Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

My friend and the abundance of cheap inboards around has brought me over to the dark side . I was planning on building a new engine pod any way to get my gas tank and battery below deck . Im going to go with a 3.0 mercruiser setup . Im not sure if Im going to get a third toon and build on the back of it or just a pod from scratch . I plan on gathering resources this summer using the boat and this winter take it in for the swap and maybe a deck rebuild .I dont care about speed , I come from bass boat world and dont care about skipping across the water , just want reliable and gas sipping ability hence the 3.0 .Any ones advise on this would be appreciated.

Good engines, bullet proof. I had 2 boats with the same motor. Only drawback is winterizing and cramped maintenance, especially the in-fuel pump fuel filter.

There are many on here using the Mercruiser 3.0 (140 hp) motors.

But I wouldn't think about it if I had to fabricate the installation. The benefits are not strong enough to switch from an outboard--the easy, more inexpensive way to power a pontoon.

Thanks for the replies
Yeah it would be a tough call if I could pick up good outboard for free to a grand like inboards around here . I was going to buy a new yamaha 4 stroke and drop it on there next season but my friends and wife are telling me dont waste the money. My Wife just says run the motor we have but she is not against the inboard idea . My best friend is going inboard inboard inboard and he will be the one doing most of the fab work with me . Today another friend called me and wanted to know if I knew anyone that wanted a 90hp Yamaha 2 smoke with a damaged lower unit ........ which depending on price might be very very tempting . The current 75 merc is running fine and Im fine with the power but I dont trust it at all , the 86 merc 4 banger has a rep for losing stators and control modules with out much warning . Its like hiring a ex con , he might be fine or he might rob you blind .

I like the idea of a inboard , nice clean back and this thread ,http://forums.iboats.com/completed-boat ... 73089.html has helped .Im going to build a new engine pod/transom either way to clear the rear deck because Im going to open the back of the pontoon up for a rear fishing deck this winter .

So far my list compared to 2 stroke outboards

Pros
Reliable
Clean lines
Quiet
Better on gas than 2 smokes in the same vintage
weight forward
easy to tune
cheap
more low end

Cons
heavy
engine compartment
winterization
doghouse (or at lest a raised engine box)
some components Harder to access
More mechanical drive train

R u going to use aluminum like he did

Yeah steal would be way to easy for me nothing is never easy for me.

I havnt decided on the pods shape and size yet ,ideally ill find a cheap donor toon to take a toon off of to make a third toon with a rear pod out of which would save on sheet metal fab work.

I like the idea of the 3.0 inboard. I have been through the pains of dealing with older outboards . I have blown up and rebuilt a couple. I know I saw a 20'x32" elliptical on ebay the other day. I think that would be a great base to start fabrication off of. Lot of extra flotation and width to carry the I/O set up.

Your eyes are growing heavy.
You are completely relaxed.
Deeper and deeper.
Now repete after me:
Big Block
....Big Block.....
.......Biiggg Bllloccckk

I did see this the other day at it did tempt me


Only a 5.0 though

Might have found a third toon to build on , I checked with a scrap yard and the said they had a pontoon with one good tube that was they think is a 24" or 26" tube . My boat has 22" tubes on it I would think a larger center tube would help handling but Im not sure on that ,what do yall think ? I would be cutting the tube down to fit under the deck but I was thinking about going pass the outside tubes about a foot in the back . Im going down to check it out this weekend if I dont have to work.


Oh tuned My best friend that is pushing the IO is also pushing me to use his 8.1 liter with a bravo drive .....

I would think a larger dia inner tube should be just fine, and should also help your handling (esp turning ability). I would want to check though and make sure the center tube isn't too much bigger than the outter ones though. I'd have to have a seesaw effect from side to side.

My 1993 Playcraft has a 5.0 I/O and let me tell ya...cramped is an understatement! Changing the fuel filter requires being double-jointed and arms as long as an orangutan. Spark plugs? Pay someone else to do that. New starter was $200 and $700 in labor to change out - OUCH!

My engine sits in a custom fiberglass pod shaped like a small boat and built into the entire stern of the toon. Just because the engine will fit does not mean its a good idea; JMHO.

Yeah I was joking about the 8.1 and other V8s . I will going with the 3.0 or 3.7 , most likely 3.0 , there is a 3.7 down the road for cheap though. The inline 4 should be fairly easier to work on than your v8 . I stopped by my friends house today and he told me to load up the vortec 8.1 and carry it home with me , I told him I wouldnt waste my time with it ...... but maybe a 12 valve cummins .. I would be the only guy on the lake rolling smoke with a pontoon .. we both had a laugh about it , them 45 minutes later at lunch he seriously asked did you read somewhere that some one has did it ? .

Oil filter top right, 5 mins to change. Fuel filter on left, also 5 mins to change. JT

It is most certainly doable. My filters are easy to get at as well. As I just had the motor out for mods, I did all the things down low that I could, including water pump and starter.

"Biiiiggg Bloooccck. Big bl......"