I saw this ad for a 27' Imperial with a single engine big block in it (says 600 hp) for sale.

It looks like a really nice flat-deck boat...but I can't find any info on them.

Link: http://www.boattrader.com/listing/19...PRESS-93295066

owned a 1985 and a 1987

JUNK

I believe it is a copy of the Cigarette Squadron

otis...what about them was "JUNK"? That's very broad.

The boats literaly fell apart. I was young and hard on the equipment.. but they were junk. Broken seats,stringers you name it

I saw the ad for that boat also.

It caught my eye. I thought it looked like a Squadron 12 knockoff.

Imperial was a brand I saw years ago that made Bow riders etc.

The hulls had a unique transom style.

This boat doesn't look like its from the same co.

I heard the hull is from Cig. But it was still produced by Imperial the "butter boat"" king. ALL the other hulls had the pattened Omni Hull design instead of the squared off back transoms. Ill say it again STAY AWAY

I don't plan to buy it - but it sure does (to a VERY amateur eye) look like a clean, classic race boat hull.

And THAT is one thing I will say places like this are absolutely invaluable for guys like me.

The Imperial boat that I owned 25 years ago was built in Markle Indiana ( southeast of Ft. Wayne ) The company was owned by a HOLDING company calle ASI aka All Seson Industries. The Boat was JUNK!!!! But I am talking about 1984 quality.

I owned a 1986 23' walk-around cutty. The hull was called "Omni" I believe. The part where the outdrive was mounted stuck out from the rest of the transom. Bought it about a year old and the fiberglass on the cabin was already pitted from exposure to the sun. It had a Mercury 470 which struggled to get it to 30 mph. Totalled in a fire in a Hi and Dri
facility. Overall I couldn't say it was junk but there are better boats around. They were produced again for a short time in the late 90's I think. At least the Imperial name was used.