Re: Anyone familiar with this 24
 

Well Guys,

I have owned both a 1989 24' Pantera and now a 1997 24' Superboat.
Yes, the Pantera is maybe 200lbs heavier and a little slower. Is a little stronger? maybe, but I broke them both.
As far as the finish of the two, my 24' Super has features that are nicer then my Pantera was so I do not agree with Storm, and we've had the discussion before...
I did not like the bolt on helm in my Pantera, Superboat molds the dash into the deck. The seats in my Pantera did not allow for you to drive standing or sitting like my Super, I had to stand all ways in the Pantera.
My Pantera was a little rough in some areas, one example is that you could see the fiber glass through the gel-coat in the sides of the hull. This I have seen in other Pantera as well.
And we won't even get into Pantera's business practices.
I do have to say that T-Mone's 24' Pantera is a beautiful boat and does not have the flaws mine had...

Now for Sean's old boat:
I ran with him a couple of years back and the boat was perfectly maintained and a vary nice package. I have not seen the boat recently though and it probably has a lot of hours on that original 454Mag Bravo package.
A 24' Super with a 454Mag will run about 73mph with 2 people and 1/2 tank.

Re: Anyone familiar with this 24
 

superbabi, courthoul ask for opinions. One sided opinions won't really help make a decision.
Didn't think i was bashing. Just pointing out a little quality control.
I didn't say sb was a pc of sht or a waste of money. Like others on this site will say about other makes/models.

And I think my elaboration should have clarified what I had said.

As far as this particular boat goes... would you spend 30 on this boat? or would you rather finance a y2k that is 50?

Re: Anyone familiar with this 24
 

I need to agree with Storm. I have an 05, 24 and the cabin doors and hatch just do not do justice to the boat. I replaced mine last winter with a custom wood set I made. I have been told they really improved the appearance of the boat.

Re: Anyone familiar with this 24
 

I have to agree about the cabin doors. They are pretty cheesey. I never rode in or inspected a 24 Pantera up close so I can't comment. The Super seems to have more cockpit room and a better (step down) cabin. From the pics 've seen, the Pantera doesn't have any rear seat leg room.

Re: Anyone familiar with this 24
 

Thanks for the feedback. Storm, thanks for the info. The cabin doors are an issue, and I had mentioned something about it to him. Basic feedback was the same here. They come out like that b/c of the material. he was going to replace them as well, but did not get to it. Storm, wish your boat was still avail. That was one of my favorite Pantera 24s.

T-Island, any feedback regarding the SB 24?

THe guy said it runs 78 on GPS. He has SS exhaust on the 454. How is the handling with the step on a 24? Basically looking at the SB, Panteras, Sunsations and pythons. All the 24s and 25s (sunsation). Just trying to get the best bang for the buck. Also dependent on what is on the market. Trying to stay around $30,000.00.

Thanks Guys.

Re: Anyone familiar with this 24
 

The Cabin doors and Hatch are a little suspect from the Factory and I've spoke to Mr. Coen about them. JC told me that they did do wood or plexi years back. He told me the wood became too expensive and plexi breaks. I changed the cabin hatch to 3/4" starboard last year and it made a big improvement.
As far as the cabin goes the Super does has have a much more functional cabin and cockpit. I did see Storm's 24' SE Pantera up close and personal.
The 78GPS is total BS! Sean told me the best he ever saw was 74+ even with the CMI headers. I have a modified 502MPI making in the neiborhood of 450HP and the best I've seen is 77+ running on fumes and alone...
I have been in both the 24' Step and I own a 1997 pre step Super; IMO there is little if any difference.
For 30K you should be able to get one hell of a 24' Pantera or Superboat. I know nothing of Sunsations but I would stay away from a Pythons...

Re: Anyone familiar with this 24
 

Pantera... I was able to sit and drive, but not in anything but the calmest of waters since my thieghs were 1/4" from the wheel, and i'm a pretty slim guy... so the boat is really a stand up boat. Rear seat is for sitdown only.

Cabin was for storage only, only went down there once. :D
Put it this way, w/ her on top, her head would be out the deck hatch. :evilb:

Court, thanks for the compliments.
Are you only looking for IO boats and 24s? I heard that 28 w/ the twin obs for sale was real nice. And a 28 is alot bigger than a 24.

In hindsight I wish I bought a 28 i was looking at instead of my 24. It would have cost me 8-10 more upfront, but would have had better resale in the backend.

Best of luck to you.

Re: Anyone familiar with this 24
 

Courtholl,

I am overall very pleased with my 24. It has a 496 with a Bravo and it will run 75 all day long. I run the boat in anything, I am not a fair weather boater, and I can out run most in the slop. The one thing I would change is steering. I did not get full hydraulic. Next winters upgrade.

Where are you located, I'm sure one of us 24 owners would be happy to give you a ride.

Re: Anyone familiar with this 24
 

Ya, I guess the doors LOOK crappy but they won't break! :D

Gassticks has the plexi doors on his. They look OK but the smoke color wouldn't match a white interior that well.

When I had my 454 Mag MPI, I saw 75.3 once. 74.x a few times, 72-73 consistantly.

Re: Anyone familiar with this 24
 

superbabi,

i would respectfully disagree with your outlook on unflattering opinions expressed about ANY brand of boat. If the opinion is based on fact or personal experience, why not share it? Isn't that the true spirit of what internet forums are all about? Are we supposed to censor our speech just because we are in a "certain" section of the forum? If it were me, and I was looking at a certain boat, I'd like to know the good, bad and the ugly...and I'd go to that section of the forum to find out about it.

these things need be said...the fact that you were on an ill-handling boat and choose not to disclose that brand is puzzling to me. i'm not asking you to bash, but what if someone were looking at buying that boat? would you stand mute and watch someone potentially lose their life?

and yes...i own a superboat :)

my .02

sean