I haven't heard of a Pantera hull ever failing, so its really not an issue. You better double that 70k if you want to build a new one.

You don't have to be any better on the sticks running a single vs a twin set up.

True that.

IM not looking for new. Im not that big of a baller like some people. just a 22 year old. who works really hard for what I got. and will have. Im not going to pay as much for a new boat is a house. at least not right now.

Thats what i figured. It was explained y u need to back off if it gets out of the water. i was thinking over rev. the motor but not the over load of stress on the drivers going from not pushing anything to back in the water and pushing the boat. makes all the sensce in the world.

I respectfully disagree to a certain extent.

When you're putting 700hp through a single Bravo it won't be as "forgiving" as 425hp through each drive on twins.

In other words a minor slip up may do no damage with twins but may go kaboom with a high hp single.

sounds like all of you guys are running in some big water. or are the boats easy to get out of the water?

Pacific Ocean... The boats are heavy and sticky. They need big bumps or big speed to fly them (or a combo of boat). Awesome boat. Rides like a Caddy. You've got to get one of your MI guys to give you a ride out on the Lake!

I do need a ride I should go looking for a MI guy with one.

Anyone know anyone In mi with a 28 pantera?

Just got another update on my engines. I'll retract my previous statement since I will have to repower :mad: Phucking aluminum heads............ Oh well atleast they looked good.....lesson learned.

And if I save my pennies like a good little boy I'll be on the water by 2010:mad::mad:

Get stock power........with no upgrades.

Also don't make the same mistake of thinking just because you buy a boat from an OSO member that its going to be in good shape - I did and I got 10 hours before she gave.

Dang dude! That sucks!!

By the way, what are you doing messing around with the boat 5 days before Sept. 15th?! Get to work man!

There's a member from Michigan that uses the screen name "OPA" (if I remember right) that has a 28 with twin HP500s and a 3 man bolster.

Actually I'm impressed at how much it takes to get air under my 24 so a 28 would take a lot more. I love it when I actually have to throttle the boat, but you have to have the right passengers! :D

I don't mess with that chit. Pay the bills and turn the key, if it breaks - I'll have someone to yell at.

Right now I'm leaning towards some new 496HO's, but I've got two years to think about it. Looking for suggestions

Sorry andy, but quit your whining, you got a great deal.
OK, not so nice, but you did not pay alot for your boat.
If it had new 496s it would have been another story.
That's why you'd have to pay up for that "new" 28 up in WI. I bet that boat can be bought for 70ish.

And Andy, 496s would be a great move.
in a few yrs when you are bored, you can just call raylar.

Mike4 is from MI too, maybe you can buy him some gas and have a run in one of the most famous 28 Panteras around! :D

Negative ghostrider, if I was whining I'd be at the top of the general discussion forum recruiting a lynch mob to handle my own dirty business:evilb:

OK good point... how much do you thing is fair to give someone if they do take you out for a ride or whatever. i Have a boat and nobody evey tosses me a dollar but im not to concerned with that fact would be nice to get a few bucks but... i bought a baot to go out on i woudl rather have people on it reather then none.

So how much is a fair tip to give someone for a ride/crusie???

you must be one of them there Pantera stocker dudes.
Somebody should put a restraining order out on you.You need to be kept at least 30 feet from any big block that goes bumpty bump:drink:

I tried to buy that boat .

Mel Riggs wont sell it. He wont even say a price for it.

Very Bizarre.

If he comes around though.....that is the one to get IMO.

Gas isnt cheap.......and you dont have boobies.....:cool:

maybe just bring a couple of blondes with loose morals...hell you do that bring em to Toronto I am only 4hrs away!!

i would think from a non boater type person they would give you like $ 20 and think that is a lot :(
but for someone that has or know's about boat's .
anything under $ 50 is an insult .
most peaple i take out will mostly throw me a $ 100.

just think if you are burning 50 gallon's an hour @ $ 4 a gallon that is $ 200 rite there now if you go out for the hole day you can burn twice that .
with these h p boats you most likely will not run more then a few hour's in a day , unless you are going more then 60 mile's each way .
mike

I'm pretty close w/ one of riggs' best friends, and he called me 6months or so ago telling me if i wanted it, now is the time. It's got new 502s.
Riggs knows what he is doing... i'd love for him to rig a boat for me, or i'd buy a boat that he has taken care of.

slpcomaross97
i have a 28 and 2 24's {pantera's) i live in lake orion, you are welcome to come over and check them out anytime you want.
bill

I used to love taking people out for a ride.
Nothing felt better than impressing someone w/ the performance of my boat. If we went out for the night, they'd pick up dinner.
OPA... you need to post pics!

Believe it or not....I actually saw an ad for that boat a couple of weeks ago. It had the 502's like storm mentioned. No price.........

Gotta love the 28!

