So cool to see engineering to grab speed instead of just throwing dumb hp @ it.
MD

cool thread with pictures and detail, wish i had your patients. nice work

Here's the video from the last race in 2012. The GoPro cam got fogged out for some da** reason and a fly got in the way, but at least it's something.

This was with a not that very great(!) some sort of labbed o/b 28 Bravo - lost a few mph, acceleration was about equal to none and the handling was terrible - but we did at least beat the other 24 Pantera/the only competitor in our class.

We were still rookies so we had to start from the back of the field because of the regulations.

[YOUTUBE]LmKd2C0nHcY[/YOUTUBE]

Mocking up the "new" exhaust. I'm going to try the KE/PF headers instead of the CMI Sport tubes.

I'm making new end pipes instead of the shorter standard KE/PF ones.
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...ps325c5c36.jpg
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...psf9a5cd1b.jpg

My new race cover is finished, it took me a few ours with the sewing machine. It got better and tighter than I imagined from the beginning.
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...ps369dabcf.jpg
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9b0a6f8c.jpg
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...psf698332c.jpg
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...psf3b9a3a9.jpg
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...ps71eaee85.jpg

Why the exhaust change?

Need more power :D The KE/PF headers should make a bit more power than the CMI's.

That's interesting. I'm surprised.

The KE Exhaust flows like a CMI big tube full runer setup. Great stuff, just doesn't have the bling of poilshed stainless. Also doesn't crack and leak.

Do you have anything that verifies that or where did you get it from? :) I've heard similar stories but nothing verified.

The runner lengths are equal, or at least very close to. The CMI Sport tubes are a joke, the lengths are waaaay off of each other. With my new tail pipes they will flow even better.

I'm not looking for the bling factor and the KE/PF is a very cool looking header in my opinion. The downside is that they are a few Lbs heavier than the CMI's.

The racing seats look great bro.. you have any pictures of the brackets you used to higher them?

It's the cheapest available glass fibre racing seats, but they are great and not too heavy. Complete with the steel brackets they are 20Lbs/each

You mean these?
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...psb4296f6d.jpg
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...ps868ea0b2.jpg

This is what the "cabin" looks like nowadays...
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...ps25400e1e.jpg
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...ps849de362.jpg

nice bro great job.. im thinking about making those same brackets now

NewBanana if you wanna save some money and time I'm not gonna be using the ones I had in my Pantera . If you want them I'll take $150 for the pair . Their Aluminum and powder coated .

Tomas,
how much comfort does the racing sets provide in rough waters?

Racing isn't supposed to be comfortable :D So far they have been great but haven't raced in any rough seas either... I know plenty of others using the exact same seats and they are very pleased.

I've been thinking about doing this with the Superboat, but I'm concerned that sitting down would kill your back in the rough. Any thoughts?

In Europe sit down racing seats has been the norm for decades. The harder the seat the better for your back - as long as the fit is good enough. I guess one layer of the Mitigator cushions that PPI sells would be perfect!

I loved my sit down seats and felt real comfortable even taking it out in the ocean . Our new boats are going to have four of them so we decided to start making our own http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...ass-seats.html
If interested PM me

Nice

These are the seats I've got
http://www.ridetech.se/public/img/user/SS-103-SV(2).jpg

They're $300 a pair, complete with brackets and adjustments. I had PPI make Mitigator cushions for a friend of mine with the same seats and his old back problems went right away.

That's cheap enough. Where did you get them? And how much were the Mitigator cushions?

Bought them here in Sweden, but I guess you can find them in US as well.

One layer of Mitigator were about maybe $100 per seat, only the material non upholstered.

I have used the cheep ones as well but the difference is ours are built for boat use and with the structural foam core in the base. We can bolt them sideways on a pole and bounce on the back without breaking . The cheep ones are thin and the sliders bolt to the sides and the bottom and the sliders will rust in no time at all .
Tomas I would love to build you a set for your boat .
Is that carbon fiber on those seat basses you made or just black glass ?

OCCjoe brackets look bad ass ill PM you as soon as i know what seats im putting in, Cobra makes some nice ones (aqua 4x4) with heavy duty vinyl im leaning that way..

It's glass gelcoated black.

A couple sea trial videos from last weekend :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mabof7PhqU

My first time with the Pantera in rough seas. Just testing trimming the tabs and drive and with some more practice 10-15more mph isn't impossible in seas like this.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K0fGI6eQNgo

Tomas you are the master of cool ! How did you get the speedo and compass on the video ?

Man great videos and yes way cool

Thanks guys!

Here's a couple pics from today with some new graphics.
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...ps41595fae.jpg
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...ps65662844.jpg
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...ps161e7f2c.jpg
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...psd6187d56.jpg
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...pse4906cf9.jpg

Tomas, seeing how that boat looks and performs compared to when you started is amazing. You are almost one of my heroes. Once you get the lower painted you might be one! LOL

Wow. That looks really good Thomas.

Thanks man!

I do agree that there are some minor differences ;)
http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/...ps984d94ce.jpg

Beautiful work! Congratulations!

Wish me luck for the first race for the season, friday and saturday!!! We're going all in on this one!

results, video? Hope you did great

The predicted rough seas was replaced with absolutely nothing.

Unfortunately we got alone in our class but started with Bat 24's and outboard cat's. During the race on friday we got DQ'd but had a blast anyway. In Saturday's race we outran all the other boats.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-wuQsekGGo
http://youtu.be/8e7p_cqnvb0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HR1OV...=TLBxKmYbyaIDM

Cornering at WOT
@0.54min http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8ARr...ature=youtu.be

Yesterday I ordered a race labbed Bravo from BBlades that hopefully will help me gain a mph or two.

So far I have only used stock props so the chances are pretty good the BBlade prop will do good!

Next race is on Aug 17th so I just might be able to get the prop until then.