Image Boats?
 

Has anyone ever heard of Image boats (30' cat)? It looks as if they produced boats from 1983-1988 or so. They look like the old Shadow Cats. Are they a good boat(workmanship and materials) or just a cheaper knock-off? They all look like the Chris Cat. Thanks for any help.

I have an old Powerboat test of the Image 30' cat, I believe Shadow was called Image Team Shadow at one time and that the 30' Image is a Shadow in fact, that they are one in the same. post your fax # if you'd like and I'll fax you the test...Matt

I belive the image cat is the same as ocean express and express I had a 1985 39 ft made in algonac mi

image boat company is team shadow. they produced a 21 ft v hull and a 30 ft shadow cat. it was an original design by linder. chris cat splashed it, ocean experss, superboat,and american offshore,and a couple other company's did i can't remember there names at the moment. it was and still is a great design. it's the best rough water cat out there.

Treadwell

t2x can give you the whole story. that's all i know, if my info is correct.

Treadwell

Chris cat didn't "splash" the Shadow, Linder actually made revisions to the design for them.

sorry i thought they did. i stand corrected. my bad. but didn't team shadow sue chris craft for splashing the boat and win. chris craft could no longer make the boats.

this is just what i was told years ago. i could and may be wrong.

Treadwell

I have had many conversations with Rich and George about the history of these two great designs. Here is what my febble memory can recall. George and Rich designed and built the Shadow with another gentleman whose name escapes me at the present. Chris Craft hired I BELIEVE George to consult in the design of a high performance boat and the Chris Cat was born. Although it bears many srinking similarities I believe the Chris Cat is a design unto itself albeit originated off the Shadow. You are certainly correct in that it is still one of the BEST rough water cat designs to this day! How about a little fillin' in the blanks T2x and GJL?:)

I'm redoing my 26 Ocean X and after sanding back to gel, I found the old graphix are the same as the image Cats , from the Focht family. Mines a rocker bottom. I believe after that Ocean X built the boat with a totally different bottom with a hook (ahg.) I know Sparky (Vicious) would know exactly what's up as he was Ocean's Chief Rigger not too long ago................ The big cats are a completely different animal, but they share more than differ. I love the way my boat handles the ruff stuff especially the reliability of the outboards. It really is built soundly............... If it was built at one of the Focht's facilities, it will be a solid boat. my .02

if someone were to bring back team shadow, what would you guy's think. do you think the boats would sell???

Treadwell

Thanks for all the information on Image. Sounds like they were a pretty good boat.

fobes, I mailed you my fax number. Thanks.

Actually, the Chris Cat was, indeed, a splash. The "plug" was an altered Shadow Cat ( alterations overseen by George Linder). The lawsuit that Image Boat Co. ( The company that built Shadows) won was not about the "splash"....... That was legal...... The suit was waged because Chris Craft ill-advisedly used a photo of a Shadow Cat in it's first literature before the Chris Cat plug and molds were finished.

The suit occurred after George and I left Image ( I was founding partner and Managing General Partner.......) In a partnership dispute........ That , too, resulted in a lawsuit .....which I won. I got cash and as part of the settlement gave the name "Team Shadow" back to Image. ( I also came up with the Shadow name). My leaving Image freed George to go to Chris Craft since his contract was with me...and not Image. George had my blessings as well.

Later the other partner attempted to continue the company, but with ever diminishing success...and the company...........never created another winner. There were various "partners, managers, leasors.....etc. None of them had a clue. The boats, previously bullet proof became fragile as each customer was allowed to add his own ideas to construction, weight , hardware etc. The molds warped and the pieces taken from them were basically worthless after a while.

One interesting point......While I was running Image we never missed a delivery deadline............ After I left....... the company never met a delivery deadline again........

Final part of the story...repeated too many times......

There was, in fact, a 36 foot Shadow Cat plug which was finished just as the "partnership" dissolved. At the time I was young, angry, and VERRRY impulsive. ....... So............. I had it burned, which I had every legal right to do.

If I had it to do over....... I would have shipped it to a storage location........ Ahh! the things we did in our youth.

Finally, adding to the confusion.....The names Image, Shadow, and Conquest (My later company) continue to surface at other boat companies on totally unrelated models.

Them's the facts......from the horse's mouth.

T2x

Thank You Rich, Invaluable info. as usual, You and your team surely were ahead of your time............ I can appreciate that greatly. :) I 'm hoping you will reconsider consulting again in the near future, bringing together ' High Tech / Smart Tech' and creating something truely special ( if nothing more than bringing talent together !)........ Thanks for all your input/advice..:D :fish: :fish:

So a 1988 Image (shadow cat) may not be the best quality or construction? How did these boats run with triple outboards on them? Were they all 3 seaters or did some have a back seat?

thanks for the history t2x. i knew i was close.

rapid 22, if memory srves the 1988 is a good hull. t2x can tell you for sure. but it does run well with triples.

Treadwell

Shadow Hulls built after 1984 or so (when Larry Wirtzberger left) are highly suspect....... The mold had warped by then and the construction techniques and layup schedules were all over the map...... I cannot recommend them to anyone interested.

The Shadow "pleasure" versions had back seats........ A "three seater" would be a custom interior as the stock race boats had two bolsters and a removable fibreglass cockpit cover.

The Chris Cats, I believe, came in a three seat race configuration.

T2x