Hey, when you feel like it, run hard, and when you don't, screw it.
If you push too hard alot of the fun goes away.

Ps I can see where some foot wells would do nicely.
It may even allow you to move the set up and expand leg room behind you.

That's my dog
 

Gotta love a boat dog....Mrs. Bouyhunter

Looking good Tim!! Man, I still really dig that little boat! Keep up the good work.

JJ
where did you get your pantera? It looks like one a buddy of mine had down here in Knoxville a couple of years ago.

Bouy, great thread. Man this boat has history and she's well traveled!
Keep the pics coming.

Yeah, you're right about pushing it too hard.
I could barely move yesterday.
Just finally got a nice weekend, and was excited to get back in the boat.
It's funny, I'd have two small projects going in the garage, and two projects going out in the back yard on the boat at the same time. Everytime I went to the garage for a new beer, I'm rounding what tools I needed to make the next steps on the projects in the garage, and vice versa.:D

I'm going back and forth on the foot rests/cutouts.
I want to solid mount the seats (no fore/aft slide, no swivel...)
On one hand, I'd like to move the seat up close, and cut out for foot rests like yours.
On the other hand, if I push the seat back a bit, I'll still be able to stand and drive - like around the docks.

I really like the looks of yours.

It came most recently from St. Louis.
If you read through the thread, the previous three owners have all been on in here.
IRONMAN
Dude!!Sweet!!
and NickK.
The past 18 or so years of it's life are all here - as well as some of it's previous history.

Thanks - glad you're enjoying it.
I'm not the only one that loves seeing these threads with lots of pics of something getting torn apart, and put back together.

At one point I actually gave the thought of making sure there was an open beer can in every picture - just to see how long it would take for someone to pick up on it - kinda like the bunny logo hidden on the cover of every issue of Playboy:D

If you came up w/ a hight quality seat slide you could have both the foot well and then kick the seat back to stand.
I understand not wanting a slide on the seat for poor quality reasons,but what if it was an awsome set up with out slop.
(custom made)
If you had the right set up you would be in a win win situation.

I think I live vicariously through you and others with these great projects.

I have a jetboat in the garage that I'd like to tear into. Want to up the horsepower, redo the interior, and possibly do some glass and stringer work. Problem is I don't have much free time for big projects these days so I keep leaving things as they are. The boat is clean and runs well so I can't complain. ...so I'm reduced to just fantasizing about it when I read threads like this. Keep it rolling and count me in as a cheerleader.

Great boat By the way.

Yeah, I agree.
But right now, I'm battling time, and budget.
And I need to get this boat in the water this summer.
I've been boatless for 5 yrs. It feels like my arms are falling off.
I already have some projects planned for next winter:D

Hell, just do it!!
And expect to sink more into it than you originally intended - if you've read the whole thread, you'll recognize my references to the disease "Mightaswellanoma" - once you tear one thing apart, you might-as-well...

As far as swearing to own a Pantera some day - Yeah, that's exactly what I did. And I'd watched this one change hands twice right here on the board. When it came up again I just jumped at it.

Tim, get back to work on the boat.

:D
Can't thank you enough for all of your help!
How's the move coming along?
If I can help you with a set of hands in anything, just say the word. You're only a few hours away, and you and Sue are great company.

Tim,
have you considered a seat rail mechanism from an automotive seat. It may work very well, quick easy and cheap.

Tom
Any links to what you have in mind??
I'm open to any suggestions.
I think I need to have the bases fabbed up locally - just weld some aluminum tube. I can't justify spending $1200 on some billet bases that don't fit the old-school boat that I have.

Ha ha... I did read the entire thing..... Yeah, I've gotten myself into trouble with that mightaswellanoma.. I'm very familiar with the condition.
On our last house I wanted to remodel the master bedroom and bump out the foyer.... turned into a whole house remodel!

The 4 most expensive words in my life have been "while we're at it"

Bouyhunter,

Man, took me a while to get through this thread. Great work and I hope those seat boxes work out for ya.

I did see your banged up rubrail. I didn't realize it was metal. Mine is white plastic. When I get some time I'll post a close up of it so you can see the wavyness.

The rub rail was like that when I bought the boat a while back. I had planned on belt sanding the aluminum smooth and powdercoating or polishing the whole thing but never got to it. I think that that aluminum one is even a better design than the stainless one on my 28.
Tim, would the sliders from the old seats work if you removed the swivel parts? I think that I installed them in 01 or 02.

Thanks LM.

I was thinking about doing the belt sander routine, and then bring the shine back up and everything else, but for about $500 to replace it, and the risk of having dips/waves in the old... I'd rather just replace it. I do like the aluminum rail, it's pretty damn beefy! - The sliders would need major modification (I considered that too). I think I might just install some stationary bases that I want a local guy to fab for me, and see how that works out. If I don't like it, I'll change them next year.

Yep, even though I could adjust the old seats fore and aft I probably only did that twice a year and it was not necessary. Some stationary bases with some manual adjustment method would probably work beautifully. I don't think that the even the $350,000 Cig Gladiators seats adjust fore and aft but I didn't look that close at the show and have not driven one yet.

