Newbie

shane1 · Mar 13, 2002

Hello everyone I'm Shane from Arizona. I'm thinking about purchasing a pontoon boat probably about a 20 to 22 footer! I have about $7000.00 to spend. What I'm wondering is what are some things to look out for when buying a used pontoon. Also what would be a good sized power plant for that size of pontoon. Thanks in advance for your responses. shane

Trent · Mar 13, 2002

Re: Newbie

Get at least a 70HP or bigger. Check the deck for rot. Seats for rot. Have the engines compression checked and check the lower unit for water. Also get one with power trim. Its a pain to raise the engine on a pontoon without power trim.

SeaDawg · Mar 13, 2002

Re: Newbie

You did not mention if you had been out on pontoon boats before. If not, I would go to the local boat ramps and "small talk" with some of the guys that have them. ask them what they like and dislike about theirs. Then, decide what you like and dislike about pontoon boats. Everyone is different, get what YOU will be happy with. Offer to pays some of them to take you for a ride on thiers. Most will take you for free, and appreciate you being considerate to them. And, ditto with Trent's thoughts too.

singerjr · Mar 14, 2002

Re: Newbie

When you are considering power plants consider where you will float your boat. There are several 9.9 lakes around where I live and pontoons are all over the lakes. Usually these guys will have two motors one 9.9 for the lakes that require it and a larger for other lakes. Some never take their pontoon out of the lakes, they rent a slip for the year. It's amazing to me a 9.9 hp can push one of those 20 footers, at a pretty good clip too. Check out the lake where you intend to use your boat and their requirements. It may not be an issue for you, but it might. Just a thought, good luck

shane1 · Mar 14, 2002

Re: Newbie

Thanks for the replies everyone! I'm going to run around to dealers this weekend and see what the differnt options and luxuries are for different set ups. I've been talking to a few people and the majority of them seem to think it will be a problem finding a boat with power trim and tilt. With what I have to spend I will be looking at boats from 1989 to 1995. Does this sound right to you guys? I would think just about all boats in that time frame would have power trim and tilt. Hey Capt-U what do you mean by 9.9 lakes? Shane

rogerwa · Mar 15, 2002

Re: Newbie

With a pontoon all you need is tilt.. Trim won't help you much. You shouldn't have difficulty finding the T or TNT on the range your looking at. I would recommend focusing on larger tubes.. 21" at least. The 19" tubes sit far too low in the water and do not have the wieght capacity the larger tubes do. The great thing about toons is that you can rebuild them fairly cheaply if the tubes and rails are good. I was able to get a 92 21ft pontoon with 50hp w/tilt for $3400. It had a bimini top and captains console. I threw ~$1000 worth of new furnture and an $1100 trailer and I had a pretty nice package for ~$5400. The funiture was easy to install and it matched the color scheme just fine. You can even do the carpet and deck in a weekend for a few hundred bucks. Will you be trailering?? The only thing I would have done different is to spend the extra $400 for a dual axle trailer, not so much for weight, but for stability on the road. Ditto on the mechanicals..

paintermn · Mar 17, 2002

Re: Newbie

Shane, Capt U means that some places where he lives have regulations about the size of the motors you can have on your boat. He wants you to check the regulations before you buy your boat. Some lakes in his area require less than a 10hp motor, thus 9.9.

shane1 · Mar 20, 2002

Re: Newbie

Thanks for all the replies and advice! I am starting to narrow my search down. I definitely want the larger diameter pontoons and at least a 70 hp outboard. My next question is this.....can you start a marine engine out of the water? Do they all have some type of bib for connecting a water supply? Shane

Anchor Man · Mar 21, 2002

Re: Newbie

Here's what you need to start your engine out of the water. Very simple, clamp it on, attach a garden hose and turn on the water. http://www.overtons.com/cgi-bin/overtons/order/pdetail.cgi?21399++ Good luck with the pontoon. A good friend bought one last year. 25 foot SanPan (Godfrey) 115 HP Evinrude. We hang out on his all day, grill out, let the kids run around. When we want to ski we hop on mine and leave the wives and kids on the pontoon.

rogerwa · Mar 21, 2002

Re: Newbie

I have a plastic bin that doubles as a recycling container that I just fill with water and stick the leg in it..

