Pantera Boats, one of the companies competing to be the fastest in a rapidly evolving offshore racing scene in Miami, is back and will be headed up by Carbon Marine Inc. founder Cam Heaps.
The company said “a series of business transactions and agreements endorsed and sanctioned by the Miami-Dade County Circuit Court” allowed the company, as successor-in-title, to acquire the molds and related intellectual property including trademark, designs and copyrights.
Carbon Marine Inc., which touts its introduction of the first 100 percent carbon fiber-exposed powerboat hull at the Miami International Boat Show in 2016, should be well positioned to relaunch the brand, said Heaps.
“It is an honor to be a part of preserving the Pantera brand and heritage built by the Nuñez family,” said Heaps in a statement. Today’s announcement is the beginning of a new chapter that will see Pantera Boats available again to customers around the world.”
Pantera founders Pepe, Linda, and son Jo Nuñez, were hit by tragedy when Jo received a cancer diagnosis and passed away in 2015.
Now the company has established a manufacturing partnership with Jaguar Powerboats, which will lend its racing production background to the endeavor.
“Jaguar’s incredible history of world championship victories and indestructible hull construction makes them the perfect manufacturing partner for our new company,” said Pantera president Jeff Howat.
Coupled with the advanced laminate production by Carbon Marine, Pantera Boats Inc. will have manufacturing capabilities in both the United States and Canada.
The company will build Classic Sport models in 24-, 28- and 36-foot lengths. The Center Console range will offer four models from 26 to 38 feet.
The company is also teasing a Day Yacht series coming soon, to be offered in a 30-foot and 38-foot iteration, that will feature walkthrough integrated transoms and luxury transoms.
“We look forward to utilizing the race-proven Pantera hulls and adding new and exciting models while harnessing the most advanced composite building processes available today,” said Heaps. “With high-end fit and finish and refined interiors, a new era of Pantera is born.”
