The paint looks really GREAT! I always find myself checking this post to see how the progress is going. Can't wait to see the finished project.

Is their any grafixs on the deck?

That looks awesome!! :cool:

FAB-U-RIFFIC ! ! ! ! :D ;) :D

Mike ,
The boat is looking pretty sweet !!
Hows' the progress going - When was your promised ship date .

The engine was to arrive last thursday of friday, I e-mailed Jo tonight to get an update. Last week he felt like a lot of stuff would be completed this week. They were working on the cabin last week.

Von Bongos' Delivery Predictions
 

9-15-02

I'll hopefully know some more this week. Jo thought the motor was comming in last Thursday and he felt there would be some major progress during this week.

He was going to send me some photo's of the completed paint on the deck. I'll share when I get them.

I haven't made a prediction yet, I was really hoping to have it for the 4th of July, but it isn't going to happen. We will see what gets finished this week and go from there.

I will say that I am very happy with how that paint turned out so far, I have been told that the pic's don't do it justice. We talked about carpet again last week and some other small things.

The beak boat found a new home, just in time for the holiday! Hope someone enjoys it as much as I did.

Now for the new one :D :D :D

Von Bongo,

Come on the waters fine. Was in the Platte last weekend and it was really warm. The marina is really getting full.

Jim

Great looking boat, I was at the factory yesterday. I've always liked the pantera looks but hesitated because of the lack of freeboard, Von Bongos' got it figured out with the 5" drop(perfect) I will keep you posted as I will check on it from time to time, Joe & Pepe seem real staight shooters and I enjoyed the factory tour. Sorry about the rain Joe, maybe in 2 weeks?:cool:

I'd buy mine with twin 496 mag:D any feedback?

Yea, so how did it look?? :D I am gettting pretty anxious to get it out on the water. Dryest summer in history so far and I'm on the beach!

hughand linda, funny you should say that. i have a 2000 with 01 496 mags. i do not however have the lowered floor. i think it is a great setup and those 496 have tremendous torque. I have about 52 hours on the boat. not as many as i would like to have but nonetheless 75mph+ almost anyday. i also am selling this boat hoping to make the move up in size and more amenities for extended over night cruising.

best of luck in your search

james

VB, I saw your boat and they are making good progress with the cabin - it looks like a sink and storage room. The gas tank was being installed. It is 140 gallons, coated corrosion resistant aluminum with braces and foamed in place. Access to the tank will be through a small hatch. The bilge is painted with Awlgrip so it will be easy to clean. The deep cabin looks cool and safe. The deck is not yet painted but soon. My boat is done except for the engine and the interior. We agreed to a slight delay to get a 2003 Yamaha 250 Salt water. The boat and motor will be 2003 models and so will yours. I wish I could ride in your before it heads north. It will fly in salt water with a 2' chop. GaryM

:confused: Hmmm. .. deck was supposed to be painted on the 29th of June. Dropped Jo an e-mail yesterday for an update. I did get an e-mail from him on the 3rd that I would be boating before the end of the month!

your deck looked paintea to me, the back of the boat isn't painted up to the sun pad(need to see the blue on the pad to match or line up the paint/pad) Joe said 2 weeks? I think that is ambitious, looks like there is more than 2 weeks of work, but they could move fast. I'm sure a race team can tear down a boat and put it back together overnight they can have yours ready in 2 weeks. Joe said they will wet sand the paint and I think clear coat it?

You baby is safe and warm for now and looking good:p

Today is the first day in 2 months that the sun is out in south florida, maybe we will have good weather for the races:D I'd love to take the boat out and watch from the ocean:cool:

Got Jo's update, the deck isn't finised yet but should be soon, it needs a red ribbon. After they finish it I am sure thats when they will do the sanding and then it needs to be clear coated.

Using fire engine red carpet in the cabin and the sink plumbing is beeing completed, Also sounds like the pirelli flooring is going in now that the fuel tank is in.

All sound real nice, can't wait.

:cool: Still thinks by the end of the month.

Hey Von...When did you put the order in for the boat??

Hi Indy,

I sent Pantera their contract and first deposit on 2-18-02. Still hoping to get the boat at the end of the month.

V

VB, I saw your boat TODAY at 10:00 am. News, the cabin looks cool. I sat on the bench and inspected the sink and ice chest enclosure. You will like this when you see it. The gray Pirelli floor is in and the cut outs for the bolsters came out great. Some of the red carpet is in the front cabin. Things are getting cleaned up for rigging. The deck is not painted. This is not a big deal, Scott will come and do it in no time. The wind deck faring has a big red PANTERA on it like my boat. I am getting pretty excited since I learned more about the new Yamaha 250 HP, HPDI, 3.3 L, 1000 PSI super engine. Pepe and Linda are getting me one of the first ones in Miami. If my boat runs GPS 60 MPH all day, I will be happy. I will go back next week. Maybe I will send you some pictures. GaryM

Hey Gary,

Thanks for the update, I would appreciate any pictures. How is your boat coming, Jo said you were going with the 2003 Yamaha engine. I would like to see some more pictures of your boat, interior, dash and so on.

Talked to Jo again tonight about a few minor things, some more carpet and what not, I am getting really itchy to show that thing off as I am sure you are! He said the painter is supposed to be done with my boat next week. Jo sent me a 35mm pic of my boat and you could see the front and the big red Pantera pained on the fairing.