Chum Slick · Mar 21, 2002

Re: Newbie

Shane1, I have a 20ft Aquasport Sandpiper pontoon with a 70 Johnson. The 70 Johnson pushes the toon with ease and and I usually have her loaded. Get one with power tilt/trim. I don't have power tilt/trim on my older Johnson but I have learned to live without it. Go with the largest toons you can find for better water displacement. I have 20" toons and they seem to sit low in water in the rear. That's where most of your weight is going to be unless you have my ex-wife riding up front for you, but then you wouldn't need a toon you would be better off buying a gun. I don't know how much toons are going for these days, I built mine from scratch. All I had was the toons and a good frame to start with. I later built a double axle trailer for it. Another option would be the fiberglass deck boats. My buddy has a 23ft deck boat in Chincoteage Va with a 125 Yamaha that we use for flounder fishing and I really like his deck boat. His deck is more stable than my toon, but his is larger and heavier. I really enjoy my toon but all toons handle like a bus.

shane1 · Mar 21, 2002

Re: Newbie

Thanks for the link anchor Man! I hear ya on the ex wife chum slick...and thanks for your input! I thought about the deck boats but all I have is a 99 S10 ZR2 4.3V6 to pull with and I think a deck boat would be a bit much for my truck. I've seen a few boats with built in sun covers (Like this one) that lower down for towing VS. the bimini tops. Any opinions about the built in covers? Shane

rogerwa · Mar 22, 2002

Re: Newbie

As far as towing is concerned, you may not be all that far ahead towing a pontoon. I started towing mine (21ft, 50hp on single axle float on trailer) with a minivan with 3.8l V6. While the weight was not a problem (~2500lbs), pontoons act like a sail in the wind. The higher the speed the greater resistance, as well as the side ot side wind surface. I now tow comfortably with an Expedition. Partly because the profile, weight, and towing capability is larger. You may find that deckboats, even though they are heavier will tow better because of their profile. Also, go for the Bimini top.. If you are towing, the hard cover will add significant weight and also will impede putting stuff on the deck while towing.

wdknox · Mar 22, 2002

Re: Newbie

Another thing you should check are the bolts holding the frame of the boat togather. I am in the process of rebuilding my pontoon boat and I am replacing all bolts with SS. I love the room and ride of the pontoon just takes a long time to get anywhere. But I would give it up for the world. As far as pulling your boat I started out with a chevy S10 ext. cab with a 4.3 V6. It did great in town and on short trips, but when you get on the highway you can tell you have the boat back there. It did OK but I now own a full size GMC Yukon and it pulls wonderfully. Good luck shopping.

shane1 · Mar 23, 2002

Re: Newbie

Hey everybody I really appreciate all the input! I found a 1992 20' Spectrum with a 75hrs motor. I haven't seen it yet but I might go check it out Sunday. Any opinions on Spectrum as far as quality and dependablity? I searched the net but didn't find that much info. Thanks Shane

shane1 · Mar 29, 2002

Re: Newbie

OK so I go look at this 20'er the other day. The boat is pretty much what I want. It's got a live well, bimini top, BBQ, stereo system, depth finder, trolling motor, electrim tilt and a 90 horse Merc. I ask the guy to start it and he does. After about ten minutes of idle (with water squirting out) a buzzer goes off. It's the over heat / injector buzzer. He says WOW thats never happened before. I'm think'n riiiiight. So I tell him see if he can fix it and call me back. So he calls back today and says he fixed the problem. It was the thermostats. So he changed them out and now the motor runs with no buzzers going off. He wants a bit much for the boat $7200.00. I'm thinking of offering him quite abit under that and see if he's willing to budge. Do you guys think it's worth it. Pontoon boats seem to be hard to come by in my price range. Shane

shane1 · Apr 25, 2002

Re: Newbie

Well I finally got a boat. I didn't think I would ever find what I wanted! It's a 1991 Sun Tracker 21' Dl Party Barge with 40 horse oil injected Johnson! It wasn't exactly what I was looking for but It's a good start. I looked forever but couldn't find the exact boat that had everything I wanted. Then I found this boat which has nothing at. This way I'll just add everything I want. It's pretty much been stripped down to the bare minimum. It has a large bench in the back and the captains console. And best of all I came in $2200.00 under budget. Although that money will now go toward upgrades. Thanks again for everybodies opinions Shane

Hooty · Apr 26, 2002

Re: Newbie

Congratz shane1, My son and hiz family have a 'toon and they like it a lot. Neat thing is there are beaucoup after-market gizmos for your 'toon and ya can make it a "custom". Have fun & c/6 Hooty

Plains Puddlerunner · Apr 26, 2002

Re: Newbie

As long as the toon talks are on I would like to ask a couple questions. I am LOOKING also and am not sure what type of trailer is better. I am going to be towing with a 27 foot motor home most of the time and the distance will usually be 200 miles or less. Since I usually drive 55-60 with the motorhome on highways is the under deck type trailer stable enough.. I have heard they make loading and unloading easy but suffer in stability. Thanks for your inputs!!!!

rajuncajun91 · Apr 28, 2002

Re: Newbie

Hey all, just loged on love this site newbie to boating but want to learn from all your experence.Thanks in advance

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