Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hey folks, need some feedback. Friend of a friend has a pontoon for sale.

It's a 2002 Suntracker 24 Ft. Party Barge (Signiture? series), has a 50 hp Mercury, don't know if a 2 or 4 stroke, has a binimi top, cover, live well, and fish finder. Trailer is included.

Asking Price is $8000. In KY, used boat sales, private to private party(s), there is no sales tax collected.

Current owner (2nd owner), is a single lady who appears to have keep this boat maintained by a pro. Boat has been keep in a slip during the season on a small lake in central KY, stored out of the water in the off season. The pontoon was just pulled out of the water and had the logs cleaned.

Pics I've seen show the interior to be immaculate.

Key to a fair price will be the motor. Assuming lower than average hours, how would one plus or minus a 2 or 4 stroke for a 2002, I'm assuming that EFI was not commonly used by Suntracker at that time. If, by some chance, the OB was a 'Bigfoot' model, the decision to buy would be a lot easier.

For a 50 hp Mercury, Would the lack of the 'Bigfoot' model be a deal-breaker?

Impellor change and lower gear oil? If these had not being changed recently (how long ago?), What amount, if any, would you discount from the $8000. My understanding is the boat is currently stored at the Marine Mechanics place of busines, so I would be silly not to have this done while the pontoon was there. (save about 1.5 hr drive) and I'd probably keep using the same guy as he is closest (and until I felt comfortable doing the basics myself).

Trailer-Assuming a 'Trailstar', Replacing the tires (I'd probably buy new rims, also) and repacking the bearings is a must for me. Not sure how to address the brakes, assumming 'surge' breaks.

To be honest, I would prefer a Regency of the same age (for the 26 inch logs), but this is not a bad pontoon for me to get started with. I like the 'squared off' fence as it makes it easy to modify to my liking. Plans are to remove the front benchs and the rear sundeck, rearranging some of the remaining funiture, converting to a fishing-camping boat. I would like to have had a camping enclosure with the boat, as these are super expensive to buy new.

So, What do you guys think? I want to be fair with the lady and not cause bad feelings, but I don't want to get taken also. Local boat and I'm going to be able to talked with the guy who has done the maintance is worth a lot. By the time one figures travel costs to buy long distance, gas plus motel, can easily be $1-2 grand and your still buying a 'pig in a poke'.

I'm planing on talking to the owner in a bit, may set a time to go look at the pontoon, definately want to talked to the mechanic, but wanted to hear from you folks also.

Fred

IMHO, I think it's not too bad a price but the motor would turn me off. 50 on a 24 footer is a bit or way too small. I would not consider it a great deal. If you plan on changing the 2 stroke 50 for something bigger then it's too much money for what your getting. I would doubt its a 4 stroke. See what one sells for new and make a decision on that. If you don't care it a 50 then make an offer of 7000.00 with trailer, and all safety gear.

I think that is a pretty decent deal. I paid $8,000 for my 2006 SunTracker Bass Buggy 18 with the Bigfoot 60 and Trailstar trailer. It was in pristine condition and was a bank repo. I will have to say I haven't seen my setup locally under $10,000 within the last year. (Believe me I checked alot as I am one of these people that feel like they have to get the best deal possible.)

On the 50HP. We use to split a 2005 Party Barge 22' with a friend. It had the Bigfoot 60'. It would only do maybe 16mph, where I can get 21mph with the lighter smaller 18'. Still a great cruiser with strong bottom end.

Not too bad...our 2003 24ft Suntracker has a 90hp and we paid $8500 3yrs ago....

oldcoot wrote:Not too bad...our 2003 24ft Suntracker has a 90hp and we paid $8500 3yrs ago....

Thanks for responding.

Oldcoot if I may, how do you feel about makeing a fishing/camping toon using a 24' Suntracker. May concern is the 24 inch dia logs. I had always thought that a 27 ft Regency or 30 Partyhut (both have 26 inch logs) would be a better choice.

Talked to the seller today, The 50 hp Merc is a 2 stroke and NOT a 'BigFoot". The impeller and lower unit grease have been change everyother year, last done spring of 2012.

The trailer is a 'Hustler' (sp?), She told me that the trailer was older that the pontoon and would definately need bearings gone thru and new tires, which I had planned on anyway. Trailer was only used twice a year, putting in and takeing out. Travel distance from the storage place to the marina is only a few miles.

