good or bad deal?

[Bayou Dave]

Saw this pontoon for sale and would like your opinion. The ad says it is a party barge, but probably a bass buggy. He says it has a new floor, carpet and all new seats. He says the motor is a 1989 Evinrude 88hp, model #E88MSLCER. The boat is a 1990. I am thinking the hp is too much for this boat.Carb ws gone through earlier this year. Not sure exactly what was done to the motor. $9000 is way too much for it, but was thinking of about $6000. Any opinions, thoughts, red flags?

http://batonrouge.craigslist.org/boa/5113002295.html

 

[Reel Kahuna]

Without a full description of the Toon along with pics, it's hard to comment but $3K is the price difference so plant a stake in the ground and offer him what you feel is a fair price and wait for the counter offer.

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

From what I see and if everything is as said the 6k is right on.
as to being over powered maybe but not by much if it is ,I was thinking they were rated at 90 hp.
I would for sure check it out really well

 

[Bayou Dave]

The link does show photos. I checked out the specs here on iboats and it is only rated for 60hp. The 88hp on that boat is a problem for me. Thanks for the replies guys!

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

May I ask why 28 more hp is a issue?
does your state check?
or is it a insurance thing ?

 

[Bayou Dave]

May I ask why 28 more hp is a issue?
does your state check?
or is it a insurance thing ?

Insurance and in case the state checks.

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

My pontoon was max rated 60 hp I'm running a 150 hp insurance was just a few dollars more and the state hasn't said a word. But it is also converted to a tri toon. That toon your looking at is barely over the lmax hp ratings.

 

[Buster_boy]

Sounds to me like he's either flipping it or just renovated it and is trying to get his money back. Any time you rebuild anything it always costs more than the item is worth. I believe that is the case here as he says he just redid everything. Crawl underneath and check out the decking. New carpet can hide lots of things.

 

[Bayou Dave]

Sounds to me like he's either flipping it or just renovated it and is trying to get his money back. Any time you rebuild anything it always costs more than the item is worth. I believe that is the case here as he says he just redid everything. Crawl underneath and check out the decking. New carpet can hide lots of things.

You may be right. He started out asking 9000, then 8500 then 6000. The motor started out as a 1996 and now it is a 1989. He has 3 different reasons for selling it on various sites. I have a bad feeling about the whole thing.

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

That's when you buy it really cheap! And fix what he didn't

 

[Bayou Dave]

I have moved on to a different pontoon. Slight damage on the rear sides, but probably will pound out fairly well. Wires on teh starboard side need to be rehung up. They go to the front docking lights. It is a dealer and he will run the motor for me and check compression, etc.What compression would be acceptable?
Asking $6995 and I hope to get it for $6000. Luckily there will not be any sales tax on it. What do you think?

http://www.theboatyardinc.com/web/used/Odyssey-Lextra-20-2000-Marrero-Louisiana/22209152/

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

I'm not 100% sure !
it's the looper 90 hp Johnson
I would be guessing at it but somewhere in the 120 to 150 range.
what's important is that each cylinder is about the same within 10% of each other.
what concerns me is the water line that covers 3/4 of the rear of the toons.
is it loaded that heavy on the rear?

 

[Bayou Dave]

I'm not 100% sure !
it's the looper 90 hp Johnson
I would be guessing at it but somewhere in the 120 to 150 range.
what's important is that each cylinder is about the same within 10% of each other.
what concerns me is the water line that covers 3/4 of the rear of the toons.
is it loaded that heavy on the rear?

The top of the water line is painted on the toons, but it looks like it may be how it actually sits. Never owned a pontoon so I don't know if that is normal or not.

 

[ahicks]

I'm reasonably sure that water line is NOT normal. Something is grossly overloading the back of that toon! A couple of good size guys sitting in back will have the back of the toons (and possibly the engine) underwater. Not good....

I would think no more than 1/2 the pontoon should be underwater when loaded.

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

I would sure be asking for a lake test!

my two cents is that I like the first one you were looking at the design of motor is well proven! Not that the looper isn't a good motor it is . Think id look it over really well do my own compression and lake test then if you like it make a offer that you feel good about. He's already dropped from 9 to 6 doesn't mean he's hidding anything maybe he just was in the right place at the right time and got a really good deal and thought he was going to make alot.

 

[Bayou Dave]

I zoomed in on one photo and I think the actual waterline is here:

Looks like someone painted the bottom of the pontoon guessing where the water line actually is. If the motor was all the way down it would be a little easier to detect the water line.The boat is on consignment at a used boat dealership so a sea trial is not going to happen. The original pontoon I was looking at had more problems. Like no title to the trailer. The admiral and I like this one better because it is a little larger with more seating.

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

So has that toon been in the salt water?

what are they covering up with the paint?

if it's a true epoxy paint for aluminum. If you ever have a issue that needs welded on the took I hear it's really hard or impossible to get air tight.
that is what I have read here. Not personal experience

 

[Bayou Dave]

So has that toon been in the salt water?

what are they covering up with the paint?

if it's a true epoxy paint for aluminum. If you ever have a issue that needs welded on the took I hear it's really hard or impossible to get air tight.
that is what I have read here. Not personal experience

It probably has been in salt water. In fact I will use it in salt and fresh water. As far as the paint goes... who knows! lol

 

[Bayou Dave]

If I get the boat I will try to remove that paint. Looks ugly as can be......

 

[Jeep Man]

If it is to be used in salt water you may need bottom paint. Just ensure that the present paint is not covering up corrosion.