Where are the 24's
 

Hello all. I am back in the market for a boat I want a Pantera, but if you see a good deal on another brand please let me know. Alright here goes. I am looking for a Pantera 24' boat if possible I would like to find one for under $10,000 USD, I know it will be like finding a needle in a hay stack. But this will be my epic journey. I am not afraid to work on one, but I would like to take it out and enjoy it this summer. Now here is my problem--The WIFE has been looking at boats on the boattrader, she keeps telling me about the Four Winns Liberator she finds, but I just can not see myself in one. I love the look and performance of the Pantera 24. Sooo help me out or I will be a future Liberator owner dreaming of a Pantera. Thanks ----Brad

(Also I was on here as B251 but I forgot the login info and just crated this new one.)

I found this in the classifieds. Looks nice, but I cannot find info on the Mfg. Only thing have found out is the builder was killed in FL. and I am weighing out the idea of an outboard. any input on outboards vs. inboard would be great.

http://www.offshoreonlyclassifieds.c...o20480-en.html

Here's a great one! Not a Pantera, and a little outside your price range, but it's a hell of a boat!:D

http://www.offshoreonlyclassifieds.c...o17514-en.html

jayhawk, sweet looking boat, yah just a little out of my range. LOL

The guy asks about a 10K boat and you list a $ 34K boat . . . thats not nice!!

I was in a similar situation.
They are out there if you keep your eye's open and strike fast when one comes up.
You mention you're not afraid to do some work, so as long as you're not against an older boat, you can find one.
I watched mine for over a year, and when it came back up for sale I jumped on it in a few hours.
Check out my WIP thread here in the Pantera forum.
I had to calibrate my wife to what I wanted, otherwise I'd be in a Baja/Liberator...
Now, she's the one searching for boat upgrades. She actually bought cat-eye stickers for the rear window of her Hummer yesterday, and I don't even have them for my truck yet...

What happened to Robtlc's boat?? He had it on the market. It would be the perfect canditate for you.

I think you would look good in the Twister!

Sorry, I couldn't help myself!:D I can't seem to generate much interest at all, so I have to try where I can!

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/boa/521190272.html

I don't know anything about this boat.

That is a tough bill. I was in the same boat just a couple of years ago. Then I got to move up :D there are some good deals out there, but they take A LOT of time to find

I figured for the price I would be looking at something in the late 70's to late 80's boat. I hope I can find one that only needs cosmetic work like new int. I know chevy engines in and out so I am not affraid of engine work or cosmetic. The only work I don't know is, if there is rot in the stringers or transome, I am also not familar with out boards that's why I am debating the Twister. What I really love about Pantera is the're still in business. So any problems or if I find a boat I can ask the builder about it and get a response.

Tex, that is what I would love to do. Start with the 24' and enjoy it for a while then upgrade to a 28' in the end. I feel right now a 28 would be all i need, plenty of room up top and below and still kick a$$ with a single engine.

I guess a big ? is with an outboard is fuel milage better? I have seen plenty of bigblock 24 pantera boats and I can guess the fuel milage is'nt the greatest. I just wonder how a 200 hp outboard can perform similar to a bigblock 24'. I think I just need to do more research.

Good thing about OB is easier and low maintenance. Twister will go 65 and faster w/tweaking. However, big block has the NOISE BABY!

Outboards are easy...............

Blow one up, then bolt another one on in a few hours:D

Here is my 1981 24 Pantera, completely redone. I am not quite ready to sell and upgrade to a 28 yet, otherwise it would be in your range. Ran 50 with the old 200, it now has a much newer 225 3.0 liter on it, I will let y'all know the numbers next week.:cool-smiley-027:

Sweet drive it like you stole it :evilb:......LOL Nice Boat!

I have some serous debating to go over about my dilemma with outboards I am just scared to take the plunge....it's totally uncharted territory for me. I'm the type of guy that I like to fix my own stuff. and I know with the BBC or SBC I can have it going in no time, hell I even have some spare parts if something broke. thanks for the replies guys.---Brad

This is what it took me to switch over..........

Wrenching on the 454's at the ramp, got the header and valve cover off, and some guy pulls up in a beat up old fishin boat with a 1970's johnson on the back, turns the key, and it fires, smoking like a pig, he goes out fishing, and I go home and spend all my wifes money rebuilding a motor.:(

Thanks Bouy for mentioning my boat, I did get it sold before the holiday break. Still working on the shipping arrangements.

