I'm curious if 1.65 drive was a deliberate choice or just a matter of being the right deal?

I got a great deal on a one year old B1 that included everything from the inner transom plate to the prop.

Once I bought the 1.65, I learned that some feel it has advantages over the 1.5, so that was a bonus.

And, we have a life line again:
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...ps5kzq2flj.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...pskrvtk8ff.jpg
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...psed3ybmxa.jpg

shines like a diamond!

Love the life line! Looks awesome!

I agree with junior!....the rake of the lifeline into the windscreen is super !!!

I love this boat but I'll be the first and probably only one to ask......
"How bad did you feel drilling all those holes in the front deck to install the lifeline?"

Sorry, I appreciate the authenticity and correctness but I could'nt have done it.

Still a magnificent boat. :):)

RR

Truth be told, the lifeline mounting holes are original. I didn't fill them when I did the body work and paint. Just a quick touch with the drill to clean the holes out.

The holes that made me nervous were the two 5" on the transom for the exhaust. Measured several times before he drill came out on those.
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/b...psjhi6o0uu.jpg

%5BURL=http://s205.photobucket.com/user/vintagechromoly/media/pantera/2F69D670-15B1-4321-A9EC-697E1C40B00A_zps0a4jtpnd.jpg.html%5D%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb293/vintagechromoly/pantera/2F69D670-15B1-4321-A9EC-697E1C40B00A_zps0a4jtpnd.jpg%5B/IMG%5D%5B/URL%5D

WOW!!! Stunning!!!!

That is one sick restored boat! Looking real nice!

Not a zip tie out of place. Gorgeous!

Very nice, when does it go in the water?

Ok guys. Unfortunately, Photobucket has completely fouled up this thread.
That said, im going to make an attempt to "fix" it.
as far as the pantera goes, it's just about done. I'm running through the final checkout and fit out.
Survey is this week and then insurance.

Some pics:

Interior going in:

Looks Great!
The only thing i don't see is a up loop in your bilge pump hose, if I am floating and a side wake comes by, or more than 1 on the back I was getting water coming in backwards through the pump. mine sits real ass heavy even with 140lbs of lead up front

I never considered that class. Great point, I'm going to do that.

I presume the survey is for insurance purposes?
I'd like to see the surveyors face when he looks at this boat and you remind him it's 40 years old.........!

Looks beautiful, you must be stoked.
RR

Looks Great!!!...............did you pick up a new A-body project?

good eye Lee.
That's a friends car. I'm on the hook to do the paint and body work on it.
For once, a project that pays me instead of me paying it. :evilb:

It looks to good to get wet!!! Joe is looking down at it with a smile from ear to ear.

beautiful !!

side note, how tall are the pedestals and whats your seat bottom height ?

I'll check the seat height for you OOS.

I had the survey done last week. I'm waiting on the report so I can buy some insurance. The surveyor was super thorough. I would use his service if I ever decided to buy another boat. He was a cool guy. His dad raced a magnum in the 70's out of Cleveland.
During some final tuning I discovered I have reversion even with "dry to the tip" tail pipes. I've ordered stainless weld bungs, fittings and dumps. The exhaust is coming back off so we can weld the bungs in and close the holes at the end of the tail pipes. Always something!
Anyhow, maybe finally get to go boating in a couple weeks.
Heres a couple pics of the boat with the back seat in it and all cleaned up:

really nice, you have to be stoked !
post a picture of the exhaust tips before you weld them up,
does reversion primarily happen at idle or does / could it happen all the way thru the rpm range

Boat made its maiden voyage this evening!
Everything went well. Big water, but we took a 1 hour roll.
im so stoked right now!

After all that time and dedication I bet it felt great! Congrats on that!

Thanks Jack!
It was a bit surreal, as it's been 6 years in the making. I was really impressed at how the boat rode in the chop. The near shore lake conditions report said 3 to 5's and we got wet, but damn is this thing fun and fairly capable for a 24' boat.

Have you owned a 24/7 before? If no. Just wait till you learn the boat and how good it really is. Great job!

Thanks Class!

I've never even been in one until last night. Looking forward to learning the boat.

Sh!t, you been in that boat for the last 6 years!!

Excellent news, glad to hear all went well!

We put 90 miles on the boat today.
Met up with the locals at Kelly's island for lunch and then cruised the day away.
so far:
boat pulls like a beast. 50 to 70 is like flipping a light switch.
We had four guys on the boat and we pushed it to 73MPH with a 26p bravo 1 prop (1.65 ratio).
I need to learn to use the trim and tabs. Probably get 80 out of it when I get it sorted.

Panteras seem to hit a wall at 80. It's more setup then HP at that point. Everything has to be perfect to break that point. The water is very important

Glad to see you got it on the water finally. The season is about over here but I would love to see it running. If you come to the Vermilion area next season let me know.

You boating around the islands the 13th weekend?

I just read the whole thread! Such an awesome boat!