new to the forums

[Squigglymonkey]

Hello all!

Like the title says I am new to the forum.
I have owned a couple of old tri-hulls and boated around fresh-water lake around Kansas.
I am looking at an older pontoon boat, a Suntracker Bass Buggy (it is older maybe a 1986). I have only seen pictures so far but have been assured the pontoons are in excellent condition and don't leak. They say the engine on it started smoking and they believe it is ruined and the canopy has fallen apart and been removed. They stated that otherwise the boat is in great shape, no electrical problems, no rot on the deck and the rails are all in very good shape.
Most of this I will be able to judge myself when I go see it later this week.
I have a couple of questions I hope you can answer!
Are the pontoon(s) normally under pressure? Can they be pressurized to test for leaks, like with soapy water, is there a better way?
I have an old Mercury outboard motor (115HP), would that be alright on this pontoon, would I need to re-enforce the mount (Transom?, or is it called something else on a pontoon boat?).
I don't want a ski boat, but pulling around an inner tube would be nice.
If the boat is in good condition, is 1800 a fair price (with trailer, also a Sun tracker)
What else should I look at on the boat when I inspect it?

Thanks for reading, I hope this turns into something fun for my family!

~John

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: new to the forums

Are the pontoon(s) normally under pressure? Can they be pressurized to test for leaks, like with soapy water, is there a better way?

pontoons are not under pressure, and yes 3 to 4 psi is used during a pressure test with soap water thats how thier tested

I have an old Mercury outboard motor (115HP), would that be alright on this pontoon, would I need to re-enforce the mount (Transom?, or is it called something else on a pontoon boat?).

it is called the transon and I doubt the transom is rated any where close to a 115, more than likely the max rating is around 75.

I don't want a ski boat, but pulling around an inner tube would be nice.

yes it will pull a tube with a 75

Walk ever bit of the deck feeling for soft spots, even if you find some if the toons are in good shapoed its still a decent deal but you can use that to drop the price some more.

If the boat is in good condition, is 1800 a fair price (with trailer, also a Sun tracker)

yes thats adecent price.

Walk all of the deck feeling for soft spots, if you find some you may be able to get a lower price. But its still decent at 1800
Test steering and shifter controls.

One of the great things about pontoon boats is ever thing is simple to rebuild.

 

[Squigglymonkey]

Re: new to the forums

Thanks!
What do used 75HP outboards go for these days? Is 4-stroke the way to go?
Has anyone on this forum tried to go electric?