Newbie Looking for some advice/help

[landlockedsailor]

Let me echo the others on engines. Bigger is better even if all you want to do is slowly cruise along. At some point, you're gonna want FASTER. Everyone here gave me the same advice when we were looking for a toon, so we upped the engine order from the originally supplied 25hp to a 60hp. That was all we could afford at the time. Our toon was to be our fishing boat so who cared about big speed, right? On the other hand, if we want to take a run up to a fishing spot a few miles away, it seems like it takes FOREVER to get there. And there's no tow bar on the boat-with good reason. It would probably feel like we were dragging an anchor instead of a kid. We love our pontoon, will be getting largest-rating engine we can in a year or two. For now, we're opting for jet skis to satisfy our need for speed.

Size DOES matter.

[sluggish]

Finally made the plunge, so to speak. We bought an older boat to start out and will see how it goes and will progress from there. Picked up a 92 Bayliner Rendezvous deck boat with a 120 Merc. Boat is in good shape but needs a good cleaning. 26 footer so it should have enough room for now. We are only a family of 3 after all, so some extra room for my daughter's friends is no problem. A quick cleanup and we will get out on Friday, enjoy it for the summer and then do a thorough cleanup up and maybe a few mods this winter. Can't wait.

[sluggish]

Well it was a long time until Friday came but we did get out a few weeks back. Spent an afternoon out on the water with some family and friends and had a great time. Hoping to get out again this week as the wife and I are both off work and daughter is in school. Boat handles great and is very stable, good for a first timer like me. Even with the 120 on it, it could still use a little more power, but it will work for now. I can't imagine a 150-175 would be very cheap. At least we can get enough speed to pull the kids in a tube(25-28 top speed).