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

[Hydrogasm]

I have always liked the Cougar Boats even since I saw my first 21MTR in Hot Boat many years ago. After having owned a Thundercraft Wildcat 2, Panther V-Mate, a Hydrostream AE-21 and a Vegas XT and a 21 Talon, I bought my first Cougar, a 21MTR in Feb/03 with a 260EFI on it, which I sold and installed a '98 300 Mariner Super Magnum. The boat ran 102.2 mph on GPS with a Mazco RE 4 32" prop. I sold that motor and put an '02 300X on it. It ran about the same speed with a Mazco RE 4 30" prop. I couldn't find a fat shaft 32" at the time to gain any speed.
Thanks
Gary

[Hydrogasm]

I bought my first of 3 22MTRs in Dec/05. It was a 2003 with an '03 300X that had only 53 fresh water hours on it. The boat was used in the Cougar ads in Hot Boat back then and I was told by Cougar that the photo shown was taken at Lake X before the original owner took ownership of it in Florida. That boat ran a touch over 92 mph on GPS with a worked Mazco RE 4 30" prop. I ran the boat until the fall of 2008 when I lost the lower main crank bearing in the motor, so the boat sat for two years, when I sold the boat without power to Euroski and he just sold it recently. I still have the motor which has been rebuilt and it is for sale in the Outboard Section. I got more into slalom skiing, so I bought a portable slalom course and a Malibu Response with an LS1 Corvette engine for that purpose which I still have.
Thanks
Gary

[Hydrogasm]

I missed going fast and the Malibu is not a comfortable boat to ride in when the wind picks up in the afternoon on our lake, plus I always regretted selling the Cougar. After looking at few STV Euro that I could rebuild my 300X to put on, I came across my next 22MTR, powered with a 2004 300X with only 78 hours on it (also for sale in the Outboard Section). Co-incidentally, I looked at this boat back in 2005 before I purchased the 2003. Since I had two 300Xs, I was originally thinking of converting this boat to twins but a twin 300X boat became available, so I sold it to a man in Ontario without power to purchase what I told my wife, my last Cougar. To be continued.....
Thanks
Gary

[Hydrogasm]

My latest Cougar 22MTR, a 2001 with '01 300Xs that has only 49 fresh water hours. It was a one owner boat that he purchased from the factory in Salmon Arm and it was used two weekends a summer on the Columbia River in Washington. I also looked at this back in 2005 as well but it was not in the budget at the time and I never thought I would ever own it. Well the opportunity came up and I jumped on it. The owner towed it from East Wenatchee, Washington to Lake Delton, Wisconsin and I towed it home from there-6,244 kms or 3,854 miles round trip for me. The boat came gift wrapped for Christmas. To my knowledge this is the only twin 300X boat that Cougar ever built. They did one with twin 280s which Bob Cruse on here has. In fact this boat was supposed to be built with 280s, but when he went to the factory to place the order, they had a 23MTR in the showroom with 300Xs on it and he upgraded the power to them instead. Come on spring!! Let's see your Cougars-past or present.
Thanks
Gary

[RocketMan]

Here are a few photos of my 21 MTR. For the 2017 season I ran a "mostly" stock 2.5/200 on a 15" mid with a Sport Master gearcase. The boat ran approx. 90 with this setup. My Nikasil 2.5/245 is being assembled for next season to see what it can do.

[Hydrogasm]

Here are a few photos of my 21 MTR. For the 2017 season I ran a "mostly" stock 2.5/200 on a 15" mid with a Sport Master gearcase. The boat ran approx. 90 with this setup. My Nikasil 2.5/245 is being assembled for next season to see what it can do.

Rocketman
You should be in the mid 90s with a strong 245. Was your Cougar built in Salmon Arm or Hill City, Kansas? It looks great by the way.

I know there are more out there. Let's see them.
Thanks
Gary

[RocketMan]

Rocketman
You should be in the mid 90s with a strong 245. Was your Cougar built in Salmon Arm or Hill City, Kansas? It looks great by the way.

I know there are more out there. Let's see them.
Thanks
Gary

I don't know how to tell where it was built. I know it was purchased new by a guy in Illinois. He had a 2.5/280 EFI on it. Unfortunately he passed away and the boat went to Florida where it passed thru 4 different owners. I rescued it about 2 1/2 years ago and have been fixing it up and repairing the damage done by Florida sun and salt!

[Hydrogasm]

I don't know how to tell where it was built. I know it was purchased new by a guy in Illinois. He had a 2.5/280 EFI on it. Unfortunately he passed away and the boat went to Florida where it passed thru 4 different owners. I rescued it about 2 1/2 years ago and have been fixing it up and repairing the damage done by Florida sun and salt!

Rocketman
Your boat was I think was one of the first boats built in Hill City, Kansas. I talked to them about building me a new 22MTR and they sent me photos of this boat. I looked in my Cougar Photo File but I didn't have them saved. I think the original owner's name was George. I actually talked to him after he bought it to get his impression of the boat. He seemed very happy with it. Fas Kat on here owned it at one time with the 280 on it.


Keep the photos coming.
Thanks
Gary

[RocketMan]

Interesting history on my boat. I saw some pictures of it on Cougar's web site when it was new but wasn't sure where it was built. I did speak to Fas Kat (Shaun) a while ago while trying to track down the title holder for the Cougar trailer. When he had the boat (August 2013) it was in pristine condition. I wish I had found it when he was selling it. It passed through two other owners before I purchased it in July 2015.

[Euroski]

Of all the boats I have owned got to say the Cougar was the best.

[Hydrogasm]

Of all the boats I have owned got to say the Cougar was the best.

Larry
I was sad to see that you sold yours but maybe when you get better, you will find another one. You have a standing invitation come ride in mine anytime. Let me know when you are coming.
Take care
Gary

[Hydrogasm]

Of all the boats I have owned got to say the Cougar was the best.

Larry
Here are a few of the photos of your Cougar that you sent me over the years.
Enjoy them
Gary

[David]

I used to get Hotboat. Cougar usually had a big ad and Hotboat tested a lot of them. Put me down as a former wannabe Cougar owner.

[Hydrogasm]

I used to get Hotboat. Cougar usually had a big ad and Hotboat tested a lot of them. Put me down as a former wannabe Cougar owner.

David
Yes, they advertised very heavily in Hot Boat back in the day and many tests on them as well. Here is an article that was in the March 2001 issue of the "Family and Performance Boating" magazine. It compared 3 different power options for the 22MTR. The twin 280 engine boat now belongs to Bob Cruse on here. To my knowledge it was the only other twin engine 22MTR that Cougar built besides mine or at least I have never seen it advertised anywhere for sale.
Enjoy
Gary

[Hydrogasm]

Here are some photos of Bob's 2001 22MTR with the twin 280s on it before he bought it and after he put his personal touches on it. Bob I hope you don't mind that I posted your photos.
Thanks
Gary