OK, I posted this in another thread, but it belongs here also - for history's sake.
I spent the evening fabricating new inner exhaust rings.
About 4 hours with a drill press, a circle cutter, a few drill bits, a file, and sheet of aluminum 3/16" stock.
I know hardly anyone would ever see it, but, I know it's there.
The old, and the new.
I feel I need to say, I'm not bashing on anyones work before me, and mine will have it's own imperfections. I just want to give this old gal what she deserves.

nice job. sometimes you just need to make what you want.

I spent the evening fabricating new inner exhaust rings.



Spend another evening and make another set for the outside......Love the red with the metallic in the paint....

Thanks - I kinda figured it was a few hours, a few beers, and about $25 - as opposed to ordering, waiting, paying shipping, and then massaging them to fit right...at $100.

Outside is polished SS flange - so no need.
Would you believe that red is actually a spray-bomb??
Clear over it, and should be good to go.
Mike, this is the weekend you should've come down to work on the boat - the wife's out of town, and the fridge is stocked with beer!

This fabricating part thing is kinda fun.
Spent yesterday making motor mount backing plates - among other things.

Looking good.........To me that is the fun part.......

I due need to make it down their and help you empty you fridge....

You're welcome anytime, and the fridge is always stocked.
Bring your spray gun - I want to get this babe back in the water looking good!

Here's what else I was doing as the paint was drying on the brackets.
Should be ready for paint soon.

At least I found a paint that is damn near an exact match to the Red powder coat. This stuff looks great! I'm really happy with it.

I know most of these refurb threads show $3000 in parts any time there is an update, but I'm trying to show the little stuff that takes time and work.
Hell, I also spent about three hours yesterday at a buffing wheel cleaning up some of the deck fittings.
It's all the little stuff.

I just noticed, in that first picture you can see the 5 gal cans of liquid plutonium. Great dietary supplement.:D

I think so too!!! Makes nice results!

Looking really nice!


/Mange

Looks great. Nice work on the backing plates!

I know what this stuff takes!!

Dont make me post pics in your thread of my progress......COME ON pics please.........

Sorry, posted under the wrong login
 

Just wanted to get you motivated. You are doing a great job and want you to share this with friends.

JJ

:offtopic:

Mike - Don't harass me with your progress:grinser010:
It's bad enough being called out by my wife - but cool enough that she's into the project too.

OK, so the wife posted under my name (mistake), just trying to put some fire under my azz...
I kinda feel stupid posting pics of such small progress, but here is what I'm up to.
Called my engine builder to schedule Dyno time - should be within the next 2 weeks or so. The motor has been waiting on me, not on him. It's already run on the test stand, but not the Dyno yet.
I just started re-rigging the transom last weekend - after painting, and hours of wet sanding.
Also finishing up re-rigging the bilge to drop the motor in.
I still have a ton of work to do on the exterior, upholstery, and helm.
I work on it as I have time/money/energy. I need all three, or I'm just going to be flushing one of those resources away and it will cost me more of the other two to make it right. If that isn't a signature line I don't know what is...(I just re-read it after typing)

I had one more coat of red on the valve covers, and a few coats of clear. They look like candy.
Before after of transom.
Motor mounts
Anyway - because we all like pictures...

Finished Valve Covers.
Motor mounts & Battery boxes. Still need to tighten things up.
Before of Transom.


Just from crawling around in the bilge so much, I need to touch in a few areas.
Never ending battle.
No, it's not a 540 Hawk. But I acquired the covers, and thought I'd have some fun until I build the 540. (Thanks Joe:ernaehrung004:)

Now, someone tell me where I can have some seat bases fabbed!!!!!
I'm looking for simple tube bases, and I've talked to a local guy, and a VERY WELL KNOWN GUY FROM THE BOARD, and I can't get a quote or even a reply from either.
I'd build the damn things myself, but I'm not a competent welder.

A friend of mine here in FL could build some for ya. His company specializes in Alum. fab... T-tops, swim platforms, etc. Let me know and I'll pm you a phone #.

This entire summer has been an absolute waste.
I've been working 12 hr days the entire summer, and have rarely had a weekend off. I have a painter that is literally across the street from my house, and a powder coater right up the road, and haven't been able to leave work long enough to go talk to them.
In the forging on with progress, I keep tearing things off the boat.
It's stripped at this point.
Windshield is off, all hardware is off, dash is out, controls and gauges are in a box, rubrail is gone, probably go out this afternoon and start removing the snaps for the cockpit cover.
It's ready for paint.
Last weekend, I had the wife help me remove the life-line (prepping for paint), and had to crawl into the bow section past the bulkhead to get to the bolts.
I was shocked at how much space is actually up there for a 24'.
I'm figuring I could probably smuggle two Cubans up there, if they are friendly or desperate, but it's probably already been done.
If you've never crawled into that bow area in a 24, here's what it looks like from the inside.

This is about as stripped down as it gets.
My wife is looking forward to me actually putting things back on the boat - me too.

I'm only leaving the hatches on until I take it to the paint guy.

keep it up!!
I know first hand that time lines don't always work out.:angry-smiley-038:

Thanks Tom.
I think the reason I even posted was to get the kick in the pants, and get my priorities straight.
My wife expected to go boating this season, and all she has seen is me tearing more crap off the boat.
Well, there is nothing more to tear off, it has to go to paint, and then things need to start going back on it.