20' Panther

[Mark]

Here's a pic of a 20' Panther. It is claimed they were made in Ontario by Quinn's Marine using Checkmate molds. The hull is clearly a Mate(maybe an Enchanter) but the deck doesn't look like any model I know. Anybody know the story on these?
http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=57988&d=1082743297

[cooperider]

I'm kind of digging this section.

That looks like, new life for a classic hull. I'd love to hear more about this myself.

http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=57988&d=1082743297

[Mark]

This thread has a little bit more of the history on them. I guess John, the owner of Quinn's used to buy the old Checkmate molds, when they were going to new models, and then build them as Panthers.

http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54964&highlight=quinn%27s

I remember Kip writing once that the Starflite/Starliner molds went to Puerto Rico. Anybody ever hear of any boats emerging from them?
Coop, now that's a mold you need to get your hands on. According to past polls it may be the favorite Mate of all time!

[BullittBen]

Yep, that looks familiar. Interesting comments on S&F about pads.... I wonder if Panther did anything different to the step hull and almost non-existent pad?

[Chris E]

Quinns built panthers for many years, i drove by the place everytime we went to the cottage. they built v mate 1, 2's a couple of sterndrive models and they also built some police boats that the opp used i think they stopped building the boats in the early 90's. i saw 2 bare hulls just north of barrie this summer, they wanted 1000 each

[Mark]

Chris
I remember the OPP or maybe it was the RCMP using small hardtop outboards years back. I think they were yellow in color. Were those Panthers?

[ianz]

Mark

Not only do I know about the 20ft. Panthers but the picture in your link is my buddy's boat who stores it at my cottage for the winter. That 20ft with the 225 Johnson runs about a true 70. Probably one of the easiest boats I have ever driven at 60. It has a 6-7" Pad and requires very little input from the driver. Hull is an all glass bottom so it is a little noisy inside but it gets right up on top and handles the rough as good or better than most 20 footers.


IZ




Here's a pic of a 20' Panther. It is claimed they were made in Ontario by Quinn's Marine using Checkmate molds. The hull is clearly a Mate(maybe an Enchanter) but the deck doesn't look like any model I know. Anybody know the story on these?
http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=57988&d=1082743297

[Chris E]

The opp boats were white as i remeber and were hardtops with sterndrives. they also had 9.9 kickers on them. they used to do the training on Lake Muskoka out of the Ontario Fire College. The OPP are now using seaswirls.

[ianz]

No Step
No Notch

Just a straigh V bottom with a small pad.

forgot to include this in my previous post.

IZ

[Mark]

The opp boats were white as i remeber and were hardtops with sterndrives. they also had 9.9 kickers on them. they used to do the training on Lake Muskoka out of the Ontario Fire College. The OPP are now using seaswirls.
Then I am thinking of a different boat. They were yellow, and they were outboards, and I am pretty sure it was the RCMP. But other than that I was right on!;)
Hey Janz,
Thanks for the inside scoop. So, what Mate hull is it? Skimate? Enchanter? They are the most likely bets. And does it have a different deck or just a different windshield?

[cooperider]

This thread has a little bit more of the history on them. I guess John, the owner of Quinn's used to buy the old Checkmate molds, when they were going to new models, and then build them as Panthers.

http://forums.screamandfly.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54964&highlight=quinn%27s

I remember Kip writing once that the Starflite/Starliner molds went to Puerto Rico. Anybody ever hear of any boats emerging from them?
Coop, now that's a mold you need to get your hands on. According to past polls it may be the favorite Mate of all time!
Mike told me they went to the Dominican Republic. Yea, I would love to have those molds.

Mike and Kip also told me molds like the Playmate Jet and some of the Pulse's went to Austrailia.

[Chris E]

here is a little more info - about halfway through the article is a blurb about panther:

http://www.seadoodepot.com/PerformanceSpring%202005.pdf

[Panther]

Hey Mark, that's my boat in the picture you link too. If you have any questions let me know...that's an Old pic by the way...it didnt run 70 with the motor that low LOL

[ianz]

He Panther....

Welcome to the board.... I know that you have enough time at work to add lots to our discussions.

:cheers

[aaronmt]

Im wonderen about that hull myself. What hp are they rated for and whats speeds have been done in them. I got to think it should go over 0 with more power and maybe a bit more set back. Very nice looking boat. Aaron

[Panther]

Hey thanks IanZ...just what I need...another Forum to spend time on.

I'd show some more pics of the boat to those interested but I guess you can't post pics on this forum eh?

As for the HP...I think they were rated for the 225 that most of them came with. As for speed, mine is the fastest that I know of, but then again there really aren't that many still out there.

The best I saw ever was 70.9 on GPS turning a 27 Shooter at around 5800 rpm I think...but I'm sure someone will tell me that doesn;t work with slip etc etc...right Ian?

Anyway, the boat handles fantastic..pretty much anyone can get in and drive it at 65 regardless of boating experience, over chop etc. Getting that last 5 MPH out of it is a little tougher, but it still handles really well. It does not get loose, chine walk or anything. And that is with the original 1988 dual steering in it.

