28 Saber vs 28 Pantera

[hotjava66]

Anyone owned both or been on both. Just kind of curious, how they compare in ride, handling, room etc.

[ar15meister]

From what I hear they are similar.

Are you talking about single or twins because that will affect peoples answers.

I have ridden in quite a few offshore v bottoms rangine in size from 25-43ft over the last few years and as far as pure 'fun to run factor' none have really struck me as having been more fun than a 28 Single Pantera with a big motor. Not saying it performs better but man, even guys that have big offshores have told me they love running this little thing. It is just really a fun boat to run in most water under 5ft.

2-4's this boat likes to fly and I can run balls to the wall at 82mph (it will go faster next summer with prop work and new engine).

28 Pantera is a special boat.


Mine

[ar15meister]

[LEOPAJM]

Nice lookin boat ! The black is Baaaadaaaasssss !!!!

[stormrider]

I think some of the chesapeake boys may be able to help... especially jdub.
Quite a few 28 panteras there, and jdub had a 28 saber.

[thedonz]

pantera

[ar15meister]

the only thing is that most Saber 28's I have seen have been rigged with twins.

I honestly dont see any point, aside from the fact you can get home on one engine, to running twins in a style of boat that runs so well with a single. If you are offshore running OK but where I boat in the big lakes a tow or help is usually close by.

I would only buy twins if I was buying a bigger boat that needed them to run properly.

[Big Time]

I honestly dont see any point, aside from the fact you can get home on one engine, to running twins in a style of boat that runs so well with a single.

Agreed (you can also throw in that you may be able to plane easier too). At that size they are more balanced with a single engine and working on a twin in a 28 is a headache. I personally like the Pantera's; solid boat, very deep for a 28, and a pretty decent cabin size (and headroom) too.

[Dude! Sweet!]

Lildcsrodshop (Scotty) has owned both too and he may be able to put in a word or two about it.

I've never been in a Saber, but I do seem to have a fairly strong preference for Pantera...

The Team Kansas / Wave Hippie boat does seem to run like an ass-grabbed sorority girl. But its been a while since you've seen a 28 Pantera with a pair of strong running modern Small blocks.

[Dude! Sweet!]

And frankly, the only way we can REALLY settle this is with a fight to the death.

[BRD]

Isn't there one of those all black Panteras for sale right now somewhere ?

[Dude! Sweet!]

Isn't there one of those all black Panteras for sale right now somewhere ?

The 35 F2 boat has been for sale at the factory for a while. 2x world champ as I recall and the only one they've built...

[BRD]

Beautiful !

[jdub]

I think some of the chesapeake boys may be able to help... especially jdub.
Quite a few 28 panteras there, and jdub had a 28 saber.

There are a few 28 Pantera's on the Chesapeake......(was) only one 28 Saber though But honestly they are both great boats. As far as looks go I liked the flat deck and straight fairing on my Saber. Plus they have a nice catwalk from the stern to helm around the sides. I do like how the fairing slops down on the Pantera's though. As far as ride goes I feel my Saber rode softer and felt more solid then the Pantera's I have been in. More solid because the Saber's entire hull was balsa cored. The Pantera's I rode in were not. Softer ride because of the rounded keel and full length running strakes. They both handle rough water great. I did fell more "in" the boat with the Saber and more "on" the boat with the Pantera. Not better either way...just different feeling. You gotta ride in both to really see and feel the difference. Either way you can't go wrong.....bad ass customs.

[insanity]

The Pantera hulls aren't fully cored???

[jdub]

The bottoms are....but I don't think the sides are. Atleast not the ones I was in. If they were it was not much. Giving a more hollow sound and feel. Obviously they are both built like tanks....but he asked the difference between the two. Here's a few pics of me and Danny tied up....before anybody says it I was forward a bit because my swimplatfrom was longer and we lined those up. I think the Saber might be a couple inches longer though...not much at all.

[jdub]

The Saber is noticably narrower. If I recall we measured it from rubrail to rubrail and it was like 8" narrower maybe more, I can't remember. You can also see the catwalk from this angle on the Saber.

[Gordo]

Anyone have pics of the twin-smallblock 28 Saber that won National and World Championships owned by Brad Harrington?

[stormrider]

Here it is before he bought it.

[MikeyFIN]

There are a few 28 Pantera's on the Chesapeake......(was) only one 28 Saber though But honestly they are both great boats. As far as looks go I liked the flat deck and straight fairing on my Saber. .

+1 plus I also like the cockpit layout on Saber better and the fact many 28´s are twins.