Ive found a Panther Im interested in that seems to be in good shape. Tje price is great IMO but its been for sale for a while. Setup is a 454 with Berkely jet drive. I can only assume the jet drive is why its still for sale. Did these boats ever come with jet drives? I live on the Gulf coast of Florida and am a pleasure boater, not a racer, but love speed. There are tons of jet boats running around this area. Can anyone give advice as to why I would not want a jet drive 24 Panther? Thank you in advance.

----Fuel mileage!!!!!!!!!.......Bill S

Fuel mileage will be really bad or slightly worse? How about handling, performance, and stability?

jets are really great for racing up rapids in washington state. other than that? nice rooster tails.

I had a 24' Cheetah with a jet drive, it's the same hull as a Panther. Back around 1974 I raced this hull in the APBA offshore modified class, never won or placed but had fun. It had a single 468 big block in her and it ran around 60mph. One good thing I never had to worry about props, or breaking drives.. I later converted it to a IO stern power drive. Right off I found about 2 to 3 mph faster with this drive, but I did not keep it long enuff to really set it up.
Here is the Panther catalogia, from back in the day.

H20, Thank you for replying...you are the first person to reply with actual experience. Would you mind emailing me at [email protected] so I can pick your brain? I would really appreciate it. The Panther is in great shape, from Michigan and brought down here and never used. Guy said he didnt.like it in these waters , which is what scares me. But jet boats yamahas sea doos all run around here like crazy. its really popular drive with pleasure boating. Its a 1977 but says its been rebuilt all the way down to the stringers. Seems to be in really good shape. How did the jet intake handle the chop or rough water? did the boat ever come with a jet drivefrom the factory? Most of my boating is pleasure through the intercoastal and bay island hopping or just cruising. Just looking for some advice.before I pay cash for this thing and end up with something I cant use in a chop or rough water.