WIP - Work In Progress
 

In another thread, a few guys asked for some pics of my restoration work on my 1980 24' Pantera.
This boat is well known by a few OSO members. I've referred to it as "the one that has been passed around OSO like a groupie on the Motley Crue tour bus...:D"
It was first brought to the OSO family by IRONMAN. As I understand it, he pestered a marina owner to sell it to him. The Marina owner had been sitting on it for a few years after taking it in on a trade for a Cig 28 SS. Before the deal was completed on the trade, the original owner was sent to the "pokey", and paperwork was never completed, so he had to jump through hoops to get the paperwork done properly. Ironman did some serious work to the boat while owning it, built (I believe?) a 540 for it, and had it running around 80 mph. He also changed the TRS drive for a Bravo. I'm assuming he's also the one that originally changed the exhaust, and also added the external hydraulic steering.

Here are some pics from the day I got her home.

Please, If I mis-quote, or mis-direct the history of this boat, forgive me, and those that know the details, please feel free to correct me.

Ironman had the boat for (I believe) about 16 years. Before selling it he pulled the big motor, and put in a stock 330 hp 454. Dude! Sweet! here on the board bought it and had it shipped from NY to Southern CA. The shipper was Pantera's own Barbie hauling it across country.
Dude! added the SMI exhaust, and ran it in the Pacific and out to Catalina for around 6 mos. and then decided to move up to a 28 Pantera (it happens to be that Ironman also moved up to a 28).

cool.
let's see something that's torn apart:D

Dude! then sold the boat to NickK here on OSO and the boat went to LOTO. Each time this boat changed hands, I had watched it here on the board, and everytime, I was kicking myself for not jumping on it.
After NickK had it for a short time, he decided to go bigger and put it up for sale. I found the ad and made a deal with him in one day, site-unseen. I knew I was looking at a project, not that it was in bad shape, but I want to bring it up a few notches. Two weeks later, I took a drive across Indiana, and Illinois to pick up the boat in St. Louis. My boss (another boater) made the run with me, and it was 750 miles and 12 hours round trip to bring her home to Cincitucky.
Upon initial inspection, there were some things that I wanted to fix.

I took the boat to a buddies the following weekend (ITTLFLI here on the board), and we started out doing a fluid change, and I saw a few things that looked like they needed to be gone through on the motor. I decided to go ahead and pull the motor and have it gone through.

Then I got her back home, and realized I have a disease known as "Mightaswellanoma". "As long as the motor is out, I might-as-well..."
"As long as I took this off, I might-as-well..."
So, I stripped everything from the transom...
And started working on things to be filled, sanded, smoothed, and just generally massaged...

Of course, Might-as-wella-noma spread to the bilge...

Here's some work on the transom

I'll try to post some more this evening - time to go get some work done.:D

wow. that's what I was talking about. You will be so happy when it is finished. I saw your post in the paint section.
I used Imron paint in my bilge. I am very happy with it and it was very easy to mix and apply with a brush. Also easy to find at an auto paint supply. No problem applying on gel, clean, scuff, wipe down, and apply. I have spilled and dropped everything on it and it wipes up and shines nice.
Exellent project Bouyhunter!!

Lookin good Tim, keep em coming.

Thanks guy's!
I'm gonna need this kind of enthusiasm to keep me going - now if I just had a spare checkbook...

I went out and worked for a few hours, and this is where I currently stand.
I did the trailer hitch and bow-stop a few weeks ago.

here's the difference in the bilge.
I just went with Interlux Bilgekote - scuff it, acetone wipe, and lay it down. This sh!t is kinda slippery though.
There were a few unused mounting holes in the transom and stringers, I filled them all with resin and dowel, and then glassed/duraglassed over them. I think it's coming together nicely.

I'm working the hull at the same time.
Works out well, work in the bilge for a while, and while something is curing/drying, crawl under the hull and sand and fill.
Here's the bow that I already touched in, and todays fill in on the aft of the hull.
I'm using the gray sandable primer as a tracer coat to see if I feathered it in properly, or if there are any "pock marks" that I need to fill.

