Newbie looking for advise on toon purchase

[KylefromNJ]

Hello everyone. First and foremost, I'm a complete newbie at boating and tooning.

We're looking for a starter boat, and heard that pontoon is very easy to drive and stable. So we're going to rent one as a test drive, and then maybe look to buy a used one later.

I got a few dumb questions:

1) my wife does not swim, so she's wary about boating. Obviously we will all wear life vest etc. But looking at the construction of a pontoon, it looks to be unsinkable. I mean even if it flips over, it should still float right?

2) I'm currently looking at craiglist to get an idea of how much a used one would cost. What do you guys think of this one for example:

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/boa/4414730415.html

3) when buying a toon, what are some things I need to look out for? Is it a definite that I should take it for a test ride before buying? How do I check if an engine is working properly?

any other tips for a newbie?

Thanks in advance.

[curtiscapk]

Welcome. Toons are pretty much unsinkable. That is a great price! Definitely take it for a test ride. AT the very least have them run it on a hose and earmuffs. Run it through the gears and forward and reverse.

Have a mechanic look at it is probably a better option if you are totally new to boating.

[KylefromNJ]

Thank you.

Just out of curiosity. Suppose the motor is completely useless. How much would it cost to replace it with another new/used one of the same type? are we talking about hundreds, or thousands?

also, are toons like a regular boat and car? do they come with a title and I have to register it with dmv etc?

[curtiscapk]

At least a grand for a 50 HP around here. More like 2 grand for a 90's model.

Depending on the state registering varies... I have to renew my registration once every 3 years for 35 bucks. Property tax is outrages but we just passed a new state law to bring it down. It has been $150 every year for boat trailer and motor.

Kansas does not need a title only a bill of sale.

[Cycleman07]

Hello everyone. First and foremost, I'm a complete newbie at boating and tooning.

We're looking for a starter boat, and heard that pontoon is very easy to drive and stable. So we're going to rent one as a test drive, and then maybe look to buy a used one later.

I got a few dumb questions:

1) my wife does not swim, so she's wary about boating. Obviously we will all wear life vest etc. But looking at the construction of a pontoon, it looks to be unsinkable. I mean even if it flips over, it should still float right? Pontoons are very safe. The railings etc make them easy to move around on without the fear of falling out. If a pontoon flips over it will still float. I have seen a pontton with a gaping hole in one of the pontoon logs and it was still floating

2) I'm currently looking at craiglist to get an idea of how much a used one would cost. What do you guys think of this one for example:remember that whatever used boat you buy you will end up getting rid of fairly soon to upgrade. tooning is very addicting. I kept my first used one (2007 G3) for a year before buying brand new. I tell you that to make sure that you buy one with some resale value.

http://southjersey.craigslist.org/boa/4414730415.html

3) when buying a toon, what are some things I need to look out for? Is it a definite that I should take it for a test ride before buying? How do I check if an engine is working properly? The answers already stated do a pretty good job. Take it to a mechanic, While its on the trailer push it a little back and forth and see if you can hear any water in the logs. Trouble shooting leaky logs can be a headache.

any other tips for a newbie?

Thanks in advance.

[KylefromNJ]

thank you.

If a leaky log is a headache, does that mean a foam filled log is better than an air filled? (they do both exist right?)

[Cycleman07]

thank you.

If a leaky log is a headache, does that mean a foam filled log is better than an air filled? (they do both exist right?)

The problem with foam filled logs is that if they ever do get a hole in them they are not as easily fixed. An air filled log can be drained and welded back up. A foam filled log they have to cut a large section out of the log to replace the foam that will no doubt be saturated.

[KylefromNJ]

thank you.

If a leaky log is a headache, does that mean a foam filled log is better than an air filled? (they do both exist right?)

The problem with foam filled logs is that if they ever do get a hole in them they are not as easily fixed. An air filled log can be drained and welded back up. A foam filled log they have to cut a large section out of the log to replace the foam that will no doubt be saturated.

Sounds logical. I'm learning some valuable lessons here.

[jafo9]

i'll echo some of the comments above. pontoons are very safe in the right conditions. any boat can become unsafe in the wrong conditions. even with a pontoon, i'd still be concerned about a non-swimmer. are lessons a possibility? if not, i'd consider some "man overboard" drills in the shallows before i ventured out.

any boat i buy, i'm always thinking about the guy who is going to buy it from me. i.e., resale. unless you are looking for a project, i'd stay away from a boat that needs a new motor. this being your first boat, i'd also plan not to keep it very long, likely one season. you will quickly find what your family wants/needs in a boat and can thus make a much more educated purchase on the 2nd boat.

[BobG]

i'd consider some "man overboard" drills in the shallows before i ventured out.

Last summer when the Admiral was driving the boat, I slipped on my vest, and "fell" overboard, having our guest tell her that I had fallen overboard. She was NOT expecting it, which made it most educational! I would advise everybody to do this (in a safe manner) at least once per driver. I think we were doing about 20 MPH when I took my splash.

[curtiscapk]

Before we had THE FLOATER my bro talked us into all bailing out on my SIL while he filmed it....

She wasn't exactly thrilled.

[smltooner]

Welcome to the club.
You will get a lot of great advice here.....and some leg pulling. LOL
We like to have fun here.

[KylefromNJ]

another question.

suppose I can find a used toon for a cheap price, but the motor is bad. And if I budget $1500 or so for a brand new motor, where should I go to price things out? Is there a site that most toon vets go to for new motors? We don't care very much about speed, we do care about reliability and ease of use/maintenance.

Also, what are the pros and cons of gas vs electric motor?

[bassn386]

Kyle, if you like the boat and are considering buying it, make the sale conditional on the motor passing a check from a marine mechanic. There's got to be quite a few in NJ. May cost you an hour's labor, but I think it would be well worth it. And--check out the mechanic. Make sure he's certified to work on that brand of motor and maybe talk to others who have used him.

[NonHyphenAmerican]

another question.

suppose I can find a used toon for a cheap price, but the motor is bad. And if I budget $1500 or so for a brand new motor, where should I go to price things out? Is there a site that most toon vets go to for new motors? We don't care very much about speed, we do care about reliability and ease of use/maintenance.

Also, what are the pros and cons of gas vs electric motor?

Kyle,

You might want to research boat motor prices a bit.

$1500.00 will not buy you a brand new boat motor of any size to push a pontoon boat. A new 10hp 4 stroke is over $2k and pushing $3k.

At Shady Creek Marina where I recently bought my pontoon, you can find a decent looking used Pontoon for under $12k. My new one was a little over twice that with a 90hp Yamaha and everything is brand new and covered by a warranty.

One guy at the lake yesterday had a "deckboat" with a 130hp Honda circa 1999 for $7k. It needed some cosmetic work on the boat and he figured he could possibly get it for $5500 from the guy selling it. The motor was in great shape. The boat, motor and trailer were probably worth the $5500.

Part of the deal for him to buy the boat was to be able to take it out on the lake and actually run it.

Having a certified boat mechanic do an inspection could save you thousands at the cost of $100 or less.