Panther boats ?
 

Hi,

I think you classic guys can help me out with this. Panther 25ft (or maybe 24?) looks like the Pantera, P&D, Banana Boat, 24 cig etc. Whats the story about Panther? Looks very nice.
(I dont talk about Wellcraft Scarab Panther now!)

Thanks
Mange

Is this the 24' Panther in question ? This broachure is from around 1976. Cheetah boats of California had a 24' back in 1973 and this may be the same mold.

That ad made me laugh the first time I saw it. Panther on the west coast and Pantera on the east cost building identical looking boats... Too funny!

I'd love to hear "the rest of the story" on this one.

Different Decks At Least

Yah, sorry Rick... Not "idential" but the bottom, transom and spray rail look exactly the same, and the deck is very similar to the sport other than the rounded front rather than straight across. And if it was around in '73, I wondered if it might have "evolved" into it's Miami cousin (in espanol of course!).

I think this is the original Cheetah 24 that was later copied in california.

That dapper looking gentleman in that pic is a OSO member:grin:

Brosure is the same as one for Sarasota ( Bill Farmer ) 24 ft Excalibur. Later copied by many other boat builders. Pantera boat had a flat deck.

Just found this thread. Here is a pic of mine. Plan on having the gel sprayed within a week. I have had a hard time finding info on the boat. When I first bought it I was told it was a Pantera.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3653/...0125e44afa.jpg

Great hulls, love the 24x7ft.

Any more pictures?


Thanks
Mange

Your past post, [The Coast guard web site says it is a Performance Marine Inc. Under the comments it says "PMR was Panther Marine Corp]
No doubt you have a [Clem Jem] made in Michigan. Before Jim made hulls he was the dealer for Panther Marine also, around [1976].. For info on your boat just type in one of these names on the search here on OSO. [Lancer Aero Predator Awesome & Dynamic Marine] :lolhit:

Thanks for the info H2O. So I take it that the hull is the same mold as many boats and they just had different decks? The boat's beam seems really small and when i'm in the boat by myself it leans. How well does this hull really perform?Ive only had the boat out twice till I ripped it apart to rebuild.

That hull is the basis for some of the Very best Offshore race boats ever (in the classes A, B, & F1) when the going gets rough that thing will put a smile on your face. It's a very capable wave jumper. Enjoy it.

Here's the real 1973 24 X7 Cheetah
 

Finally, someone else knows about these boats. Everyone believed and argued that this was a P&D even though the title clearly states a 1973 cheetah. First three letters of VIN is CHT last two digits 73 as titled. Boat was completely redone. Here's some pics before I just finished some upgrades. Added +3 Imco Ext Box, -2 Imco shorty and 5 blade. Boat is light and fast. Ran mid eighties without the upgrades 525 SC bumped a bit.

As far as what boats were built from the same mold as my 73 cheetah, I can tell you this. The sides on my hull had a few dimples. Not to piss off anybody, but i've looked at similar hulls that are not too old and they have the identical dimples in the same areas. bet my boat would drop in these molds and fit like a glove.

I'd love to see a photo of the deck! Cool boat.

Your hull would drop in many of these molds. Another company that used that same hull was Eagle boats back in 1973, Emerald City here on Lake St Clair sold them. My 24' x 7' beam Cobra is the same hull also, but has a deck more like a Pantera. This one has twin 302 Holman Moody Ford engines. Again this was my [M-77] 24' Cheetah from 1974. It was the first Offshore boat Jim Clem sold, and I bought it. He would buy blank hulls from Cheetah and sell them. :eek:

beautiful restoration.....but whats with the Cig stickers?

I realize this is a old thread but I could use some help. I have just picked up what i have been told is a 1978 "25" ft panther and this seems to be the only place I have found any info on panther boats. Has anyone found out anything more about Panther? Any info help or comments would be appreciated. FYI I am a complete noob when it comes to this style of boat.[IMG]http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps859cad5d.png[/IMG][IMG]http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps274688cd.png[/IMG]

What you have there is a boat that started life as a Lancer Marine built at the Cheetah boat shop in California. They made two size hulls, first was the 31' than the 25' like what you have. The owner of the company was Barry McCown, a west coast offshore racer who had raced a 24' California built Spectra [ BANZAI ] with twin big block Chevy engines in tandem.:eek: Jim Klem [ Mr, Klems Gems ] was his main dealer back then. I bought the first 31' from them as a blank hull, they than built the 25' Lancer & Barry raced it as S-34 KAMIKAZE, with twin engines in tandem not really setting the Offshore race world on fire. Within months he sold his molds to Panther Marine where you boat was built. Many other west coast companies like Can Am used the 25' & 31' molds to build there boats. :party-smiley-004:

What is the hull ID on that boat? Could have been built in Pefferlaw ON by Panther Boats. Are you sure the length is 25ft?

They could have made them in Ontario Canada as many companies copied & made them. The left hand steering is one more clue that it came from the same molds as the 25' KAMIKAZE...

I don't believe this is a 24x7 boat. It was advertised locally with a full set of pictures and its more like 22 ft. Panther built a lot of ski boats that were mostly 18-20 footers.

The HIN is PMR011091078 and it measures aound 24.5 in length and over 7 rub rail to rub rail (quick measurement with a 25' tape out in the cold lol). I am trying to decide if this is a project i want to take on. It had a 454 in it but it has been removed the only thing that remains is the gimble and the transom need work. What is a boat like this worth in monetary value? (I build race cars and i know personal value is always more after a project is done).

Thanks for the info guys

The guy had it posted as a 22 but when he looked at the receipt that he had from the auction house where he got it, it said 25ft.

Does anyone know how heavy this boat might be?

The HIN numbers starting in PMR identifies your boat built by Performance Marine Inc. In Kennebunk, ME.

I thought Performance Marine was in Long Beach California. They also made Aztec boats? I could wrong. I thought I saw it on the bottom of a brochure that was posted.

Hello All,

Recently I purchased a 1979 26ft single 454 Offshore. The title says it is a Cobra, but the HIN starts with CBN, which is B&B Racing, bought out by Crusader. This boat has a very narrow beam, and a deep V, and greatly resembles a Martini. I did see that the owner of B&B Racing is Bill and Bob Bowers, who I think also owned Corsa. Can anyone help me find out what kind of boat I now own?! Someone had mentioned that a man Jim Klem purchased blank hulls and sold them in MI. Maybe thats where this came from? I have no clue...please help! Also, what exactly is a Cobra? I cannot find any information on it. I just keep bringing up Martini/Corsa

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...psd93d02a2.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps63701459.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps883582f0.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps8c89e9a3.jpg

I looked at this boat on this year on harsens island. Do you have it in the water?

Yes, she has been in the water since June.

Dangerzone that is a Sweet azz rig you got there . What you tow her with? I personally would go with the John Deere 9400 series AWD with 12 tires but I think in town and only down to the ramp if it only a few miles away you could get awat with the 9030 series AWD Deere with just the 8 tires .

I know many on here will say well that just is not safe and if you kill someone with the smaller series tractor the blood will be on you hands and you will have to live with it.

Also good possibility your insurance will not cover you in an accident.

Just my 2 cents.

i think cobra became vector python