Anyone know anything about these boats?  Made by Pantera custom ski boats and they went out of business in 1991. There an 82 on youtube. Other than that I know nothing about them.  This thing has been sitting since 06 when my step dad picked it up and never did anything with it...and then he died .  I know its got a big block and a panther jet.  Anyone know this boat? It's been sitting under a crappy cover for the last 4 years...at least.

from what Im told my hondo has a pantera bottom since I dont have a t-deck. Ive heard its a great hull, I don't know yet because I havent had mine out. Youre not far from me if you decide to take it out to silverwood let me know. ill be going there a few times this summer

looks like it will clean up nicely! little wax and some polish and it'll be sweet!

dont take the panther cover off, you'll regret it. my panther sprays water EVERYWHERE! 

The Hondo Pantera design had nothing to do with Pantera Boats. 

I think Pantera boats had some connection with Panther Jets because I believe that all Pantera boats had Panther jets in them.

+1

And I hope that motor don't make any power. Horsepower + the pump = boom

Funny...I kept checking back on the " own posts" link and I thought I didn't get any replies.

  Yeah, no mater what I do with it . I'll be doing this..

Spend some money on it and make it run (go through the carbs, clean the fuel tanks, replace fuel and water hoses, inspect/replace spark plug wires, buff it out or color sand it depending on condition...).  Keep it simple but the more useable it is when you go to sell it the more you can get for it.  And I think I'm going to take the pump apart and look at it.   

 A friend of mine that moved to the River called me up out of the blue. I said to him..I just got a jet boat .You know anything about them?  He said " I think I just blew up my jet again" I said that sucks I have a panther jet....he said Me too.

panthers are pretty reliable too.  just keep em full of fluid in the front (theres a dipstick that looks like a long bolt) and then shoot a few pumps of grease into the zerk fitting on the end if you put the drive in the forward position you'll see it. 

I realize it has been a very long time since the question was asked but, I can tell you anything you care to know about them.
Pantera Custom had nothing to do with other builders but were tied into Panther Marine. If you find one with a another type of jet it was a swap by the owner. They ONLY came with Panthers.
The boats were originally Built and Sold in Burbank Ca in the early 80's then the company moved to Newbury Park. They closed all operations in 1991.
The only made two styles the 18' Bubble Desk (This one) and a 20 something daycruiser. I have only even seen one but we used to park next to each other at Havasu all the time.
The Big Block in the 18 was an option and required the upgraded jet. A 350 was standard. The day Cruiser only came in 454.
They had 3 454 options from 380 HP I think to 500.

Mine was a 1986 18' Bubble deck 454, 450 HP out of the factory. I redid the motor and punched it up to 950HP but that also required a jet upgrade to prevent cavitation. The Cav plate is under the jet and adjustable but not controllable unless changed but by 89 a jetovator option was available and could be retrofit

The thing could eat rocks as stainless impellers were stock, ALWAYS. The ceramic water seal in the jet was the weak point but I always had a few spares and it's an easy fix.
Good boats, fast and good on gas even with a monster motor. The 454 off the showroom could do 60mph. If upgraded out of control the right way like I did, 100mph with 4 on-board was easy. 

River

Do you know if these things came with the dual tunnel ram 660's?

Lets see if this works. If so here are pictures of my 18

I'm not sure why this shows only in the 1990 thread. The boat is a 1986! I was the original owner and had to sell it due to injury retirement and divorce in the same month. The buyer has apparently since sold it. Can anyone help me find her again?

   Good looking boat, hope you find it👍🏼 I have a 90 pantera myself.


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