Mike

Von Bongo,

Pictures look GREAT!!!
Man, how do you hold it all together. This has been an extraordinarily LONG process. I would be soo jazzed by now....

Jim

GaryMM
 

GaryMM,
The way you describe VonBongos' boat , one might think you were a factory representative . You do reside in Miami?????????????????????

I am not a factory rep but I do live in Miami. Pepe is building my one-of-a-kind single Yamaha 250 24' Pantera. I visit frequently and tour the plant and report to VB since he is far from Miami. I have been boating for a long time and have tested many boats. I think that I know what to look for. I have access to a high resolution digital and will start posting pictures. PS: they are building an all yellow 35' Survivor and it looks pretty good. GaryM

response to Yellow 35'
 

Hey Gary. Anyway for you to post a couple pics of the Yellow 35' they are building. My next boat I am looking at a couple of colors and yellow is one of them. It will be a full yellow hull. Or red/pearl silver or viper blue. The interior will have the same them. I think they call it monocromatic paint scheme? Anyway I have seen their black F-1 but that is just too much cleaning to worry about. But it does look *****en. Thanks

yea, that all black is alot to clean but wow what an eyecatcher! I remember seeing that boat at joeys shop when he still owned it...sweet looking rig!:D :D

-PL

I will try to take a picture when the hull and deck are bonded. It looks like all yellow so far. I am already tired of the yellow and blue Sling Shot design but I really like yellow, blue, red and orange. GaryM

Progress ??
 

Mike ,
We're waiting for new pictures .
Hows the progress ?

JSM

Well,

I received a set of pictures from Jo today of the dash and the engine room, dash is all wired up and I also got an e-mail from him that it is now installed in the boat. He said the paint is to be all done by the weekend and then the motor and interior go in. The dash looks good, gaffrig with red bezels, red throttle. Engine compartment is all wired up and it looks like the tabs are in, pumps battery boxes and so on.

I left the pics at the office tonight or I'd scan them in. Also got a nice pantera hat in the mail today :D

Jo said we would speak again tomorrow, I'll remember to bring the pics home and scan them tomorrow.

Mike

Hey Mike,


If you look in this same thread you will see your own post on your predictions.It is dated 4/14/02.Exactly three and half months.Not near a year like you state on your post.

Mike purchased this boat from me on February 19, 2002.

February is the busiest time of the year for new orders.I took in a few additional orders while Mike was making his final decision that set us back a bit. The custom paint work on the boat and a few additional custom items in the cabin and boat ,and custom lowered floor he requested take extra time.

We build a quality boat that is custom made to order.If a customer is in a hurry then they should go to a dealer and purchase a custom boat built already, or a production line boat.If not they should order their boat in the winter months.

Von bongo had a Fountain boat like yourself and wanted to step up to a custom made boat built to his specs.This is a big purchase for any customer and we want him to be satisfied with his purchase for many years.
He will be boating this month.

Regards, JO:)

QUOTE...........
 

I'm just saying..............

Hey Glen,

What have you been able to squeze out of your boat for performance. You said once that you were getting mid 80's with a labbed prop. Still getting that?

Hows the boat doing on the poker run circut?? If I can't ride in mine yet at least I can live vicarously through you!!!

Pete was out today to look at mine, he should send me some pictures tomorrow so I will get them posted.

Mike

Anybody have August??? I'll have to look through the posts.:D

83-86 FRESH WATER
 

Just spent 3 + weeks on the Chesapeake Bay, north
end, fresh water, Northeast River, Sassafrass R, Elk R,
Bohemia R, Susquehanna too. Motored from Charlestown
south to Annapolis in an hour and a quarter and "putted"
around the Severn R, encountered alot of blow boaters,
Annapolis is a big sailing area. Our last Poker Run was
Tampa Bay, it was great fun. Our pictures are in Poker Run
America this issue. Got an advance copy thanks to Jo N.
We have got a great prop man (prop tol ogist) here in
Christmas FL. If anyone is interested!! Hey, Got pics??
We're gonna do the PR in Sarasota over Labor Day.Cant Wait !

Cheese and rice man, that thing is honking. :D

You should have put that motor on a dyno, it's gotta be putting out more than 600 at the prop doesn't it?? I have no idea what the ITS setback will do for my boat. I may get a labbed prop for special occasions, I just don't think it will handle the river up here, but LOTO I think it would do just fine.

I subscribed to PRA and never got an issue, I'll have to see if I can pick one up, August issue?? Nice seeing boats you know in the mags!

Poker Runs America
 

1-800-461-9128 OR
www.pokerrunsamerica.com
they have E-mail

Hey Mike,


I guess I am just to proud of our work.Have a nice weekend!!

Regards, JO

:p :cool:

Mike, I was at the factory yesterday, the boat is coming along, the dash rigging is beautiful, you'll be very happy, the cooler in the cabin looks great too, looks like 2 weeks till splash(my preditiction):cool:

Mike, when the boat is ready are you coming down to pick it up or are you having it delievered? You should come to South Florida for a brake-in week, the weather is now boating weather, got to hit the water now:D

You can't rush perfection, within a reasonable amount of time, Allthough I am as impatient for my boat as anyone else, I understand being in the custom home business the trials and tribulations these boat builders have to endure, its not that easy, and unfortunatly you are as good as only the people that work for you. I tip my hat off to the little guys that put out the best quality possible at reasonable prices to the average guy. Congradulation to the Nunez family, Keep up the good work:D