Took the toon plunge.

[Bubba1235]

Ran across a 1985ish 30' Tri-Toon equiped with a merc 150 HP O/B. Toons look to be darn near perfect, deck is solid, furniture needs replacement and engine has not been ran in 3 years but it was winterized and stored properly. Has a decent (needs some paint) crank up traailer with it. Pulled the cowling from the engine and was able to turn the flywheel over easy enough so it's not frozen. Total price, $275 plus four tires for the traielr so I can go get it next week. No, I could not water test it but I figured I could not go wrong on the price. Like they say, "the trailer is worth that much".

Now I have to decide if I want to part it out or spend the money on new furniture and possibly an updated helm station. My fear of course is investing more than it will ever be worth in the open market. Any one care to share their thoughts?

 

[ezwitter]

Re: Took the toon plunge.

maybe i didn't read correctly ( $275 for a tri-toon) i must be confused

 

[flycaster]

Re: Took the toon plunge.

BOAT
A boat is a hole in the water that you keep pouring money into.

Bring On Another Thousand.
A toon is no different from a boat.
Good luck in which ever direction you go.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Took the toon plunge.

Ran across a 1985ish 30' Tri-Toon equiped with a merc 150 HP O/B. Toons look to be darn near perfect, deck is solid, furniture needs replacement and engine has not been ran in 3 years but it was winterized and stored properly. Has a decent (needs some paint) crank up traailer with it. Pulled the cowling from the engine and was able to turn the flywheel over easy enough so it's not frozen. Total price, $275 plus four tires for the traielr so I can go get it next week. No, I could not water test it but I figured I could not go wrong on the price. Like they say, "the trailer is worth that much".

Now I have to decide if I want to part it out or spend the money on new furniture and possibly an updated helm station. My fear of course is investing more than it will ever be worth in the open market. Any one care to share their thoughts?

Keep looking over your shoulder for flashing red and blue lights. What you committed was theft. What a deal!

 

[shaeleblanc]

Re: Took the toon plunge.

get us some pics of this thing i have never seen a tritoon that old. i am sure it is a beast.

 

[dodger11]

Re: Took the toon plunge.

Show us some pics! Sounds like it might be a great buy. May be, may be not, but good luck, & not a whole lot of money invested either way!

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Took the toon plunge.

helluva deal. If you plan on using it, spend the money to renovate if the motor proves to be ok. If the motor is shot, then it's a tossup.

If you bought it for an investment, I think you'll come out ahead by parting it out or reselling it as is.

Keep us posted with pics and your plans.

Good luck

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: Took the toon plunge.

She has been after me to get a toon for some time as she loves slow cruising with lots of friends and family. As others have noted: When momma is happy, the world is a better place.

Sounds to me like your problem is solved. LOL!!!

 

[ezwitter]

Re: Took the toon plunge.

hell of a deal

 

[199q]

Re: Took the toon plunge.

Yeah, no idea what I am going to do with it at this point. I found a 12 piece set of potoon furniture on Craigslist this morning and guy is asking $600 for it all so I think I'll at least look at it. (Current furniture is shot.)

I am certain I could do better if I parted it out or even just sold off the trailer but I think the wife is going to want to have me rebuilt and keep it. She has been after me to get a toon for some time as she loves slow cruising with lots of friends and family. As others have noted: When momma is happy, the world is a better place.

True true... learned this early at an young age..... if she isn't happy, nobody is happy!!

good luck with the toon! a family that we go out with a lot has one, and its nice, just not really my style. lets see some pics!!!

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: Took the toon plunge.

....... As others have noted: When momma is happy, the world is a better place.

Here's the complete quote

If Momma ain't happy, Ain't nobody happy

If Poppa ain't happy, Nobody cares.


Congrats on the toon, you'll enjoy it

Jeff

 

[woosterken]

Re: Took the toon plunge.

WOW!! 30' toon, put a small camper on it,instant fishing lodge
i have never seen a 30 footer

woosterken

 

[BuckyBadger]

Re: Took the toon plunge.

If you bought as an investment definitely part.

However, if you plan to rebuild and keep it that boat has some great potential. If you keep it just a year or two, you'll have no problem getting your money's worth. Good Luck.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Took the toon plunge.

Looking forward to seeing it.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Took the toon plunge.

That is an AWESOME toon. It's huge, it has a tower of power, the top is badsass, and it ALREADY HAS A GRILL!!!!

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: Took the toon plunge.

Bubba,
Here's some pictures of my hardtop which I fold down for the 330 mile trip to Ontario Canada
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v78/JRD77VET/vacation/boat/pontoon hardtop/

Here it is up


After it's first trip home ( for a serious cleaning )



If you want any other pictures, we'll be putting it up the weekend after Easter. Feel free to ask.

Jeff

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Took the toon plunge.

On the way home I was pulled over by a state trooper, didn't write me a ticket when I showed him the paperwork that I had just bought it but told me I had to get some fenders or mud flaps on the wheels. Seems I was kicking up a lot of kaw kaw on to his windshield.

That's ridiculous. I hope he also pulls over every dump truck, trailer-less semi, etc etc that even with mudflaps do far more damage.

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: Took the toon plunge.

Jeff, that looks like its fiber glass, yes? That would be a lot lighter than this one. Once I take it loose I'll get a better feel for how much weight is involved. No rush but it you get a chance, some close ups of the hinge system would be a big help and much appreciated.

No, it's a metal top. I'm 6'-0 / 210 lbs and my wife is 5'4" 130 lbs and we can put it up or down ourselves.

It has two hinge points each side and the front vertical poles bolt in once it's in place.

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: Took the toon plunge.

Looking at the one I have I am betting it weighs a lot. I am surprised they put so much metal into the joists just to support the aluminum top skin or that there are so many. They built it to last I guess.

Going to play around on the drawing board (CAD) and see if there is an economical way to hinge it and put some type of power assist in place to raise and lower it. Just thinking out loud,,, I would raise and lower it for towing so it will be on the trailer. Maybe I can use the trailer winch with some sort of cable attachment??? Food for thought anyhow.

Here's big pictures of mine in the stowed (travel ) position.



Here's just the uprights for the top


There is a single bolt in both the top and bottom pivot points. ( if you wanted, it could be bolted at two places top & bottom, once in place) This is in the longer of the two tubes ( back in the bottom, forward on the top ). Each has a U shaped bracket to keep side to side movement to a minimum.

Once I pivot the top up into place, a 1/4-20NC stainless bolt, washer and nylock nut secure it in the top and middle rail. The vertical upright is bolted thru at the top and bottom rail and also in the hardtop itself.

If you want, I can take the angle brace picture and use "paint" to mark up pivot points and the area where it's bolted thru.

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: Took the toon plunge.

The bottom photo pretty much shows what I needed, THANH YOU. Looking at your setup I think it would be pretty easy to attach the trailer winch to the front of the canopy and pull it up.

You're welcome. Notice one thing with the uprights, there are three tubes welded in between the uprights to keep the uprights from twisting.

Here's an idea for putting the top up which would be faster than a winch ( and less expensive too ). A simple block and tackle. A length of rope and two multiple pulley blocks and you'd have way more leverage than you'd need.