This will likely be a long, drawn out, slow thread, but if you're anything like me, I love seeing pics of a resto in progress, so bear with me.
The reason I didn't start this thread sooner is because there was nothing to show, all I was doing was tearing crap apart.
Currently, the motor is being rebuilt, we're gonna hep up the cam a little, and put a decent carb on, but not gonna go crazy. Shooting for right around 400hp. That's enough for me at this time. Just want something reliable with a bit of kick to it.

I'll keep you all posted on the progress.

keep em coming...looks good

Thats a great job you're doing. Keep the pictures going.

Thanks guys.
You don't realize how much it means to me to hear these comments.
I started this thread this morning, and didn't show it to my wife until I had the finished bilge pics. She even said WOW - it looked that bad!! - not that it looked bad, but it certainaly looks better.
I'll try to keep you all up to date on the progress, but unless I find indoor workshop storage, I only have a few weeks to get done for this year/

Looks like its coming along really fast to me and looks really great. You already have done alot!
Keep those pictures coming.
Greg

Tomcei - I never thought of that, applying Imron with a brush ... that's a great idea for a durable finish where you aren't worried about the brush marks ..... slick!

Bouyhunter, awesome pics and narrative ... keep it coming I really love seeing boats restored to glory .... very awesome! Great work and you will love the boat more knowing it's all yours and gets compliments because of what you have done, don't worry about those couple things that bug you when you are done ... only you will see them!

Mike

bouy, looking great.
It's gonna come out real nice. :cool:

Keep up the great work!

"Mightaswellanoma" I wonder if I can get a diagnosis from a doctor. That way I can tell my wife, but honey, don't be upset with me, It's a disease and Doc's says there is no cure but at least the boat looks good. I had a exhaust manifold leak that turned into a new motor transome assembly new floor and carpet and will likely lead to new interior.... Wife is still shaking her head, but like yours she did say it looks good now. Keep up the good work...

Maybe we should start a support group. Then we can tell people we're going to our MBA group. "Mightaswellanoma Boaters Annonamous"

Keep the pics coming, I love looking at these projects too.

Tim, I can't tell you how happy I am that the boat found you! Even though I only owned it for a very short time, I became immediately attached to it and I'm very pleased that it is finally getting the treatment it deserves!

By the way, I think you said you were shorter than me, but I couldn't imagine running a 24 as a stand up boat. I really liked how the boat felt and rode with the sitdown seats and I would put in a a vote to try to get some of those Sparco or similar car-race seats for the boat. They'd look trick, hold you in pretty well and keep you more connected to the boat.

Tell her Dr. bouyhunter B.H.:D diagnosed you, it's not terminal, but it's treatable, kind of like an STD, it will never go away. The medication is very expensive, but the results of the proper and best medications are remarkable:D

You said it correctly!
This boat found me when I saw that you bought it. Perfect size for me right now, and I love the old classic lines. I think the lifeline down the deck just screams offshore classic.
By the time I got it home, the attachment was solid.
I mean, to the point that every morning on my way walking down the driveway to get in my truck to go to work, I rub my hand down the deck as I walk past. If the neighbors saw me, they'd probably think I was insane, but it seems natural to me.
I didn't even realize I was doing until I noticed it after about 3 weeks.

I know you're a bigger guy than me, I'm 5'11" 160. The dropouts are just something I've always wanted. I was used to running my old Baja on Lake Erie in really snotty conditions and didn't flinch. The boat had a high freeboard, and I preferred to stand to take the shock with my legs. I want to be able to run this boat in the water it was built to run in, and not get too beat up. How does it feel running in the rough sitting down?? I would think I'd be nervous everytime my azz lifted off the seat. I was used to locking my feet down when standing.

Again, thanks for the compliments everyone. It may be awhile before another photo update, I've committed the next 2 Sat. to installing new machinery at work, so I'll only have Sundays to work on her. And in a few weeks it's gonna turn cold, it'll be time to start working on parts in the garage. This will be the boring time in the project that looks like nothing is happening, but as I said earlier, details take time.

