New toon owner with ?

[tbagger]

Hey guys, new pontoon owner here, bought the boat last fall ,1988 24ft riviera cruiser with an aluminum hard top on a bunk style trailor. I paid 1800. not sure if thats good or bad but it seemed reasonable got a bunch of stuff with it too. It has a 1985 120hp johnson on it and I can't tell if thats too big or what it's rated for as the sticker on the console is so faded you can't make out max hp. I don't want to go bigger, even smaller would be ok for me. Any ideas if this boat is rated for that size motor? The powerhead is bad on it and I might have a handel on a 120 evinrude but it's a short shaft and could swap powerheads. I also have a long shaft 70's model merc 500 that I might be able to get running but would have to switch out all controls and steering and it has no powertrim. Any comments or ideas would be welcome,thanks.
Tom

 

[lncoop]

Re: New toon owner with ?

Hi Tom. Can't say for sure, but it's entirely possible that rig is rated for a 120. Unfortunately I don't believe Riviera Cruiser exists anymore, so there's no contacting them for verification. I assume you've cleaned the plate up, shone a flashlight on it, etc. Have you tried holding a thin sheet of paper over it and scribbling over it with a pencil? (Sherlock Homes trick I think.) Between the Johnson and the Merc I'd go with the johnny. No PT&T would get old very quickly. Good luck.

 

[EGlideRider]

Re: New toon owner with ?

Most 24 footers, even ones from the 80's were rated for 120hp. IMHO, I want the maximum HP for which my boat is rated.

 

[5150abf]

Re: New toon owner with ?

You are probably okay on the rating and I can't think of anywhere to check, just look at the motor pan really well, especially at the top inside, that is where a stress crack will likely start.

I would get the other engine and switch power heads the you don't have to change controls.

 

[cbavier]

Re: New toon owner with ?

Not to worry you but my 1982 24ft is rated Max HP at 75. 13 passengers at 1800 Lbs. My plate looks like brand new because it was always covered with a plastic film until I took the film off last year. It was getting hard to read which didn't bother me but it did everyone else or so it seemed.

 

[tbagger]

Re: New toon owner with ?

Thanks guys for the replys, sorry I did'nt tune in earlier been dealing with flooded basement. I'll try the pencil trick and see if I can make anything out. I haven't heard back about that powerhead, might be stuck with the merc.

 

[Silver Eagle]

Re: New toon owner with ?

I have a 24 ft Starcraft .It's rated for a 135 hp motor. It has a 90 hp Merc two stroke. It's an 2007 .