Thanks for the support All.

Pete was a great find. I am really happy with his work. Good guy as well.

As Mario mentioned, PM me for Pete's contact. He knows what he's doing.

Mario L. is the friend who has provided so much support through this process, knowledge, mental, physical.

January 3, 2013 - Stringer's complete, seat back in, cabin floor in, fairing the transom. We used 3/4" plywood for the cockpit floor, glassed both sides.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps69f83392.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps33f3bb33.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps6292d595.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps762c749a.jpg


I wanted to make the cabin a little more functional, so we dropped the floor at the entry and made seats at the sides. This still gave enough length for my wife and me to sleep in the V berth.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps497a48fe.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps5477c28f.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps38719bf7.jpg

January 8, 2013 - I want this boat to be clean and simple, so no stereo system. I had the speaker holes filled.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps2b77a6d5.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...psdb6c30d0.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...psce2763c1.jpg


The decks on these boats are pretty thin and span a good distance, so I wanted to provide a bit more support while keeping the cabin the cabin as open as possible. Pete fashioned this hoop. We are also running a couple of strips from this hoop to the front bulkhead. Getting rid of the hatch helps as well.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...psf014428f.jpg

January 13, 2013


Glassing in the pieces in the cabin

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...psad962dbc.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...psc5801c89.jpg


Trays for the batteries

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...psb0558e28.jpg


I am not a huge fan of the windshield on these boats. I like the small plexi screens that some of the older boats had, but I was thinking about a fiberglass fairing that flowed better with the lines of the boat. Pantera's modern sit down dashes look aggressive, but I wanted to keep the vintage look.

Fairing mock-up

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps93e3e022.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...psed5afceb.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...psa3890fee.jpg

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http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...psed06c3d6.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps17dfd09e.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...psa137fec5.jpg

January 21, 2013 - How the boat sits now. Fairing glassed in being filled and shaped, battery platforms glassed in, Deck hardware holes filled, down to finish work!

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...psebc70941.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps50566678.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...psbf59b98f.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps7d9de213.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps3d67a75c.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps0eaecbf3.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...pse0c49687.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps2f2a5ca9.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...ps62236515.jpg

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e3...psd8ea4703.jpg

Like the windscreen. I'm not a big fan of glass on fast boats either! Good call.
Id consider wiring a stereo in the cabin with at least a speaker, you'll enjoy the boat more. $.02
What color are ya thinkin'?

wow! things really went forward fast in the last couple weeks!!!!

nice reading your post ! and nice pictures too!

Looking good.
Mario will show u the way. He's been there/done that, also has a sweet auto shop.

Thank you. I can't wait to see the windscreen painted to match the boat. Hopefully it will look nice.

I hear you on the stereo. It would be nice to have when anchored on a sand bar. I will give this some thought.

As for color, I want to keep a vintage look. I am keeping it white and will add some period correct Pantera graphics.



Thank you. Progress was amazing once the boat got into skilled hands. Pete took it from scrap yard ready to solid boat in no time.

The deck should be primed this week, and then things will slow down. We will wait until April to paint. After that the boat will be back in my hands, which should really slow things down :(



This is the truth.

He is instrumental to a couple of automotive dreams of mine as well.