Hello offshore only members,I’m a newbie on this site but you guys aparantly are the go to guys! I recently purchased a 1977 panther 26’ “according to the previous owner” who has owned the boat for 40 years. I have looked it up and found nothing on these boats? Just curious about if they were decent boats. It’s a solid boat with a great running 454 and a what I was told Chrysler stern drive? Any info would be very much appreciated! I will post some pics of it now and more within a few months after it get a new coat of paint/interior/stereo system etc…. Thanks again guys! Very happy to be in this group!

this might help

Panther boats ?

Awesome! I looked it up on a generic sight for hull identifications and it said it was a Performance Marine company that produced the hull out of California bit when I looked up Performance Marine,I couldn’t find anything on them either. Maybe I haven’t turned over enough rocks yet I suppose. Thanks for the response phragle! Much appreciated! I posted a few pics but not sure if they are in the right spot.

I think you need to make 10 posts for piks to show up... so just make a few random test post lol

I will try that and see what happens. Good idea!

Welcome! Will be a fun boat. What area you located or will be boating.

I’m out in mesa az,local lakes we frequent every weekend in the summer but Havasu is the goal once I feel this boat is worthy! Haha. Lots of fancy rides floating in those areas!

Wow, I got out of a boat because, even though i LOVED, LOVE, LOVED the OMC460 King Cobra, parts didn't exist.
I now have Twin Merc 350s and can walk into any walmart and find parts.
I didn't even know Chrysler made stern drives. it's neat, get some pics.

https://www.allpar.com/threads/chrys...-water.227758/

Haha. Cool info! To see those old boats and people smiling from ear to ear about those old turds they were getting into on the water is priceless! They were happier then people today getting into there 500k cig boats,”money pits” and saying I hope it stays together! Haha. I wish I was as happy as those peopl on a 16’ tri hull! Good shot

Chrysler never made stern drives per se. They mated their marinized auto engines to Volvo transom packages , including the lower unit , and re-badged them as "Chrysler"
Tons of people were doing it in the 70s and 80s , Crusader , Holman Moody , Commander , Chris Craft , the list is endless .
At one point , though , Chrysler had a good portion of the marine inboard engine market and their pleasure boat offerings were surprisingly comprehensive . Quality ? About as good as a Glastron of the same era.