21 Challenger People
 

Has anyone heard of a Hammond V2105 Challenger? I saw one advertised but have not heard of a boat manufacturer by the name of Hammond.

Yes, I've heard of these but don't know too much about them. The ones I've seen for sale have been from the early '80's.

I think they were the forerunner for the 21' Stryker that was around in the late '80's/early 90's. The Strykers ran pretty well even with mild power; I know of one powered by a 7.4L that hit around 70mph. We used to do a lot of boating in Upstate NY and there were quite a few of them. If the Stryker is related to the Hammond, the Hammond should be a good running boat, even with a small-block engine.

I have no idea what a Stryker is......but a Hammond Challenger is a George Linder designed 21 footer taken directly from the 21 Challenger/Shadow...... George and I raced Glastrons years ago..........and that started a relationship with Bob Hammond....the founder of Glastron....it also started a relationship with Ernie Schmidt.......also ex Glastron...who became the VP of Chris Craft during the Chris Cat era...... ......

T2x

We sold Hammond from their start in 76 till Bob retired in 83. Around 1979 Bob contracted with George for a plug of the running surface of the 21 Challenger. It was on a truck with a load of boats delivered to us. It was only the bottom, Bob did his own sides and deck. Bob did it the honorable way, he paid George,no popping.Nearly 25 years later,still the best running 21 vee hull ever produced. I've lost count of the companies that have popped this hull. Around 1983 Bob got burned out with building boats,sold all his molds and rights to the Hammond name to Renken,who found out quickly that as a builder of cheap boats they couldn't produce a quality boat,so they sold the molds to Stryker,a builder of cheap bassboats in Huntsville,Al.He produced them with the Hammond name until Bob threatened to sue him,so later boats were called Strykers. He build the 2150 hammond model,a 28 Eliminator pop,and a terrible 38 Scarabpop that Powerboat would not run in their mag test it was so bad.The 2150 was a great boat,but only because of its roots with George. Stryker went out of business 3-4 years ago. A friend tried to buy the 21 Challenger molds but price was too high. Far as I know they are still in a warehouse in Huntsville.It is interesting to note that with all the so-called new vee bottom technology out there that a hull George introduced at the Mercury dealer meeting in 1976 to showcase Merc's first ever v-6 outboard has never been or will never be equaled.

Too Old:

George has an original 21 that Joey Imprescia found for him about 5 years ago. The boat is a '77 or so ........ It has had a variety of single and twin engine installations over the years..... Now it sports a 300 pro max.....and rules the roughest parts of Great South Bay, NY.

I actually raced a twin engine version (2 x 225 mercs) in 1980 against , among others, Bill Gazelle and his 32 Sutphen Great Adventure in an offshore race in the Hudson (believe me it wasn't calm)...Bill beat me but not by much and only because my sand bags in the bow broke........;) But the 21 beat out a bunch of other boats over 30 feet that day....including 3 Cobras and 2 Cigarettes.

The 21 Challenger/Shadow is still, without a doubt, one of the greatest vee bottom designs of all time.

T2x

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

Do you have any pictures of this boat???Send them to [email protected] please i would like to see them for reference of my challenger 21

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

Swiped these from screamandfly.com THE MAN ! George Linder.

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

Any pics of the boat when it got a windshield and probably one of the first molded swim platforms...around '80 or so??

How many companies make a version of the same hull to this day? (Intimidator/Superboats...any others?)

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

I have the 21 Apache Scout molds I'm building a new deck for now.

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

A few years back George and T2x were up visitng here in Lake George, and I had the distinct honor of spending an entire morning with Mr. and Mrs. Linder on their beautiful 21 Shadow Challenger pictured above. I was beyond dumfounded at how insanely well that boat handled whatever could be thrown at it. The BEST riding VEE bottom under 30 feet I have EVER been in. PERIOD!

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

Any ideas as to how many orginal Challenger21's are still around, and what they may be worth?
I own the 9th boat made in 1978, and it is in excellent original condition. Rear seat and front seat cushions, are the only non stock items.
And I agree, it handles beyond belief.

Thanks Craig

edit: Value would be for insurance purposes.

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

Challenger21 Pictures????? we need Pictures If you can't post them ( Basic membership ) send them to one of us and we will, or better yet, buy a Plat. membership, you will get much more then your money's worth.

Philip

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

I defend my naievity with the lack of response to my original question, and the realization that "Offshore" starts at 24'.
I serched this list for"Challenger" and was surprised when I found this thread. First ever.
I've owned my Challenger21 since 1986, and haven't taken any digital pics of it.
Basically, I can't afford to use it. And for true, I am trying to determine if I sould insure it for my 5 year old grandson.
My e-mail address is [email protected]. Contact me, and I will send prints for now. Craig

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

I have a 79 Challenger 21 , email me with some pics of yours [email protected]
Thanks Jay

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

Belive it or not ,I built Challengers for George Linder and Hank Cole The summer after graduation in 1976 .We did the boat show with the only Black Challengers made with V6 Mercs on them.I wonder how some of the guys are doing from the shop like, Joe the foreman and dowop,

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

Greetings 21 Challenger People!
I have recently acquired a Challenger 21. I am in the process of full restoration. Really looking forward to the end results and have high hopes. I had the pleasure of driving one of these boats before and have to agree that I have never driven a V bottom that compares to the Challenger 21.
Does anyone have any ideas where I could acquire a deck cable and rail assembly? And bucket seats?
Thanks, Jon Bucy
ps: I am not sure but I do believe that Rally sport made a version of the Challenger 21. Perhaps/maybe???????