Sean or any/everyone, can you post a link to some suggestions for sit-downs?? Ideally, I'd like to be able to fold at least the front area of the seat up/back (if you know what I mean) so that I can stand when docking, I really wouldn't want to be sitting down in a tricky docking situation, or have the seat in my way to get around if I need to leap some where to push off.

Mine has standup w/drop out "ass-hugger" bolsters. I'm 6 foot 225, and I probably stick out like a boner in sweatpants, but it doesn't bother me any. I'd like to change to sit down sometime down the road, but first things first.

Build up is looking goog BTW.

That actually had me laughing out loud:D:D

Me too! Crying right now!

I'm 6'2" and 260. Here's a couple of photos of the Army boat from the internet (none with a real good shot of the interor, but Jo has to have some) and here's me standing in your 24 (Avalon, Catalina Island CA).

I sat in the seat and braced my feet on the bulkhead. I was very comfortable and locked in. I always ran the boat hard and felt much better about being in the boat rather than on the boat.

that brought tears to my eyes:D:cool-smiley-011::D

Here is a shot of the seats in the 24 army boat... Its not the best pic. in the world for looking at the seats but but it is a shot of the bottom of the seats & may give you an idea of how they would sit...

Just for the record my vote would be for the new style bolsters. Simply for the Timless look... No offense to anybody with the sitdowns... I just like the Bolsters , but hey as short as I am its a wonder that I can even see over the bow of any offshore boat that I have had sitting or standing....:D

Here are 2 more shots that I found of the army boat.

Speaking of us short people......:D Sorry Jo if you are reading this I just couldn't resist ! Sad thing is he probably has me beat in height by an inch. So that clears me up to crack the short jokes. :p

Hope these pics. help some & btw I wish you the best in your restoration & as you already know you have a great boat so enjoy it !!!

I Got Some Old Skater Seats If You Are Interested.
Mike

Bouyhunter Im going to install sit down seats in my 24 Pantera. No problem with standing at all with my bolsters. I'm 6 foot. The option of standing or sitting make more sence but I love the looks of the sit down race seat. So If your interested I will be selling my bolsters.

Tim,

Looks great, and all too familiar, Keep up the work, it will all pay off in the end. Took me 3 years to finish mine, and that was with just an outboard, now I want twins, but still gotta pay off all the parts for the single first.

Rick

5'10 170ish...;)
i had footrests and would hunkerdown when running hard.
Couldn't sit and run at all.
I think w/ a nice set of sitdowns w/ built in shocks w/ footrests you'd be pretty invincible.

The look of the standup bolsters is classic though.
If you go that route, make sure you use the guys who make the factory interiors.

Also, there was a thread about rear passengers not being able to sit comfortably when underway... guy had a motion cat. He installed footrests behind/under the front seats for the rear passengers to use. Made them from alum and battery box covers. :cool:

Have any pics?? I might be.

One other thing that I forgot to mention on the boat, and I'm sure everyone that owned the boat remembers this.
The original owner had named the boat "HOT STUFF".
Apparently, when he put the vinyl name on the transom, he must have had a sheet of vinyl, stuck it down, and then freehand cut the letters into the Gelcoat. One of the previous owners removed the vinyl, but the razor blade digs in the gel remained, clearly leaving the name of "HOT STUFF" on the boat. After 2 hours of wet sanding, there is no trace of the name, and now I just need to bring the shine back up in the gel.
Sometime's these small triumphs feel very rewarding.

You forgot to mention the funny coincidences with the name "Hot Stuff" related to Nick and I.

Hot Stuff was my daughter's first two word combo when she started talking (fresh in my mind because she's only 3 now) and Hot Stuff was the name of NickK's Scorpion that he owned before the Pantera.

Did they have vinyl back in '80 or was the line from the mask? Chris removed it originally, so he'd know. He thought it was a drug reference as I recall...