1989 Sun Tracker Party Barge 24DL into Tritoon build

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abrasivereshaping
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Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2020 11:13 am

1989 Sun Tracker Party Barge 24DL into Tritoon build

#1 Post by abrasivereshaping » Thu Jan 23, 2020 8:24 am

Hello All,

Last summer the family and I came across a '89 Sun Tracker Party Barge 24DL for practically a steal, so we took the plunge and bought it. Like many pontoons of this age, she was in very rough shape, Rocky Raccoon and family made home in the boat for a long while... :puke So the gutting process began and she now sits as a skeleton. I came across a middle toon from a 2016 Harris Tritoon with transom and lifting strakes for cheap. It was a warranty take off, because of a pin hole leak in the nose cone weld. Welding aluminum is no biggie for me, so I grabbed the toon and brought it home.

I have a question about the lifting strakes for the more experienced out there. This middle toon has the Harris PII performance strakes, which are negative angle. I was going to weld strakes on the inboard side of the outer tubes. Can these strakes on the outside tube be positive angle? Do strakes have to be all the same angle (positive or negative)? Can you mix the two? I'd like to do all my welding to the toons while it's light and I can flip it over easily to weld down instead of on a trailer and up.

I have pics to post of the progress so far, I have to upload them this weekend.

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bansil
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Location: Watâ'gi lake...Beautiful Waters

Re: 1989 Sun Tracker Party Barge 24DL into Tritoon build

#2 Post by bansil » Fri Jan 24, 2020 7:57 am

:nana not much to add other than welcome aboard

And we do love pictures here :mrgreen:
Check out "Dudes" site www.whereisdude.com

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TWB
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Location: Navarre, FL

Re: 1989 Sun Tracker Party Barge 24DL into Tritoon build

#3 Post by TWB » Fri Jan 24, 2020 8:14 pm

Can't advise about strakes at all - BUT - Welcome to the group. Look forward to pictures of your progress.

-Paul
Paul & Michele
2003 Landau DX 24' Cruise "Loretta Jane"
2003 Mercury 75hp
My Rebuild: http://pontoonforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=26135

"Don't waste brain cells over something you can do nothing about." --My Wife

abrasivereshaping
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2020 11:13 am

Re: 1989 Sun Tracker Party Barge 24DL into Tritoon build

#4 Post by abrasivereshaping » Fri Jan 31, 2020 9:27 am

I posted pics over on this forum.

http://www.pontoonboatforum.com/topic89 ... html#88946

Let me know what you guys think. Any help, tips and recommendations are greatly appreciated.

Bill

abrasivereshaping
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2020 11:13 am

Re: 1989 Sun Tracker Party Barge 24DL into Tritoon build

#5 Post by abrasivereshaping » Mon Feb 03, 2020 9:24 am

I just added more pics to this thread.

http://www.pontoonboatforum.com/topic89 ... html#88951

abrasivereshaping
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2020 11:13 am

Re: 1989 Sun Tracker Party Barge 24DL into Tritoon build

#6 Post by abrasivereshaping » Mon Feb 03, 2020 11:57 am

Finally got pics resized to upload
Side View.jpg
Side View.jpg (192.28 KiB) Viewed 17521 times
top view.jpg
top view.jpg (158.95 KiB) Viewed 17521 times
ripping furniture out 1.jpg
ripping furniture out 1.jpg (185.99 KiB) Viewed 17521 times
ripping furniture out 2.jpg
ripping furniture out 2.jpg (198.61 KiB) Viewed 17521 times
funiture toss overboard.jpg
funiture toss overboard.jpg (228.89 KiB) Viewed 17521 times
drilling fence bolts.jpg
drilling fence bolts.jpg (119.42 KiB) Viewed 17521 times
front view.jpg
front view.jpg (145.32 KiB) Viewed 17521 times
almost stripped.jpg
almost stripped.jpg (175.02 KiB) Viewed 17521 times

abrasivereshaping
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2020 11:13 am

Re: 1989 Sun Tracker Party Barge 24DL into Tritoon build

#7 Post by abrasivereshaping » Mon Feb 03, 2020 11:58 am

Here's pics of the center toon I picked up
New third toon.jpg
New third toon.jpg (111.27 KiB) Viewed 17521 times
New third toon backside.jpg
New third toon backside.jpg (136.05 KiB) Viewed 17521 times

abrasivereshaping
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2020 11:13 am

Re: 1989 Sun Tracker Party Barge 24DL into Tritoon build

#8 Post by abrasivereshaping » Mon Feb 03, 2020 12:01 pm

Took advantage of some good weather to move the pontoon into the barn and stage the center toon for measuring. What do you guys think is the best distance to set the transom? Currently it's 18" behind the outer toons.
pontoon in barn 1.jpg
pontoon in barn 1.jpg (195.7 KiB) Viewed 17521 times
third toon under boat 1.jpg
third toon under boat 1.jpg (179.38 KiB) Viewed 17521 times
third toon under boat 2.jpg
third toon under boat 2.jpg (191.1 KiB) Viewed 17521 times
third toon transom 1.jpg
third toon transom 1.jpg (155.66 KiB) Viewed 17521 times
third toon transom 2.jpg
third toon transom 2.jpg (109.11 KiB) Viewed 17521 times

