used pontoon boat/party boat

[lncoop]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

SuzieB, welcome back. I wouldn't get too hung up on what the power plant was on the old boat. Are we still working with a budget of twelve grand?

 

[suzieB]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

Incoop- Thank you so much for the use of "we" in your post. I feel better already. Obviously, we want to keep the price as low as possible, but we are flexible. It does need to be 20 feet in length because of where it will be docked. My sister's sons would like to water ski behind it but it's a small lake with some boat traffic so a super-sized motor (HP!) isn't necessary. I'm going to do some more searching tonight.

 

[suzieB]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

Correction- after looking at some boats, I think we can go up to a 22 ft boat. The opening with the gate (entry) was approximately in the middle of the dock. My husband thinks we can go up to 24 feet. I'll have to check with my sons to see what they think.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

Hi Suzie,
I guess I'll chime in. I have a 20' with a 60 hp but is rated for a 115 hp. The 60 will tow a tube, albeit not too fast. Skiing would be out of the question. For this, a 90 hp would be the minimum. Look for later models with larger diameter pontoons. Mine is an '08 with 26" pontoons. For you, I would suggest a 22' or more likely a 24' with a minimum 115 hp. With my boat, 6 adults is about the max.with some comfort. Good luck with your search.

 

[suzieB]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

I just found this on Craigslist NH-

http://nh.craigslist.org/bod/2880974013.html What do you think?

I contacted the owner and he said, "The engine is a 2005 as well. The boat is very clean, no trailer, should be here in a week or two". Of course, I don't know how we'd get it to our place since we don't have a trailer.

 

[lncoop]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

That's a nice looking rig. Those Etecs are very highly regarded motors; as clean running as a four stroke but with less of a maintenance burden. I'm glad to hear your dock will accomodate a 22 footer, because I think you would have been crowded in a twenty footer. If possible you really need to demo some boats. A rig like that will definitely pull a skier or tuber, but it won't be a speed demon, and it won't be nearly as maneuverable as a deck boat. It looks exceptionally well cared for, and the Etec makes it more desirable to many, but I'd be surprised if you couldn't bid him back a little. Sixteen grand for a seven year old boat with no trailer seems a little steep to me. BTW, if you do buy a boat without a trailer you should have no trouble getting it delivered to your dock.

 

[Treker57]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

I wouldn't even consider a boat of any type, except for a canoe or a to die for price, without a trailer

 

[GrandDad]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

I assume you are still in the looking stage.

Prior to our current boat, I had always been around fiberglass vee-hull boats, from a 23-ft cuddy to a 30-ft dual cabin.

Moving to our current lake, we bought a pontoon - 22-ft, high-perfromance tri toon with a 150 hp Yamaha. We can easily pull both tubers and skiers and the boat tend to top out at high 30s (without pulling anyone).

I think there is something you need to understand about pontoon boats. Basically, there are three types of pontoons - a "standard" tow pontoon boat which will be pretty limited in maneuverability; a tri-toon which has a center pontoon that is the same size as the outer two, this tends to increase the HP of motor it can carry but one improves manueverability a little; and a high-performance tri-toon that has a larger, wider center pontoon and maneuvers almost as well as a deck boat. There are only a few manufacturers that make the high performance kind - Premier, Manitou, and Bennington and possible one or two others.

I think in your price range, you will be limited to either a standard pontoon or a tri-toon.

The advantages of a toon = lots more room for people and a bit less maintenance. Advantages of deck boat = more maneuverable.

 

[lncoop]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

I wouldn't even consider a boat of any type, except for a canoe or a to die for price, without a trailer

Nor would I, but I keep my boats at my house and take one or all with me when I decide (or more likely when the admiral decides) where we'll be boating that day or weekend. Susieb's boat will live in a private slip at the family lake house, so it wouldn't make sense for her to take on the additional outlay or maintenance burden of a trailer.

 

[Treker57]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

Nor would I, but I keep my boats at my house and take one or all with me when I decide (or more likely when the admiral decides) where we'll be boating that day or weekend. Susieb's boat will live in a private slip at the family lake house, so it wouldn't make sense for her to take on the additional outlay or maintenance burden of a trailer.

True but the trailer is good for resale if they change their minds about the toon down the road

 

[suzieB]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

Another boat for sale: http://nh.craigslist.org/boa/2941959157.html Is it too old? Is there enough HP to pull a skier? Since we know nothing about boats, what questions should we ask and what should we look for when seeing a boat? Thanks-

 

[rogerwa]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

I'll add my two cents, abeit a little outside the box.. I have a 25' toon with a 90hp which we use as the party barge and when on the lake the home base. For fun, we use the jet ski. You can tow and ski behind it without any issue. All told the combination of my rigs are not worth $12K, but work just fine nonetheless..

