IMP boats.....any good? - The Hull Truth

TommyBoy327 · 08-16-2003, 01:49 PM

Not able to do a search on them, it returns to many inquiries. Any info as to thier rating. Bottom of the barrel or middle of the road brand? Thanx in advance.

reel mccoy · 08-16-2003, 11:02 PM

I used to see them in the late 60s and early 70s. The IMP stands for International Molded Plastics. They were nice looking rigs, with glass lapsdtrake hulls but I don't think they were a top of the line boat.

There were a lot of glass boat makers then who seem to have gone south (Caravelle; Manatee; Steury) and IMP semed to fall into that class.

The Reel McCoy

ruggit · 08-17-2003, 11:07 AM

I had a 23 IMP back about 25 years ago. Pretty good boat. Initials stand for Iola Molded Plastics, and I think the boat was built in Iola, Kansas.

24 Armstrong Pilothouse Yamaha 250 HPDI

barryc · 08-17-2003, 02:56 PM

My uncle owned a ( i think a 1973 Imperal w/ a 50 HP can't remember motor) It looked great-bright yellow! The transome broke off Nantaskete (sp) beach, off Hull MASS- and the boat sank- I was not on the boatat the time but everone swam to shore safley.
I think they are bad boats.

bc

dry doc · 08-18-2003, 04:23 PM

the plant was, indeed, in kansas....hardly the
boatbuilding center of our nation....i would
disqualify the boat on that basis alone....in
contrast, i recc you do as i did a decade ago,
buy a north carolina built boat...the floridians and californians (i am one) will
scream, but nc has a boat-building tradition
that is truly extraordinary....maine and nova
scotia build some outstanding boats, but of only
one style, "lobster"....dan

John Jensen · 08-18-2003, 06:47 PM

My brother-in-law has a 1972 23" Imp cuddy that is very impressive. It rides and handles rough seas well. It seems to have a strong hull and top end. His only problems have been with the wiring but we don't know if the problem wiring was factory or after. we think it was the original owner wiring taht gave us problems and then it wasn't major.

One of the launch ramp experts told him not to buy it because the Imps were rough riding. We have not found that to be true, it rides nice.

His only gripe is all the glass is not glass but plastic and hard to keep from scrating and to keep clean.

"Snow Goose", John Jensen
www.johnfjensen.com