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

Jon,,, do you have any pictures of your boat? if so please post them, we would love to see them. I think George Linder might be able to help you with finding the parts, or I am sure Joe Impressia can do the work and help with the restoration. Is the boat in very bad shape? BTW Mr. Linders screen name is GJL. Where are you located? where did your boat come from?
Philip

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

Phil, I have pics, will post the before, during and after. The hull is in excellent shape for it's age.Bad stringers, floor and transom: all need to be replaced. Believe the boat to be late 70's. Forgot to mention in my first/last post that I was led to believe by the previous owner that it was the first Challenger 21 to come to Bermuda. Which is where I live. Thanks Jon Bucy

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

I had a V24 Chalenger that only measured 22 or so feet. It was a 1994, and the hull was, and still is VERY fast and stable for ts size.

Is this boat the same and the thread topic's?

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

Sorry Jeff,
The Challenger 21 is not from the same company as the Challenger Aerotech Super Vee 24. I had a V-24 similar to yours. As you know, the V-24 (actually 22 feet) has six full length strakes which provides a very stable, controlled ride. Here is a pic of a 21' Challenger, compliments of Eddy T from www.screamandfly.com.

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

Another pic.
I believe the boat is for sale.

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

For those interested in a Challenger 21-inspired boat:

www.tuffmarine.com

Mark Wiegl has been building these 21 footers for a couple yrs now in Ontario, Canada....heavily based on the Challenger 21, with updated materials and less weight (I believe the original Tuff 21 was an old Challenger that was fixed up)

How does 102mph with a Merc 300x sound?? :cool:

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

Challenger 21'

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

Yep...just like the movie said...

"Build it....... and they will steal it."

T2x :p

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

My uncle just sold his 79' with a 450hp 454 75 mph. Used to be Denooyers when it went almost 100. :eek:

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

I have enjoyed reading your comments. Your knowledge of the history of the Challenger 21 and it's decendents is quite accurate.

The boat was designed in 1975 which makes it 31 years old and to still be considered "state of the art" after all this time is surprising but rewarding.

The boat was designed for the first Merc V6 and Mercury bought 3 for testing.

Of course one V6 engine was not enough and T2x and I raced them with 2 V6 engines. Now they can break 100 mph with a single 300x - who would have thought this 30 years ago.

My Challenger is a 1979 fully restored by Joey Imprescia ( East Coast Marine) with 300 Pro Max power, Merc. 280 tabs.

If anyone needs help restoring their Challenger contact Joey or myself.

Thanks,

George

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

Here is a 1977, recently restored. It was one of the 3 all black one's built for Mercury. It was a classic case of lost in a barn with no names or numbers on it.
We are now helping a customer restore a very rare I/O verion... Gerge, do you remember a small block, brown sides with a cream coloured deck, and all teak hatch, left hand streer that went to Canada?

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

That boat was built for Ron Mander in Canada. It was the the outboard hull and deck modified for I/O power. The hatch was custom teak. We also built one for Ron with big block power and #2 speedmaster. Boat set UIM record 86 mph in 1976.

The boat runs very well with small block power but does not run well with big blocks (too heavy) upsets balance.

George

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

I believe this is the hull you're referring to.......

T2x

An earlier Linder design
 

There has been recent progress in locating an earlier....truly vintage ....Linder design.

http://arksearch.com/

As George recalls...... the passengers smelled horrible.


T2x

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

Thats the boat!

Since you let the cat out of the bag, the Ark really did smell bad!!!!!!!

GL

Re: An earlier Linder design
 

I head some guy named Luhrs was the stable hand on that trip. :drink: :D :evilb:

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

How did you know?

GL

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

That brown I/O has been through alot. There was a magazine article on the performance change when re-rigging that boat from the I/O to and outboard on a Gil bracket. Than it was returned to an I/O with a V6 and an alpha. Now it wants to be a V8 again.

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

The Brown and Beige one in the background had a 454 in it, hooked to a TRS , it also had a custom Teak engine cover.

Philip

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

George.... Rich..... MORE!!!! MORE !!!!!! The history is AWESOME!!! :D .... Perhaps a new thread about the history and evolution of the Shadow cat ????

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

I had a cat....that cast a big shadow...... as a result George created a breeding program...and came up with the Tiger first, than the Ocelot ( sort of a mistake)...but finally got it right with the Cheetah...... (I always thought the male Lions and George shared the same work ethic).

Later we made boats.

T2x

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

I would guess this was the most copied/popped hull ever .. I can think of a few others but none with so many copies.. the sincerest form of flattery
great work George

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

Ran across this thread and have to chime in here.
I own a 1997 Challenger jet boat, which is really the original molds put together with a 460 BBF in her and a Jucuzzi jet drive.
My father-in-law bought these molds in the early 90's and worked for several years finishing this project off, thus the 1997 vintage.
Mine is a very low slung jet boat style and I'm seriously considering filling the holes adding an outboard and making a fishing boat out of it since I mostly use our Baja for boating.

I love jet boats but in Wisconsin the resale SUCKS and with all the weeds in the lakes they are very impractical to run. Now if I lived on a river....

Re: 21 Challenger People
 

That jet is of no relation.

The brown boat that Tuffboat is referring too, HAD at one point a TRS gimbal in it. I popped the old transom plugs out of the transom when the new owner was gutting the boat to take to Tuff for it's restoration. I wonder if it is the one from above.
Anyone know what happend to Mander?

RT