I think it could handle more power, but you would need to do it with a big torque motor as it does feel pretty heavy.

[Panther]

I just got off the phone with John Speath finding out a little bit more on these boats. He worked at Panther for a little while, and left just as they were starting to build this boat.

1st off, the bottom is supposedly an exact copy of the Checkmate Skimate II. The built a completely different deck for it, but left the bottom the same. Here is a link to some pics I found of the SkiMate II

http://wildman78.mysharedphotos.com/my%20checkmate/layout1/0.htm


According to John they built the I/O version first, and he was part of that build. They they made a different deck mold for the outboard version which is what I have.

According to him they didn't touch the bottom, so the pad on mine is the same as the pad on the 78 SkiMate II in the pictures.

Amazing to me that the boat runs so good for such an old design....

[F150GT]

Maybe Coop or one of the Checkmate guys can tell us if the Ski-Mate used the same hull as the Enchanter. I have two Enchanters and they are nice fast boats, 70+ with a 200 is no problem if set up right. I am getting 74 with a Yammi 200 Pro-V. By the way they are both for sale this spring.
F150GT

[cooperider]

I'm thinking the Skimate II evolved into the Exciter/Eluder very good hull that almost anybody can drive. The Enchanter/Entertainer is a very close relative of the hull, in fact building them, with out the name on the side of the mold they could almost be confused with each other. Trust me I was a newbie back then. I'm on the lookout for an Enchanter this spring, if the price is right.

[F150GT]

Whats the right price? I have two for sale with or withought power.
1979 Blue & Silver Metel flake, solid floor and transome, recleared needs some interior.
1984 Brown & Gold Metel flake, Transome is starting to show wetness, finish is 9 out of 10, interior is nice.
Both will have 225 Yamahas this spring.

F150GT

[cooperider]

CHEAP!! How much for the wet squishy one with and without power?

[F150GT]

I sent you a PM

[Mark]

I'm thinking the Skimate II evolved into the Exciter/Eluder very good hull that almost anybody can drive. The Enchanter/Entertainer is a very close relative of the hull, in fact building them, with out the name on the side of the mold they could almost be confused with each other. Trust me I was a newbie back then. I'm on the lookout for an Enchanter this spring, if the price is right.
Wouldn't the Skimate be the hull mate of the Enchanter at 20'? The Exciter is an 18 footer. Either way, cool to hear some of the history.

[Chris]

If anyone read the article that was posted earlier in the thread. There is a gentleman named Jim Stephenson who is quoted. I know Jim, he's one of my customers. This is one of Jim's old boats. :sssh:

http://checkmate-boats.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6824

[Chris]

As mentioned in the article Quinn's built the panthers using old Check moulds. If I'm not mistaken, Quinn's was actually the sole Canadian distributor for Checkmate at one time. So any Checkmate that was sold actually was distributed through Quinn's. I think Quinn's had a role in maintaining the Canadian dealer network for Checkmate.

I can remember driving by Quinn's on Kennedy as a kid and rubbernecking. :p

The trade rules were pretty different back in the day, so that might explain the logic in Checkmate having a Canadian distributorship at one time.

I could be a bit off on the story too, my memory is getting a bit sketchy on the old Quinn days...

I thought most of the Panthers were based off of old Check old moulds.

[gulllake550]

I have 3 of these hulls on my lake. They all look great and run strong. My lake is 1 hour north of Quinns marine.

Quinns in fact still have some interior parts on hand as my friend got some handles and accesories from them this summer.

Most of what I have read on this thread is true. Very stable and easy to drive. A friend of mine runs one with a 225 Yamaha and runs great.

I have been told that the panthers are a little lighter than the checks and that they make use of kevlar somewhere in the construction.

[Big Dave]

If you remember your history, the reason the boats are so easy to drive fast is that Bill raced his own hull designs and then built hulls for Mike to race. other people wanted to buy one of his boats, and that is what started Checkmate in the first place.

[Big Dave]

My local used boat/parts guy said he worked for Cheetah? years ago as a builder and he though the hull molds came from Checkmate.
Said they were fast and stable.

[cooperider]

Big Dave, there are several Cheetahs out there, see if you can get anymore info from him for a new thread on Cheetah. I know of one company out west and one in IL.

[Big Dave]

I will see if I can get more info from him. He is the guy that has all the inline parts. he had an xr2 that I wanted for the trimate before I sold it.

[Panther]

I have been told that the panthers are a little lighter than the checks and that they make use of kevlar somewhere in the construction.

I don't think so. John Speath would have told me if they had Kevlar in them. Not even vacuum bagged....

[1Mate1]

I followed one of those OPP boats on a trailer through Gravenhurst this spring, just after ice-out, it was definitely a Panther I/O . My friend's Panther Ski Mate II looks the exact same as the Checkmate V Mate II in the brochures.:thumb:
Steve

[cooperider]

I got to see a Panther in person this week. I like it. I'll post up the pics after I get them all sorted out.