Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Finally had some time to work on the pontoon. As previously stated, I had to replace the transom. It was pretty much rotted out what about a strong as cardboard and I’m amazed it held a motor. Also got a chance to do some painting. Here are some before and after of my work in progress. Heading up to the Adirondacks this week for 3 days to Black Lake. Nervous about the motor as this will be the most I’ve used it since we got it, but I guess I have to try it out sometime! I’m taking a trolling motor with me, so I guess I’ll have some back up. Full report to follow..

love it! good luck!!!!

Looking good! Have a great trip.

paint change looks good

FL to upstate.... hell of a haul....

Report back with pics and words....have fun

So, the good and the bad...no issues whatsoever either way (271 miles each way) with trailer ( new tires and springs), the lake and the weather were gorgeous ! Boat fired right up at the ramp and ran like a champ... almost all day..late afternoon stopped and fished for an hour and the motor wouldn’t restart. Thought it was fuel at first, played with it for a bit, then ended up getting towed in. Got it home today and found no spark. I think we are going to call it quits for this season and start our rebuild sooner than expected, then hopefully a new 2019 or 2020 motor next spring..

Bummer..... At least you got some time on the water!

Well, this escalated quickly. After motor took a dump, started looking around for a new one and started halfheartedly pulling the fence. Sold my not running motor in two days. Wish I had 5 more lol. Started calling around for a new one and was being told possibly early next summer for delivery. Started calling every marina on a 300 mile radius and scored a 2020 Yamaha T50 in Pa, about 130 miles from me. Heading out hopefully Tue am to get it installed. The wanted to bolt it to the transom for warranty purposes. Fair enough.. “no additional cost”. So did a quick teardown to plywood. Once I pulled the carpet I realized it was in a lot worse shape than I thought. No biggie. Ill just grab 4 sheets of marine plywood and replace it.. yaaaa.. finally found some in Buffalo at $94 a sheet ! Crazy.., so now debating whether I want to pull the plywood before or after the trip to Pa to pick up the motor..

My CCA treated Marine Ply was $85 a sheet, $94 ain't that crazy these days.

For the engine warranty....go topless...plywood is for.....

So, the good, the bad and the ugly...

The good..scored a new Yamaha 50 High Thrust

The bad... bought 3/4 plywood but it originally had 5/8, so I have a small gap to fill where the sheets match and slide into the cross braces

The ugly... when I pulled off the old plywood, I saw that the back few cross pieces had a bow in them over an inch out of straight. One of the pics show the old crossmember with the new support behind it and you can see how out of square it is. I jacked up my motor and they pulled straight. Ended up adding a piece of square tube and bolting it to the back crosspiece and the pontoons and all is good again.

So, new plywood is ready to go and hope to get that down tomorrow and start mocking up cables and wires. Had to add a pic of my A1 helper, also known as my grandson. He is so excited to work on the boat, makes this project even better.

And like any good project, especially one involving a boat, it looks like we are gonna run over budget. Got two captains chairs out of a trashed boat and are getting a price tomorrow on reupholstering them. Then we’ll decide if we will go that route or get new.
We are looking at the Leader Accessories Pontoon Captains Bucket Boat Seat on Amazon as an option. Anyone have an experience with these ?

not my money but an extra 80 gets you one of these

https://www.pontoonstuff.com/collection ... helm-chair


or less for one of these which the admiral loves!

https://www.pontoonstuff.com/collection ... cket-seats

Got all the plywood cut and fitted today. Also ran steering cable and mocked up throttles/gear cables and wires. As long as the weather holds up, should be ready for carpet Sunday. A little paint left to do on the fence, some wiring and should be floating in a week! Wanted to do vinyl, but the motor was our budget for this year. We are looking to get back on the water for another month, then vinyl and real seats over the winter..

John Pen wrote: ↑

Thu Sep 03, 2020 8:05 pm

Got all the plywood cut and fitted today. Also ran steering cable and mocked up throttles/gear cables and wires. As long as the weather holds up, should be ready for carpet Sunday. A little paint left to do on the fence, some wiring and should be floating in a week! Wanted to do vinyl, but the motor was our budget for this year. We are looking to get back on the water for another month, then vinyl and real seats over the winter..

Looking good! For me, when the decking and the flooring were done, everything really picked up speed. You'll be good to go soon.

I'm betting that grandson will be on the maiden voyage!

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Looking good! For me, when the decking and the flooring were done, everything really picked up speed. You'll be good to go soon.

I'm betting that grandson will be on the maiden voyage!
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Well, he is the project supervisor.. always double checking my work...