newbies with a few questions

[meat man]

we are thinking of purchasing a new or slightly used pontoon boat in the 24' range and have a few questions...

we have a 2007 toyota 4runner 4.0 v6 with 4x4, will this be sufficient with trailering and launching a pontoon of this size?

we would like to be able to pull water-skiiers as well as tubers behind it and the guy at bass pro shops suggested that 90hp would do the trick, thoughts? And we would have an average of 4-8 people on board at any given time.



what are the normal insurance costs with a new/newer boat/pontoon of ths size?

basic winterizing costs?

normal storage costs?

anything i missed?

also I would like to attach a bow-mounted trolling motor to the front to be able to move around a bit and cast a bit as well, what size motor would I need for this?

thanks for all the help, we are in the Chicago suburbs btw

thanks, and we would want to make the 700 plus mile round trip to northern Wisconsin, so it would be either that, or 100 mile round day trippers to southern Wisconsin

[Beamer]

I can help with a couple questions.
If you want to do some sking I would look at least 115 HP for a 24'. Another alternative would be go to 22' and the 90 would suffice, that's what I have. How big a group will you be taking out may determine 22 or 24.
Winterizing, if someone else does it $100 - $150, if you do it, a lot less and it's easier than you think.
There are many forms of storage, including you own property, in which case you either tarp it or have it shrink wrapped. Shrink wrap for 22' is about $250. I'm storing mine in a covered slip this year where they just lift it out of the water and that will cost me about $500. In that case I would just use the mooring cover. If you storing at a facility, it's either indoor or outdoor. If it's outdoor then you have to either tarp or shrink wrap it. If you go indoors, then the mooring cover will suffice. Any of that can cost $300 for outdoor to $500 for indoor.
Remember all these are Canadian rates so yours maybe a little less.
The reason I'm storing in a slip this year as opposed to my property like I did last year, was because I got a visit from a raccon that did $10,000 dammage, so I'm putting it where they can't get at it.

[meat man]

thanks beamer

and I also forgot to mention that we would probably have 4-8 people on the boat at any given time as I am sure this influences skiing etc.

[mike]

pontoon boats are generaly pretty light, you should have no problem towing with what you have!

[Alohatoon1]

If you want to pull wake boarders with a 24 footer, 115hp is pretty minimal. It will work, but you will wish you had 135 or 150hp.

Your Toyota will do the job, but in a stiff wind you will wish you had a heavier truck. I guess it depends on how far you tow. If it's 3 miles to a lake, no problem. If it's 150 miles through the mouontains, a different story.

[meat man]

If you want to pull wake boarders with a 24 footer, 115hp is pretty minimal. It will work, but you will wish you had 135 or 150hp.

Your Toyota will do the job, but in a stiff wind you will wish you had a heavier truck. I guess it depends on how far you tow. If it's 3 miles to a lake, no problem. If it's 150 miles through the mouontains, a different story.

thanks, and we would want to make the 700 plus mile round trip to northern Wisconsin, so it would be either that, or 100 mile round day trippers to southern Wisconsin

[curtiscapk]

Welcome!
We pull my 24 with a 4.0 sport trac, granted it is only 10 miles round trip.
The Toyota should be heavier so you should be fine.

With 6-8 people you will have tons of room.

here is link to pics of the 4th 11 people 2 dogs, and two coolers.

I currently have a power issue hopefully plugs... will see.


http://pontoonforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=2456