NEW Caracal STS - First Run Experience

Go on the water for the first time with John Crews in the 2024 Bass Cat Boats Caracal STS. Let John give you his thoughts and you can check out the boat on the water. See what that Mercury 250 will do to new Bass Cat hull.
#basscat #mercurymarine #feeltherush #goboldly #CaracalSTS

[@kc2621]

Love the new boat! Been a Bass Cat fan for as long as I can remember. Good luck this season.

[@JohnCrews]

Thanks!

[@robbline6801]

Looks great! Became part of the BC family last year with a 2023 Cougar. Thank you for sharing the layout and the live-scope.

[@rogerglasco5941]

Great looking boat. Great color. Wish you the best.

[@EricRomines]

Love that color combo! Also like the simple layout setup with your electronics. 👍👍

[@perrymatherne9264]

Great choice John best of luck in 2024

[@timschreiber1584]

Man I like it too! Looks like it handles great when you did the donuts and it’s quick getting up! 😊

[@Blue_Ridge_Bassin]

Hey that lake looks familiar. Looks like home. Nice ride. Good luck this year.

[@wmkoehler3942]

Love the big screen

[@JohnCrews]

Me too!

[@keithmason8322]

Beautiful!

[@cheetoz6902]

That boat is gorgeous

[@Michagan_outdoorsman_James]

this is what dreams are made of for me, just drooling over here dont mind me 😊😊certified unit

[@tundrabasser]

Nice rig man. I love Basscats and they are runners for sure.

[@Hunter-kz6os]

Beautiful color

[@robcarey4189]

Love stepping on a Caribbean are all day.

[@user-oe2cm3oj7s]

Gets on plane super quick!

[@user-lq1yb6uz1o]

Gotta love basscats what high quality boat

[@davidharris4030]

I really like the full layout! It doesn’t look like your missing anything as far as functionality.

[@tommoorehouse]

I like the clean layout in front. 2 Big screens is more than enough.

[@JohnCrews]

I hope so!

[@douglasspickler4925]

For me I would be banging my shin into the graph. Nice looking boat. Enjoy.

[@JohnCrews]

Thanks man. And I don't think you would hit anything on the graph unless you were trying to step over the whole thing.

[@douglasspickler4925]

@JohnCrews 🤣 John, I would do worse than hit my shin if I stepped over it. At 70 years old, I am not as sure footed as I used to be.

[@stanleychestnut2098]

I’m not much on red but that is a dang good looking boat!!

[@tjgim]

I follow your channel and I love Basscat Boats. Good luck this year. If you get a chance, I would love to know why Basscat Caracal STS didn’t use the same deck layout as the Caracal. The Caracal (in my opinion) has one of the best deck layouts especially the rod locker placement.

[@troyrichardson4049]

Love the new caracal! I liked the old one, but this new one looks great! Like the layout also! Let us know how she takes rough water!

[@JohnCrews]

Will do!

[@gilfishing6145]

Would love see a comparison video of this boat and your Puma STS. How they differ in ride/handling/speed.

[@rex2837]

What’s your thoughts in comparison to the eyra. (I have a brand new eyra, not even broke in yet). So I was interested in its handling and drive ability (chine walk) compared to the caracal , and puma. Good luck, by the way, I’m new, I’ll be chiming in from time to time.

[@JohnCrews]

Eyra and Caracal STS need to be driven on top end. Cal is much wider and more stable so we will tell in time.

[@rex2837]

@@JohnCrews gotcha, thanks! (I had to have a Yamaha Sho, so the Eyra was one of the only new basscsts available in the country). I do like the caracals size, it might just be the perfect boat. GL.

[@rex2837]

@@JohnCrewshey John I took my new Eyra out and broke it in last week. Coming from and having experience owning and fishing in Rangers, this boat is on a different level. The hull elevates as you accelerate making you feel way above the water. Giving you confidence to do donuts in choppy water. My Ranger would’ve taken kidney shots. Just fyi because you mentioned your new boat felt high above the water too.

[@mikethetoolman8776]

wish I knew these were coming a yr ago -- likely the best 20-footer going now!! congrats! what are air temps? love the sound of the v-8's

[@JohnCrews]

It was in 50s but water in low 40s

[@PushinWeightBaits]

Hi John. Nice rig. How does the Caracal STS maneuver while on the trolling motor in comparison to the Eyra?