There was a lot of people interested in the boat.

If this one is still for sale, it may be in your price range and it's local. I don't know the owner, but I keep my waverunners on the same canal (harrison township) and see this boat out at muscamoot bay all the time.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...d.php?t=162032

Nope, that one's sold...

Thanks Tomas.

Brad, there was another 1995 SE for sale on a trailer at Gratiot and 10 Mile. He was asking 20,000 in the summer. I know that's double your price range, but I figured I'd mention it since it's in michigan. Let me know if you want the phone number, I'll see if I still have it. I think it had a 454, bravo 1, k-planes, he said the mph was high 60's.

There was a red one in Northern CA as well. Boattrader seems to have a few low priced 24s that don't show up here. That boat on Craigs list... I think they put one too many zeros on the price! :D

I was late on Robtlc's boat, and I had seen the orange and black 24 and called the phone # in the post but no response.

Skinny' if you still have the # for 1995 please send it to me. I hope the guy doesn't get pissed when I offer him 10K for it...LOL

I agree with dude on the craiglist one drop one zero and I'll be allover that one.

The one on Craig's list in Seattle is Pepe's old race boat M-24 triple bolster...that's got some major history if your looking for a race boat w/no power.

Why isn't that boat already on its way back to Miami? I thought Pepe was negotiating to bring it home and do a complete resto. $15k is a lot for an old race boat like that, unless its YOUR old race boat!

Here is one I found. :cool-smiley-026:

http://tampa.craigslist.org/boa/527561829.html

No doubt!

This one looks familiar!

Been for sale for a LOOOOOOng Time.

uhhhh, why can't i find that in craigs list?

Looks like a good find. I haven't seen it for sale in the past year.

No,

I havent seen it for sale in the last few years either, but it was for sale back before I bought mine(2004), and those pics are taken behind the same house the old ads pics were.

I believe this one used to belong to OSO member "Bearpaw".
Took a look at it today, a very nice Pantera for the price.
Someone better jump on this deal quick.

So, I've been thinking more about the Seattle boat... It says it has a "sturndrive" on it... The M24 ran the motors on the transom (not on a bracket)... So I should assume that they cut that boat up (transom off, bilge revisions, etc.) and made it an I/O boat? Anyone know the whole story on that?

I am not totally sure, but this is an original sterndrive boat. It's in the owners gallery on Pantera site in Washington state. Jo would know for sure, but there are a couple of old Team Pantera race boats in that area. The outboard boat is there somewhere too.

Nick - what did you buy?? Is that the new boat in the Av?
I can't make out what it is - looks like it could be Checkmate?

The boat in the Av was my second offshore boat. My first great find...I guess. 1988 24 Scorpion with a 454 TRS and dry pipes. Also the boat was mint. I have a Sea Ray in the background. The scorpion was stolen, stripped, and the hull burned to almost nothing. I have been searching ever since for the perfect one. The Scorpion was the best in rough water because it was so heavy. The Pantera was a better performer though. I bought the 24 Twister OB in the classifieds (now for sale). It was a good buy and I've never had an OB. Funny thing, it runs faster than both the 2 24s I had, but as much as it annoys some ...I miss the dry pipes!

So, you're still shopping:cool-smiley-011:

If it were me, I'd be looking for an old Magnum - Not to take away from the 28 Pantera, I just love the lines on the old Mags.

I can't seem to get away from the 24s. I'd buy a 28 Manta. Truly the toughest built boats around (if you ever can find one)!

That race boat "Fever" that Cropper and Sgro drove was a Manta right?

Yes sir! Another was "Damn Manta" or "Manta Racing". Also twin Small blocks and TRS. Later became "Smoking Gun" w/750 Blue Thunders and Bravos on ext. boxes. Also "Optical Illusion" w/twin OB and "Pitman Photo" twin OB to single Frank's Marine 700/Bravo to "Jersey Pirate" and now "Kean University" in OPA, to name a few. "Fever" is a 1980 and "Kean" is a 1984 (hull)...Still pounding rough stuff w/speed. Best true offshore boat built in its class, PERIOD! So few around though. I'd post in Manta section...but there isn't one. Any others out there?