24 race redo
 

Okay what's better than having 2 threads about 1981 24Pantera's? I'll be going back and forth on this one...don't have all pics downloaded yet from previous work done. All glasswork, gel, rigging, etc. is and will be done by me and my old man. Only have one pic and this is the boat's current state. Ready to gel transom this week and then awlgrip engine compartment. Boat is in St. Louis and will be heading to our shop on LOTO to get rerigged. I'll try to keep it moving, enjoy!

Your boat would be perfect for OPA's class 6!!! Any chance you'll race???:eek:

Nice,

Now I remember the boat, that transom pic looks all too familiar:drink:

I've always wanted to, but not likely. That time and money thing. It would be a good runner though.

Bring it down for the November HORBA run...cmon Nick..then you can stay that week for the KeyWest race.

That would be the dream! You never know, we'll see how the year goes.

Pics

Drilled old holes for tabs and gimbal to mach up before gel. All holes there except for new rams to be drilled later. Bunch more pics from the start, just need time to get them to computer. Getting closer. Never enough time, but will gel transom Monday. Will be in water soon...I hope.

better?

Nick sorry I couldnt get pics up quicker.
She is really coming along....cmon get her ready and bring her down in Nov. for the HORBA run..

Here is boat with the transom cleaned out. Anyone who has decided to tear out there own transom will understand the labor involved. Especially a Pantera. Mine was rotted good in some spots, but still solid in some. Makes me appreciate the Pantera more. This boat is 30 years old. Got a little deep with the circular saw...I thank Pepe for the thick gel to hide my mistakes.

Also in previous pic I cut part of stringers out due to minor rot. Could have cut less, but wanted to make sure I had clean wood. Also notched to make kind of a key for new stringer pieces to scab in place.

Another shot of cut out stringer

Skipping a few steps on building tansom, but this is transom in place. 2 layers of 3/4 marine plywood, 1 layer of 1.5 oz mat in between the 2 layers of plywood.

Another of transom

My dad cleaning up some excess resin as we sucked the transom up with screws. This whole project couldn't be done w/o him...the guy can do anything.

transom with first layer of 1.5 oz. mat

2nd or 3rd layer of 1.5 oz. mat, can't remember.

stringer replacement with 1 layer of glass, I believe.

top view of new stringers.

Make sure you add more than just mat, needs some woven, or cloth.

Ground down all unwanted holes to later fill with glass and then grind down again.

Don't have pic, but woven is the final layer and is done.

another of holes to be filled.

Skipping a step here (don't have pic), but holes were filled out with glass and then ground down for finish. Basically a bondo.

Transom is ready for gel. Hoping for this coming Monday. This is how boat looks now. Obviously not showing all steps up till this point, but you can see some. In between there is lots of grinding, filling and more grinding, sanding, etc. Looking forward to getting her done.

That's ok. Got it going now.

Looking good!!!!

thanks.

I found a hole in my gas tank. I knew it was bad and didn't use it last year. Boat has 2 tanks, a 30 gal. in the front and I am assuming a 60 gal. in the floor. Unfortunately for me the 60 gal. has the hole. Found it was leaking from the back. Found the hole and proceeded to patch. Thought I got lucky and hole was near the top as shown in pic. However one hole turned out to be multiple holes, some of which could not be seen. I decided not to pull tank out this year if I ever plan to run this Spring/Summer.

So, I decided to make a temporary/permanent tank over the back part of the old tank. Cut fuel fill and breather off top of old tank and set new one over it. The pic shows new tank mock out of plywood. Should hold 15-20 gallons. It not much, but this thing sucks the fuel...needed more than my 30 gal. to get by. I didn't want anything to big and ugly, so I thought this would work.

Nick looking great....I like the tank idea..simple enough and should work well.

Ouch,

that sucks, not fun getting the tank out of these things.

You are right on. Pepe told me the same. Don't have the time if I want to run this year. I'll make it right later on...got to get in the water!

transom gel today.

Paint by DAVE. He's good, but not cheap.

Overalls don't come cheap:lolhit:

Lookin' good, ya gotta cut part of the lower back seat area out to get the tank out, how do I know, mine was cut when I got it:angry-smiley-038:

Looking good, let me know when you get it to the lake and i'll run across the street to check it out..
I hope to have my 24 up and running in the next few weeks also..

Sounds good. Boat is in St. Louis now. Bilge getting painted tomorrow and tank is in. Also have to paint gimbal and rebuild...drive too. Not enough time in the day with work and all. Honestly, hope to be done by end of June (worst case). Love to see yours and what you've done. We'll cross paths.

As of tonight...rebuilt gimbal, new tabs. All pumps in.