When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Bass Cat Cougar Advantage 2008 and the Bass Cat Cougar FTD 2009 are modified vee designs with fiberglass construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Bass Cat Cougar Advantage 2008 at 2,0 ft versus Bass Cat Cougar FTD 2009 at 2,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Bass Cat Cougar FTD 2009 tips the scales at 1 765 lbs — 1 748 lbs less than the Bass Cat Cougar Advantage 2008 at 17 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

Both boats share a closely matched power ceiling — 300 hp for the Bass Cat Cougar Advantage 2008 and 300 hp for the Bass Cat Cougar FTD 2009. Real-world performance will come down more to which motor is actually bolted on, its load at the time, and whether it's a 4-stroke or 2-stroke setup. Both carry nearly identical fuel loads — 52 gal and 52 gal — so range won't be a tiebreaker here.

Both boats are rated for 6 passengers — a good fit for a family of four or five plus guests. Comfort at capacity is another matter; the longer hull typically means more seat options and better weight distribution.

At this size, power-to-weight ratio matters more than outright horsepower. The Bass Cat Cougar Advantage 2008 comes in at 0 lbs per hp versus 6 lbs per hp for the Bass Cat Cougar FTD 2009. The lower the ratio the more explosive the acceleration — meaningful on a short RIB where bursts of speed, quick planing, and agility in surf or tight waterways define the experience.