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bansil
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Location: Watâ'gi lake...Beautiful Waters

Re: 1989 Sun Tracker Party Barge 24DL into Tritoon build

#9 Post by bansil » Mon Feb 03, 2020 4:42 pm

Great build, no idea on location. I was going to go back as far as I could so front hits majority of 2aves at same time
Check out "Dudes" site www.whereisdude.com

abrasivereshaping
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2020 11:13 am

Re: 1989 Sun Tracker Party Barge 24DL into Tritoon build

#10 Post by abrasivereshaping » Mon Feb 03, 2020 6:50 pm

bansil wrote:
Mon Feb 03, 2020 4:42 pm
Great build, no idea on location. I was going to go back as far as I could so front hits majority of 2aves at same time
Thank you! We are excited for this build.

The new center tube is 22" longer in length than the factory ones. So right now the center toon is 4" forward of the outers. The rest of the length is out the back.

I checked a bunch of different brands at the boat show and seem to see a split of design. Some have all the toons lined up and a few others have the center toon forward of the outers.

I'm for sure going to set the center toon 3-4" down compared to the outers.

abrasivereshaping
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2020 11:13 am

Re: 1989 Sun Tracker Party Barge 24DL into Tritoon build

#11 Post by abrasivereshaping » Wed Feb 05, 2020 9:52 am

Had a little bit of time to play with the toon last night. I took off the old z bars that were just just supports and placed the box tube across to get an idea of placement and meaurements. I think in the rear I may place the box tubes on 12" centers? Do you all think that is overkill? I would like to hang a 250 or .... :twisted: on the back. The center tube originally had a 300 Verado hanging off it. I also moved the center tube back a few more inches to 20", I think I like this better. Hopefully someone who has done this, can give us a few pointers. Thanks!
Box tube rear bracing.jpg
Box tube rear bracing.jpg (96.51 KiB) Viewed 17488 times
20 inch setback from rear cross brace.jpg
20 inch setback from rear cross brace.jpg (126.27 KiB) Viewed 17488 times

PaulinOK
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Re: 1989 Sun Tracker Party Barge 24DL into Tritoon build

#12 Post by PaulinOK » Wed Feb 05, 2020 11:11 am

I have no experience but I'm just starting a rebuild as well, I've been checking your post and pictures out and one thought occurred to me, if you stick that middle pontoon out in front of the boat will it have any effect on how it sits on the trailer? My initial thought would be to flush the middle toon with with front of the point of the boat, which would stick more out the back, but I know I've seen new pontoons with the motor set well behind the other logs? I am also interested to hear what anyone with experience would say.

abrasivereshaping
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2020 11:13 am

Re: 1989 Sun Tracker Party Barge 24DL into Tritoon build

#13 Post by abrasivereshaping » Wed Feb 05, 2020 11:22 am

PaulinOK wrote:
Wed Feb 05, 2020 11:11 am
I have no experience but I'm just starting a rebuild as well, I've been checking your post and pictures out and one thought occurred to me, if you stick that middle pontoon out in front of the boat will it have any effect on how it sits on the trailer? My initial thought would be to flush the middle toon with with front of the point of the boat, which would stick more out the back, but I know I've seen new pontoons with the motor set well behind the other logs? I am also interested to hear what anyone with experience would say.
With the transom at 20" back, the center tube is now 2" forward of the outer tubes. I need to purchase a trailer here soon. That will be something I look into. I may buy, if I can find, a used pontoon trailer and make my own center supports. I will have to see how the weight distribution goes and make sure I have proper tongue weight. Good point to think of!

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bansil
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Location: Watâ'gi lake...Beautiful Waters

Re: 1989 Sun Tracker Party Barge 24DL into Tritoon build

#14 Post by bansil » Sat Feb 08, 2020 7:02 am

:loveboobs 250!!! :drive

When and where can I visit so I can say "here hold my beer"

:drunks
Check out "Dudes" site www.whereisdude.com

abrasivereshaping
Posts: 30
Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2020 11:13 am

Re: 1989 Sun Tracker Party Barge 24DL into Tritoon build

#15 Post by abrasivereshaping » Mon Feb 10, 2020 8:30 am

bansil wrote:
Sat Feb 08, 2020 7:02 am
:loveboobs 250!!! :drive

When and where can I visit so I can say "here hold my beer"

:drunks
I'll be on Lake St. Clair and always have plenty of beer :beer2

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