[@jonb7462]

Great video, as always, John! What is the reason for the split gas tanks in Basscats? Does the engine siphon from both equally to keep the boat balanced? It seems if you use one at a time, the balance of the boat would be off if one gets much lower than the other?

[@JohnCrews]

Split tanks helps with knowing how much gas you have for long runs. I like being able to alter weight in back end as it’s best to have more weight on port side due to prop torque

[@jonb7462]

@JohnCrews interesting, thanks for the response, and have a great season!

[@shimanoshane4020]

I predict you’ll be back in a Eyra next year! Great color selection!

[@rowdybroomstick6394]

A bit slow 76.5🤔 Wouldn't the eyra do 80 fully loaded

[@JohnCrews]

After this first trip, I really doubt that. This boat is bad ass.

[@JohnCrews]

@@rowdybroomstick6394 it is closer to 80 for sure. Maybe 2-3 mph faster but I think this boat has more in it.

[@rowdybroomstick6394]

Orginally wasn't the caracal only 225 option motor? That's what I remember

[@bcallisjr]

Looks awesome!! Love the clean look to everything! Some may ask why not go with 10 ft PowerPoles instead of the 8 ft?

[@JohnCrews]

The 8s do all I need

[@bcallisjr]

Awesome!!

[@ssurles268]

Would be interested how much that big screen is acting like an air foil and lifting the bow. Wonder if different angles would help lesson bow lift or a run with it off.

[@codyhooser3333]

Loving the new boat an how you rigged it flawlessly like every year by yourself, incredible. I'm amazed how good that technology w/ lithium batteries has progressed to have all that extra room in the back w/ two sources of power to run everything. I'm most curious of your thoughts after you run the Caracal STS in rough water an over thoughts from storage ect vs the Puma STS. I'm aware you have ran all their different models, but which one you think performs best in rough water since the New STS Hulls were built. Let me know my friend friend an the best of luck this year on the Elites.

[@JohnCrews]

Will do! Appreciate it.

[@codyhooser3333]

@JohnCrews Yes Sir, thank you. Looking to upgrade in the future and definitely getting a Bass Cat. Just not sure which STS Model rides the best in rough water for my bad back an not getting any younger @ 53 yrs old.

[@jasonmausteller2488]

What will you put over the hole in the dash?

[@richerwin6397]

They had been a 225 max horsepower; dis they bump that up? What allowed them to do that? Very sweet ride.

[@JohnCrews]

It’s a totally different hull

[@Fishing_with_Fincher]

The caracal storage layout changed?

[@kendallwillis948]

How does the new caracal compare to the eyra that you have run in the past I have a p2 now but I’m looking to step up to a 20ft boat

[@JohnCrews]

It is much different hull than the Eyra. This is much wider and more stable but still nimble and quick. Will give more feedback and I get more seat time.

[@SBowers321]

Does the top end feel more like driving an Erra than a Puma STS?

[@JohnCrews]

Absolutely

[@meltonhorner8463]

Doe this take back wash, when you power down ? Still need to feather the stops ?

[@JohnCrews]

I think it’s fine

[@ceciljohnson5997]

Can that NBT unit be used as a stand alone for livescope? So just the black box, transducer and the NBT

[@rodpetrik7697]

No you need a 8600 series Garmin

[@SBowers321]

You can buy an 8700 black box but it doesn't really make sense to do that

[@JohnCrews]

@@SBowers321 Some people do that.

[@SBowers321]

NBT was running a promotion for the 8700 and 22' screen, but I'm not sure if they're still doing it

[@danskidoo]

How does it handle compared to the Eyra?

[@JohnCrews]

It’s just different. This was is a super soft ride, wide, but still runs good

[@alling4510]

Why did you have to move the gauge? Clearance?

[@JohnCrews]

Yes

[@toddmoran4630]

What lake?

[@JohnCrews]

Smith Mountain Lake

[@ericwm1]

Compare the caracal STS to the erya

[@stevoky]

Well, idling for 5 minutes isn't recommended for any four-stroke gas engine.

[@JohnCrews]

Read the owners manual

[@mattthomen1608]

Rip it💪🤙

[@mattwfishing]

Explain? Why wouldn’t it be

[@richerwin6397]

Guys have been running 4 strokes for trolling for decades now.