Bad news is that she is positive that the trailer is a single axle. I can't believe that a name brand would make a trailer for a 24 ft pontoon with only one axle, agree? If the trailer is legit, my 'gut' tells me that adding a axle will be costly. Thoughts?

My guess is that the trailer is for a shorter toon and the marina is able to 'make-do' due to a short haul distance.

Since I'm looking to spend time on the road, I'm afraid the trailer issues will be a 'Deal-Breaker'.

shootandfish1 wrote:

oldcoot wrote:Not too bad...our 2003 24ft Suntracker has a 90hp and we paid $8500 3yrs ago....

Thanks for responding.

Oldcoot if I may, how do you feel about makeing a fishing/camping toon using a 24' Suntracker. May concern is the 24 inch dia logs. I had always thought that a 27 ft Regency or 30 Partyhut (both have 26 inch logs) would be a better choice.

Talked to the seller today, The 50 hp Merc is a 2 stroke and NOT a 'BigFoot". The impeller and lower unit grease have been change everyother year, last done spring of 2012.

The trailer is a 'Hustler' (sp?), She told me that the trailer was older that the pontoon and would definately need bearings gone thru and new tires, which I had planned on anyway. Trailer was only used twice a year, putting in and takeing out. Travel distance from the storage place to the marina is only a few miles.

Bad news is that she is positive that the trailer is a single axle. I can't believe that a name brand would make a trailer for a 24 ft pontoon with only one axle, agree? If the trailer is legit, my 'gut' tells me that adding a axle will be costly. Thoughts?

My guess is that the trailer is for a shorter toon and the marina is able to 'make-do' due to a short haul distance.

Since I'm looking to spend time on the road, I'm afraid the trailer issues will be a 'Deal-Breaker'.

Even with my limited boating experience I think a single axle trailer for a 24 foot toon is not sufficient. My boat has a single axle trailer, but it's only a 20 footer... my son has a 22 footer and it came with a double axle trailer... as for the boat itself and the price.... sounds like the boat was taken care of ( well maintained ) but to me, 8 K for a 10 year old toon with a 50 hp 2 stroke seems a bit over priced... not too much... but you did say the boat was immaculate... possibly have her knock a grand or so off after you have the motor checked out by a mechanic... may want to use any money you can save on the boat to go toward a double axle trailer... just my 2 cents worth... good luck...

Shooter....we actually have a livewell under the helm seat and 2 fishing swivel seats on the front porch. We fish the river mostly so it's really nice to have the 2 front seats there. We have fished with 4 onboard and being able to move about as needed and go to the head easily made it way more worth it than the price. As far as the logs, they don't seem to matter to me and Jill...2in either way for our use is fine.
Our trailer is a Trailstar dual axle....that came in handy when we got hit by the drunk driver last St. Patty's day...for that big of a boat, it's no wonder that the bearings need replaced all the time....

oldcoot wrote:Shooter....we actually have a livewell under the helm seat and 2 fishing swivel seats on the front porch. We fish the river mostly so it's really nice to have the 2 front seats there. We have fished with 4 onboard and being able to move about as needed and go to the head easily made it way more worth it than the price. As far as the logs, they don't seem to matter to me and Jill...2in either way for our use is fine.
Our trailer is a Trailstar dual axle....that came in handy when we got hit by the drunk driver last St. Patty's day...for that big of a boat, it's no wonder that the bearings need replaced all the time....

thanks for the feedback-Fred

A high quality single axle trailer will work on a 24' twin toon boat, however it's preferable if the tires are 13" in diameter--not 10" low profile tires. You'd want to have high quality ST style tires that are not very old.

Some believe that a tandem axle trailer is more stable when on the highway. The secondary purpose for the tandem axle is to have a backup tire in case you have a tire blow.

And you need to look into where you'll be pulling your trailer. If roads between home and your favorite lake are smooth and conditions good, you may be fine with a single axle trailer. If you're going to be driving 100 miles each way on demanding mountain roads with a bunch of potholes, obviously a tandem axle high quality trailer would be desirable.

And as always, be sure to always repack the bearings on any used trailer on Day 1. You don't want any surprises. And, make sure you have good insurance.