Hellwig Panther

Hellwig, Sportsbåd, årg. 1979, fod 14, Benzin, skrog: Træ, hjemhavn: Bergen (Norge), This is an exceptionally rare find: a hand-built mahogany waterski boat, crafted in East Germany (DDR) in 1979. The boat has been in the same family since new, originally used only in freshwater in Germany before being brought to Norway four years ago. The current owner is the granddaughter of the original buyer.

Prior to import, the hull was fully refurbished from the gunwale down, while everything above the gunwale has also been carefully maintained. The boat presents beautifully, with just the right touch of age-appropriate patina. The windshield has been faithfully reproduced in Lexan (the same material as the original). An aluminum strip for the lower edge of the windshield is included, though it was never reinstalled after the screen replacement. Importantly, there is no rot or structural damage to the boat. Fresh antifouling paint (for seawater use) was applied in May 2025.

History & Builder:
The boat was built by a small private workshop run by Ralf Hellwig in East Germany. This should not be confused with the modern German boatbuilder of the same name that manufactures plastic boats today. The Hellwig workshop built boats exclusively to order, and it is said that no two were ever exactly alike, even if they shared a model name. Most were fitted with inboard Wartburg engines, and the yard ceased operations after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

This particular boat is one of the rare few designed for an outboard motor. It comes with a 40hp 2-stroke Mercury engine from 1993. Unlike som panthers that were home-built on Hellwig frames, this one was constructed directly in the Hellwig yard. All maintenance was carried out at the yard until it closed.

Condition & Rarity:
The boat is being sold preferably to an enthusiast who will continue to preserve it. It is an extremely rare piece, and to our knowledge, there are no others like it in Norway. In recent years, we have only been able to track down two well-preserved examples for sale elsewhere in Europe.

Trailer:
Included in the sale is a TPV Pricolice BA3612 trailer, imported to Norway specifically for this boat. It has seen very little use and remains in excellent condition. Estimated value of the trailer is approximately €1000. The trailer has a total weight rating of 750 kg and a payload capacity of 643 kg.

Sale:
We are reluctantly offering this rare classic for sale as we simply do not have the time to enjoy it, and no other family members are able to take it on. We are happy to assist with export arrangements if needed, but pickup in Bergen/Norway is required.