I used to have a bowrider (more equivalent to a deckboat) and dearly miss it, but being able to bob on the hook with a good beer and stretch out while my kids are off goofing around can't be beat..

 

[brooklynlife]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

what is the largest size of the pantoon boats?

EDIT

 

[The Rooster]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

Welcome back "SuzieB". Although it's 13 years old, it looks to be in great shape, and JC builds a quality barge. There should be some room to negotiate on that price. You may be on the low end, power wise, for a skier, if you have a big crew, but should be doable. It would be nice to have a "boat" guy look the rig over w/ you. Check out the motor pod that the engine hangs off of. Most everything else is wide open for inspection. If you get real interested, a professional engine survey would be well worth the money IMHO, along w/ a good water test. Good luck !!!

 

[Treker57]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

Another boat for sale: http://nh.craigslist.org/boa/2941959157.html Is it too old? Is there enough HP to pull a skier? Since we know nothing about boats, what questions should we ask and what should we look for when seeing a boat? Thanks-

Offer 9250.00 and if you have enough left in the budget do a set up like Roger's and get a used jet ski, your even getting a trailer with this toon.If you were sure that you would never need the trailer you sell it also putting those dollars in the budget for a jet ski.

 

[smclear]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

JC makes a great toon. The family has owned JC's for the past 20 - 30 years and they've never dissapointed.

As for a trailer, I'd say it's a must. I have to assume your lake freezes in the winter. A good marina can pull and store your boat without a trailer but if it's like the marina's on my lake, you'll pay a serious premium for the service. We've found it to be much less to pull the boats ourselves and store somewhere other than the marina.

 

[Treker57]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

JC makes a great toon. The family has owned JC's for the past 20 - 30 years and they've never dissapointed.

As for a trailer, I'd say it's a must. I have to assume your lake freezes in the winter. A good marina can pull and store your boat without a trailer but if it's like the marina's on my lake, you'll pay a serious premium for the service. We've found it to be much less to pull the boats ourselves and store somewhere other than the marina.

I agree with you on the trailer, when I was looking for our toon, at least 60-70% had no trailers. Although the prices weren't bad I stayed away from them, I wanted a package that was from the factory, toon and trailer. Not living on a lake, I would get bored towing to/and boating on the same lake all the time. I plan on going to at least 3 different lakes this year so a trailer is a must for me, and as you said when the season is over I can bring the toon home and tinker with it if need be. But suzieB seems to imply that there is no need for a trailer as it will be only be at their lake house, thats why I had mentioned the sale of the trailer to get a set-up like Roger has, to please all parties. But then again I wouldn't go in on a toon, boat, airplane with either my brother or sister. When I buy it's for me, oops mean my family

 

[suzieB]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

But then again I wouldn't go in on a toon, boat, airplane with either my brother or sister. When I buy it's for me, oops mean my family[/QUOTE]

AMEN to the above! We purchased a home in Maine years ago to avoid dealing with family. My sons love the lake house and so I am committed to sharing the house until they can take over. This is probably a dumb question but is the jet ski used to ski behind? That doesn't make sense to me. Even though I'm in RI, the Ocean State, I don't know anyone who knows boats. Since the only family member who knows boats won't help, how do I find someone to inspect the boat and motor? I wish there some local guys who were as helpful and knowledgeable as all of you. I'm psyching myself out because I know I know I'm going to get a lot of crap from family the minute something goes wrong with the boat I select.
You guys are the best!

 

[Treker57]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

I would contact the owner of the pontoon and ask for a water test(run) any excuse not too I would void the deal. As far as the outboard motor, a compression test is order but it seem to be a problem for you as no one seems to want to help.You can look for a outboard tech in the area of the boat and see if he would be willing to check it out with you. I think it would not be to costly. When I bought our pontoon I did a water run with the owner then did a compression test(wet/dry) we also tested the toon overnight with a static pressure guage everything was good so it was a sale. Was this toon used in salt water?, there doesn't seem to be many large bodies of water near the boats location, nearest one looks like Providence Harbor.

 

[rogerwa]

Re: used pontoon boat/party boat

My jetski is a 2 seater that has a 90hp engine. I picked it up for $1500 and it goes 0-45 in about 5 seconds. It has a tow hook in the back and has more than enough power to tow tubes and skiers. Best of all it is fun.