Re: New to the Pontoon World with questions
I have a 21 footer with a 90. It's a great size for us. Large enough to spread out on with friends, the 90 will push it 23mph @ WOT, and it's easy to tow. There are myriad things to consider, but I'll try to be helpful and coherent.
2 Stroke vs 4 Stroke
Like politics and religion, this is one of those contentious issues that shouldn't come up at dinner parties. Each has its pros and cons. 2 strokes are generally cheaper and require less maintenance, but they're louder than 4 strokes (although well maintained ones not distractingly so), don't run nearly as clean, and generally gulp fuel. That said, 2 strokes are still doing a great job of pushing boats all over the world, so regardless of what some will tell you, the 2 stroke outboard is not an endangered species. If it is I'm in trouble because I'm the very satisfied owner of two. I guess what I'm saying is both 2 and 4 strokes are viable options so don't dismiss either off hand.
Speed
There are other considerations beside horses that affect the speed of a barge, one of the main ones being the condition of the toons. Toons that are coated with crud will slow a barge way down, so take that into consideration when you water test (you will water test before buying, right?). As I said, my 21 footer has a 90 and it's a perfect match. I only mention that to give you a little bit of a paradigm. No two boat and motor matches will yield the same results, even if they're identical brands. There are just too many mitigating factors. You might consider bringing a GPS on the test run, even if the boat has a speedo.
Motor Brand
I have Mercs. They're great. I've had Johnnyrudes. They were great. I know guys who swear by or swear off of both and the other brands you named. The main thing is to check the compression before you water test. You'll find numerous threads on here about that. Also, make sure you can feasibly have whatever you buy serviced. A couple of phone calls will answer that question. One thing I'll mention regarding Mercs, they have much better oil inection systems than the Johnnyrudes. I won't get into specifics because there are numerous threads about that as well.
Toon Size
Most anything in your age range will have 23" or bigger, which is good. Some will be filled with foam, some won't. Foam has advantages and disadvantages, but I won't go down that road. Some toons are more prone to developing leaks than others, but that's not the catastrophe it sounds like. There are welders everywhere who can take care of that for a very reasonable fee.
Accessories Some kind of top is a must. I like Biminis because they're easily deployed and replaced, and in your size range that's what you'll see almost exclusively. Other than that for us it's all about the furniture and storage. We have couches everywhere and a sundeck and we love the setup. We also have the ability to place a table fore and aft, which is nice but not critical. You will want some kind of table though. Beyond that you can add just about anything you can imagine; grill, fishing seats, camping enclosures, the sky's the limit.
Cover
There are playpen covers and covers for the entire boat. Mine came with a factory made Sunbrella cover. If you buy a boat that doesn't come with a cover you can have one made. They ain't cheap, but they're a heck of a lot cheaper than the carpet and upholstery, so I believe them to be worth every penny. They also last for a VERY long time. You can call around and get estimates from local upholsterers. If you don't want to spend that much you can buy semi-custom covers that work pretty well, but they don't last very long. In the long run having one made will actually be cheaper.
The nice thing about buying used pontoon boats is you can see pretty much everything. No transom or stringers hidden from sight quietly rotting away unsuspectedly. Just look for straight toons (a few dents are fine), good compression in the motor, and a good strong deck. Be sure and water test extensively before you buy. One other thing; you didn't mention where you're from or whether you wanted a boat on a trailer or in a slip, two questions that will have a significant impact on your boat search. I'm sure it will come up eventually. Good luck and welcome to iboats!
