Is rebuilding worth it?

[sirket]

I have a 1998 21' Sun Tracker Fishin Barge.

Boat has only been used in fresh water and the pontoons themselves are perfect.

This boat has the pointed bow that SunTracker used for a while. I was considering either rebuilding it with a square bow (adding another crossmember) and new railings and furniture, or just selling it and buying a much newer used boat.

I figure it is going to cost about $7k to rebuild this boat the way I want (All new roto-molded furniture, new deck, lights, bimini, etc.) Problem is the engine is the original 40hp 2 cycle. If I want to upgrade the engine too then I'm in the $12k range.

If I buy a used boat I don't have to do any work, and it will actually probably come out cheaper- though probably won't be as nice as if I do a custom boat.

Have the people that have rebuilt their toons been happy with the results? I'd love to know how you feel a couple of years down the road.

Thanks,

-Don

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Is rebuilding worth it?

You will never recover the money you have invested in the boat when you are done. If you intend to run it forever, that becomes a non-issue. But for everyone that made that statement there a probably close to ZERO the number of folks that actually kept the boat for any length of time. Newer always wins in the end. For that money I bought a brand new Misty Harbor (four corner fishing pontoon) with a 40 HP Suzuki complete with top, live well, built in fuel tank, full instrumentation, stereo and a Shorelander bunk trailer.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Is rebuilding worth it?

You'd do better to look for a boat that would better suit your needs. 40 hp motors on pontoons are for "old people" that just putt around. I may be retired, but I'm not running in slow motion.

Pontoon boats last a long time. I thought that I was through pulling tubes and skiers on my pontoon, until my daughter unexpectedly had two children. I just bought a new Bennington with 150 hp Yamaha--and we're back in the water sports business.

 

[sirket]

Re: Is rebuilding worth it?

You will never recover the money you have invested in the boat when you are done. If you intend to run it forever, that becomes a non-issue. But for everyone that made that statement there a probably close to ZERO the number of folks that actually kept the boat for any length of time. Newer always wins in the end. For that money I bought a brand new Misty Harbor (four corner fishing pontoon) with a 40 HP Suzuki complete with top, live well, built in fuel tank, full instrumentation, stereo and a Shorelander bunk trailer.

I don't really care about ever getting the money back- I'm more curious about people that have done such a restoration and whether they were happy with the results. We've had the boat for 8 years now and besides the usual wear and tear- there's nothing really wrong with it.

I've been looking at a used replacement- because honestly- I don't see the point in spending $30k for a boat that we just use for evening cruises and the occasional midnight, full moon swim. Having said that- this seems to have been a good season for sales around here because all of the used boats in the area are overpriced, and while newer, look almost as worn out as my existing boat.

(As an aside- I can't tell if your avatar is a real plane or an RC model. Do you fly?)

 

[sirket]

Re: Is rebuilding worth it?

You'd do better to look for a boat that would better suit your needs. 40 hp motors on pontoons are for "old people" that just putt around. I may be retired, but I'm not running in slow motion.

I live on a lake with my own dock so I don't need one boat to do everything. When I want to go skiing or tubing I have a ski boat for that. The pontoon boat is for nothing more than evening pleasure cruises, star gazing, watching fireworks on the fourth, and the occasional midnight, full moon swim.

Pontoon boats last a long time. I thought that I was through pulling tubes and skiers on my pontoon, until my daughter unexpectedly had two children. I just bought a new Bennington with 150 hp Yamaha--and we're back in the water sports business.

As I said- I live on a smaller lake and have my own dock. I don't need my pontoon boat to be a watersports platform too. I like to use it on Friday and Saturday nights to go out, anchor, and watch the stars. Or on Sunday evenings to take a nice slow cruise at the end of a hectic weekend.

 

[sirket]

Re: Is rebuilding worth it?

I'll take some pictures tomorrow to show folks what I'm working with here. I haven't made a decision to rebuild or replace yet- I'm just trying to gather as much information as possible.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Is rebuilding worth it?

You'd probably do better to sell your present boat and find a boat that better suits your needs.

To spend so much money to modify your present boat would probably be putting good money after bad.

Make sure what you buy suits your present and future needs, as pontoons last a long, long time. Owners' needs often change over the years. My last pontoon is 26 years old, and still in perfectly good shape.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Is rebuilding worth it?

I rebuilt mine last year with fishing in mind for its primary use and I ended up dropping about 10 k on it and ended up with a brand new custom boat for conciderable less that a new one, and yes I could of bought several different boats for that amount, but I now have exactly what I want and it is very comfortable to fish from or take out the grand kids. And you with boats in general you will never get the money back you drop in one, how ever with boats its a pure luxury item in the first place

 

[newbie4life]

Re: Is rebuilding worth it?

I'll go one further than MH Hawker -- Yes, you could buy several different boats, with varying degrees of repairs required. You know what you've done with this one to this point.

Yes, you'll have a few people that will look down their nose because yours isn't new. Screw-em. We get it too - no one knows what we've gone through in life, having a daughter that had 6 eye surgeries before she was 4 years old. So, not all of us can afford brand new boats, or even 5 year old boats. So, fixing up an old boat, over a period of time, is the only way for us to get on the water and enjoy time together. We have a great boat, with smaller tubes than others have, but everything else is new on it, from the floor, to the seats. One piece at a time.

 

[Treker57]

Re: Is rebuilding worth it?

