone has put their Covid lock down time to good use!

Crescentbar, Your upgrade is looking great!
Jsisson10, Great looking boat & great numbers!!
Johnny Five, Big upgrade, looks great!

I think I up to date...

[Hydrogasm]

So I broke in the 300R and also bought a hill signature 400 15.5 x 31. Spent last saturday getting used to the new setup and dialing it in. Just finished machining up a plate to go under the setback bracket and jack plate which will hopefully help getting on plane but other than that i am so impressed with the new engine. Hit 113 which is a 9mph gain from my 300xs with a DBR and it runs neutral trim. Its also significantly better on fuel. Very happy with the setup. Also bought an engraved prop shaft cover for trailering.

jsisson10
That great news to see the difference in the two engines. Keep us posted on any more details on the coat. Also what is the other 300R boat in the photo? It looks like the transom of an STV Euroski. How does it run as well?
Thanks
Gary

[jsisson10]

Hydrogasm,

Ya that's my buddies STV Euro. He just finished re-doing everything on the boat and we bought the 300Rs at the same time. He's still dialing it in and learning the characteristics with the heavier engine. Its a very impressive setup and he's very happy with it. He's running a hill signature 400 35p and laid down 120 mph pass at 6000 rpm with more left. Boat runs 105 at 4000 rpm.

jsisson10
That great news to see the difference in the two engines. Keep us posted on any more details on the coat. Also what is the other 300R boat in the photo? It looks like the transom of an STV Euroski. How does it run as well?
Thanks
Gary

[CougarDC]

Has anyone heard of a Cougar Day Cruiser? I just got this 1986 with a 454 and a V-drive. I can't seem to find any others anywhere aside from one search showing someone posted in 2010 that they have one. Any insight on what this boat is all about would be great.

[Hydrogasm]

Has anyone heard of a Cougar Day Cruiser? I just got this 1986 with a 454 and a V-drive. I can't seem to find any others anywhere aside from one search showing someone posted in 2010 that they have one. Any insight on what this boat is all about would be great.

CougarDC
Nice find. I suspect there are not of that particular model around. Let us know how it performs.
Welcome to the site as well.
Thanks for posting it
Gary

[Dave Strong]

The other one, 350 Mag Alpha 1.

Dave

[cougar dave (Can)]

Nice boat and very rare as most had jet drives as it was much easier and a lot less $$ to build as compared to a V drive. The early ones were all done with a simulated wood grain sides to the cabin area (like the brochure one) I had a couple as demos for a few summers and my kids learned to ski behind them as well as sort of body surf in the wake at low speeds by hanging onto the swim grid (no prop just a sort of Jacuzzi type wake.) The original design concept started way back in the 60 with a company called Campbell Boats out of Lake Havasu and were all built as V drive boats with decks in wood to start with (here is a link,http://www.campbellboatowners.org/ They are long gone but like Cougar the name lives on.They were very well built boats and really started the whole day cruiser fad. A lot of them were used in competition pulling a skier in a race (one of mine had a stage two Gale banks Twin turbo 461 Chev that I built and it made short work of a lot of fast boats even a few v drive flat bottoms as it was an 85 plus MPH sleeper jet boat. Enjoy your boat Cougar Dave

[Chiselchst]

Well I've taken my 22 MTR out maybe a dozen times in the CA Delta. The 496 runs well, but the top speed is a little disappointing. It tops out at 70 MPH, spinning 5100 RPM's (with just me in the boat). I was considering getting a new labbed prop and trying to lower the RPM's ~300. I think it makes max power at 4,700 RPM's. Not sure of the current prop specs, they must be marked on the inside.

Also, is it normal to have to have some cavitation while getting on plane? It struggles a little, but I never slam it down. It stays on plane a 2,200 RPM's. It does not handle rough water well primarily large boat wakes. Not too good with a substantial chop. I've tried speeding up and it was torture...

Thoughts?

[Euroski]

Well I've taken my 22 MTR out maybe a dozen times in the CA Delta. The 496 runs well, but the top speed is a little disappointing. It tops out at 70 MPH, spinning 5100 RPM's (with just me in the boat). I was considering getting a new labbed prop and trying to lower the RPM's ~300. I think it makes max power at 4,700 RPM's. Not sure of the current prop specs, they must be marked on the inside.

Also, is it normal to have to have some cavitation while getting on plane? It struggles a little, but I never slam it down. It stays on plane a 2,200 RPM's. It does not handle rough water well primarily large boat wakes. Not too good with a substantial chop. I've tried speeding up and it was torture...

Thoughts?

l
That's a lot of weight in the back especially if not making a lot of HP. I had a 22 MTR w/300xs and hull isn't aired out at 70 and ride much better the faster you go. My guess the 496 and drive add about 800lbs vs the 300xs.

[Chiselchst]

l
That's a lot of weight in the back especially if not making a lot of HP. I had a 22 MTR w/300xs and hull isn't aired out at 70 and ride much better the faster you go. My guess the 496 and drive add about 800lbs vs the 300xs.

I agree. In a perfect world, I would re-do the transom, and stick a 450R on it. Or twin 300's. It definitely wants and likes to go faster....