Help needed Pantera 28
 

Hi all,
I just bought a pantera 28 to restore, unfortunaley it has no drives or engines.
Advice on the kit i have to put in her would be much appreciated.
I am in the uk and gas here costs alot ! so no big crazy hp ( i would love to do that but just cant ) just a pair of stock engines.
Whats the best stern drive's for these hulls, ratios and so on?
Whats a good hp to have for this hull?

Here she is
http://www.boatsandoutboards.co.uk/view/ECB054

Thanks for your Help scud7

I owned one with twins, and i would slap a pair of small blocks in it. The Twins with big blocks are not balanced well, and are a bear to work on..... Good luck with your resto project.....

You should post this in the pantera forum.
Do a search in the classifieds, engine section for the 383sbc from BAM marine. Two of those would be great as stock power for the boat. Also, try to figure out what the boat was rigged for before. Bravos would be the best to use for drives and w/ the smaller engines you wouldn't need X or XR.

Put a couple of 496HO pkgs with XR drives and call it a day. Dave

nice trailer!

I have been doing some research lately for engine packages acceptable to go overseas for Active Thunder.

If I were taking on the project you are about to, I'd probably go with a pair of the Mercury 6.2L engines mated to Bravo 1 XR outdrives.
http://www.brunswickmarineemea.eu/pr...$MCPS_MX6_2MH"
or
http://www.brunswickmarineemea.eu/pr...S$MCPS_MX6_2M"


You do not need Bravo1 XR drives behind small block power, (they are good for up to 600HP), but its not IF your drive breaks, its WHEN your drive breaks. Having the extra capacity in the drive is nice. Its ALWAYS the weak link (in this size/HP/range of boat).

You would be fine with Bravo 1X drives, but the XR gives you stronger drives for more longevity.

Are you considering outboards? Mercury Verado Outboards would be a nice setup as well.
Mercury Cummins diesel power may be another route you could investigate. Do some navigating around the Brunswick/Mercury Europe site that I linked above.

I would not go with twin Big Blocks like 496s or 502s. They would be IMPOSSIBLE to work on, and a pair of 320HP small blocks will likely give you almost the performance of two 375HP big blocks.

You would probably get a lot more info spending time in the OffshoreOnly Pantera owners' forum; but you will need to pony up some $$ to become a Gold or Platinum member to have access to this forum here on OffshoreOnly.

whats the price diff between the regular bravo (X?) and an XR?

Can a 6.2 even come close to breaking a bravo? Guys are running 600hp+ and don't break them... its all in how u treat them. so i'd imagine a standard would be fine w/a 300hp sbc, unless the $ is not really an issue or much of a difference.

I like the 6.2 as well. Jo at Pantera sold a 28 with the 6.2 - I believe it ran around 70mph. There are some pics of it in the Pantera section.

We have one on the 2004 Sea Ray. Sips gas pretty well - we can get two good weekends out of a 70 gallon tank - but we just cruise. We had an idler valve go out at around 280 hours. Not that much to fix, but I've never even heard of such a thing......

I recommended the XR over the X simply to keep the guy on the water. In the UK, I can't imagine that Bravo parts are in every marina. I don't know the price difference for this chap in the UK. :D

small blocks the 320s or 383model with a bravo or x or xr how much you want to spend. i had a stock 89bravo last 10yrs with between 580 and 650hp before it wore out it ran stock power from 89 to 95 95 to 05 with big power. and my replacement drive was parts drive with a 2'' shortie until it got stolen.

With what make/model and size of boat........?

90-99ish Bravo 1 plain janes were probably the BEST B1 ever built by Mercury. I had an HP500EFI in a 26' Sonic, and I made a LOT of mistakes in that boat. That drive was tough as nails.

Today's X-XZ-XR and whatever can't hold a candle to the strength of the old B1s. I know (personally :D) that Mercury does a lot of Bravo 1 Warranty work; but you know they make a KILLING on replacement parts when out of warranty.

Why not a single big block with a bravo xr? Save on fuel and have room to work as well.

Hi,
I just like to say thanks for all your help, I will let you know how i get on.

I like my single big block and Imco, but if its the boat I think it is (I'd made some smart azz comments about it in the Pantera section) I'd vote for a pair of big outboards. That way you don't have to monkey with revising the center stringer. Small block power would be a good option too. Sign up and check out the Pantera section. A great bunch of guys who are very knowlegable about these boats.

And consider the best resource for all things Pantera... Pepe and Jo Nunez. They love to talk about their boats and are very happy to help. Call or email the factory (www.panteraboats.net).

Good luck!