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...8pokerrun2.jpg
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...o8pokerrun.jpg

28 Pantera- What Power?
 

I think the 28 Pantera is one of those performance boats thats a perfect match for a twin Raylar LSM550 engine package!
1100HP from all aluminum 89 pump gas engines in this boat with 1000lbs less weight than a twin big block packages or 600lbs less than a twin small block package that will only make perhaps 700HP total for the iron small blocks, makes this choice a real "no-brainer"!

The 28 Pantera with this twin package would be a
rocketship without having to use blowers or high octane motors.

Cheap No, there are no cheap "great" performance boats!

But a real honest 100mph 28 foot big water boat like the 28 Pantera with a $54K twin engine package is really a smok'in deal!, when you consider the cost of a Mercury Racing 1075 and drive it would take in single power to equal the performance, especially when you consider 750-1000 engine hours for the LSM550's before rebuild versus the 200 hours for the Merc. The difference in rebuild costs for these two Raylars three or four years later versus the Merc 1075's, don't even ask its not even close!!

If any performance boater is considering repowering or spec'ing power for any new twin engine performance boat between 28 and 36 feet, or any single engine boat between 22 and 28 feet, they should study and think about the Raylar LSM550's, they are the future, here now in Performance boating!!

Just Bang'in our Own Drum!

Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

Agreed, you have to be more careful, the more HP you put through a Bravo.

Also, on a single, the drive sits much deeper and doesn't come out of the water as easy.

:eek:Link? I cant beleive it.

I called Mel like 10 times. I am sure he knows what he is doing but I was hot and bothered and well financed and he didnt even seem to care....I am in sales and I would ave loved to have had me call!

Email sent.

Any Pics? What kind of setup?

Ya now if i could only find them blondes with loose morals i would be all set. LOL

So at lest a 100 bucks is what i was thinking maybe dinner. Would you guys be happy with that with no blondes involved?

I'm sure OPA will chime in again but if I remember right he has a 3 man bolster setup with twin HP500s. I only saw it once and it looked and sounded great!

I think the $ thing is a variable that is correlative to whether someone's your buddy, or just some dude who want to go for a ride in a Pantera. I couldn't imagine taking money off one of my buddies for a day in the boat (a few have slipped me cash when I wasn't looking... and it's always cool if they "insist" on buying brews or lunch, but that's a characther thing) on the flip side, if someone I don't know calls me and says "hey dude, I'm interested in buying a Pantera, can you take me for a spin?" I'd probably be a bit disappointed if he didn't offer kick in some cash and buy some beers. Again that's probably a charachter thing. When I got out with my buds in their stuff, I always try to kick in for cash, buy beers or pick up a lunch. Just to say 'thanks bud'!

Happy with no blondes involved??? I think you know the answer to that one....

I usually dont make anyone throw me any cash to ride in my boat. I like having people along for the ride, especially girls.

100bucks for a 30 minute spin sounds reasonable especially when you are trying to figure out if you like somehting you are going to spend alot more money on than that....

I dont like to take cash either. I find it tacky.

If someone does something nice for me I do something nice back like buy them a nice bottle of scotch or a few lap dances or something that they cannot refuse.

Cash is a bit tacky especially if it is a friend but a NICE bottle (not Capt Morgan-- we are talking Johnny Black at least) or a case or 2 of good beer would be perfect (for your scenario of wanting a ride/demo from a stranger).

I am the opposite, most girls can't back up a trailer, they can't help load the boat and they bring enough chit with them to stay out for a week. :angry-smiley-038:

And they don't seem to appreciate tearing through the snot as much as the guys! :D

slpcamaross97, I think you're on the right track for getting a ride. Hell, if someone is going to already be out you could just jump on to check it out and take a quick ride. Then buy them a nice bottle as ar15 said or if they don't drink maybe a gas card.

Back to the single vs twin debate. How is docking the 28 with a single?

I know in wind current even my 24 can be a handful. I once had my drive in reverse and wheel cranked and the wind just kept me blowing in the opposite direction!

Think this is what im going to be looking for.
 

With all the help. im still torn between single and twin engine. But im leaning twards the twin just so i can run a close to stock SBC not have to worry about super high hp out of one motor.

and for the Fuel cost for a joy ride cash is king i always but... im thing of talking to who ever owns the boat i go for a ride maybe become friend i would love to run my pantera when i find it with other pantera guys in MI. so I guess dinner or if they are into the strip clubs i know the owner of the Flight Club. so if were are in that area then i got no problem with sitting in club for a few hrs. or hit the bar. But got an idea of what some people thing which is a big help.

Also if you have any other pantera info or stuff to look for whe buying or anything that might be usefull to me when buying send it my way. Im slow at work so ill be on this site for some time to come....

Back to main topic of twins and just the boat in general
 

This is a good point. Any Info.

Also what about the bottoms of the boats i have a spot lined up to keep the boat maybe, but the hoist is set up for a biger sea ray. i think it was 35ft with a big beam or so.... other then maybe the size of the boats being diff. Are the bottoms have any weird angles to where everbody has to run a custom hoist just for a pantera???? Think ill have anyproblems with this hoist????