Will the money that you get from the sale of the boat and the 7K(money you would put into the rebuild) get the same results, new to you used toon or the rebuild. In the late 50's my Dad built a 27' plywood/glass sail boat called a Thunderbird, he did this mainly himself and with some added child labor. It was used on Lake Ontario and during the summer of 62' when he was transfered to VA, my Dad and I brought her down the Erie Canal to the Hudson River and on down to the Chesapeake Bay to her new home at Solomons Island on the Chesapeake. Alot of his friends had similar type sailboats but there was a reason he was proud of his

 

[BrianMc]

Re: Is rebuilding worth it?

One factor not mentioned is the satisfaction of building your own. If you have the time and the means,why not?

I don't really have the time,so my build has taken forever. But,I have the means. I didn't want a cushy cookie cutter toon. What I wanted isn't even built by any factory. It being "Worth it" can be a matter of interpretation. Will I ever recover money spent,no way. But, I built mine the way I wanted it,and you won't see one like it in someone elses driveway.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Is rebuilding worth it?

Will the money that you get from the sale of the boat and the 7K(money you would put into the rebuild) get the same results, new to you used toon or the rebuild. In the late 50's my Dad built a 27' plywood/glass sail boat called a Thunderbird, he did this mainly himself and with some added child labor. It was used on Lake Ontario and during the summer of 62' when he was transfered to VA, my Dad and I brought her down the Erie Canal to the Hudson River and on down to the Chesapeake Bay to her new home at Solomons Island on the Chesapeake. Alot of his friends had similar type sailboats but there was a reason he was proud of his

Treker, that is beyond cool. I bet your old man was quite the character. Got any pics of the boat by chance?

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Is rebuilding worth it?

newbie4life...my rebuild was as much for rehabilitation as any thing else, I had lost my vision in both eyes due to cataracts I was down to 20/600. After two lens implant surgeries my vision was returned back to 20/25. However after 3 years of more of less being trapped inside and totally out of condition. Rebuilding my old boat was what I needed to get back into shape. It never was about the money to me, I had been building this boat in my head for years and I knew exactly what I wanted and how it was set up, and its still a on going project. lol my last little job was to add a tack and a volt gage.

 

[sirket]

Re: Is rebuilding worth it?

One factor not mentioned is the satisfaction of building your own. If you have the time and the means,why not?

That's actually part of the reason I am considering rebuilding. There isn't a whole lot to do during a New England winter. I have a large heated garage so it would give me something to do when it gets cold.

My main concern with buying a 4 or 5 year old boat is that furniture is always the first thing to go and honestly, most of the boats I've been looking at had furniture that felt like it was starting to show its age. If I'm going to have to replace that anyway, I might as well start with my boat.

Having said that- I'm keeping an open mind (and eye) for a newer boat or even a new boat (if some sort of steal comes along).

 

[Treker57]

Re: Is rebuilding worth it?

Treker, that is beyond cool. I bet your old man was quite the character. Got any pics of the boat by chance?

Sister has most of the old pic's since parents have passed on, I have some on the wall I will scan one and see if I can attach it

 

[sirket]

Re: Is rebuilding worth it?

I started to take some pictures today and between that and measuring the boat I realized that rebuilding just won't be practical. Too much is going to have to change. I'm better off starting with a newer boat and upgrading later on.

Thanks for all of the feedback.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Is rebuilding worth it?

Here are your options as I see it, you can buy a newer used boat that you won't really like or you can tear your boat down and make it exactly what you want it to be.

Anytime I have a decision like this I get a piece of paper and write down, in your case, the advantages of buying then the advantages of rebuilding, one of the options will become the clear choice.

3 years ago I tore my boat down to the keel and rebuilt it,16' aluminum V, and I loved it, I am in Indiana so we have similar winters.

Just doing all the work yourself, it is very satisfying when you are done and you take it out, no matter where you look you know you did that and that is where it is because that is where I wanted it.

As far as the engine just keep your eyes open and if you run across a deal grab it but not something that needs done right now, the engine is the last thing you hang anyhow.

 

[sirket]

Re: Is rebuilding worth it?

Here are your options as I see it, you can buy a newer used boat that you won't really like or you can tear your boat down and make it exactly what you want it to be.

Anytime I have a decision like this I get a piece of paper and write down, in your case, the advantages of buying then the advantages of rebuilding, one of the options will become the clear choice.

3 years ago I tore my boat down to the keel and rebuilt it,16' aluminum V, and I loved it, I am in Indiana so we have similar winters.

Just doing all the work yourself, it is very satisfying when you are done and you take it out, no matter where you look you know you did that and that is where it is because that is where I wanted it.

The main problem I have is that I would need to track down a Sun Tracker square front fence or I would be stuck replacing all of the fence which just doesn't seem practical. Right now I have the lower, pointed bow fence that was used on the old fishin barges. For now I will keep my eyes open either for an older party barge or some replacement fencing as well as for possible used boats. One way or another something will come along.

As far as the engine just keep your eyes open and if you run across a deal grab it but not something that needs done right now, the engine is the last thing you hang anyhow.

That's a good point. I can use this engine for now and if a 60 or 75 hp 4 cycle comes along I could pick that up.

 

[csj992]

Re: Is rebuilding worth it?

As everyone has said, you do get a great feeling knowing you built it. You can have something no one else has. Do it your way. Anyone can buy a boat, but not everyone can build one.

 

[RustyShackleford]

Re: Is rebuilding worth it?

$12K sure seems like a lot, but I think it could be a very fun and rewarding project. Before I bought my pontoon, I looked at some used ones and really thought about rebuilding them. Ultimately I decided that it would just be too big of a project for me, and I tend to lose momentum part-way into a project anyway. $12K could get you a much newer boat, or a very large down payment on a new boat (heck, you can almost buy a small Fishin' Barge in cash with that), but would it be as rewarding?