new power/flotation

[rockhound]

now that we have a few shake down runs under our belts and four days in the water last week, family reunion and a few days at lake Mcconaughy NE, i have been pondering a few things and taking inventory as to what i might do to the toon.

I make a very nice living, but am also raising four kids so plunking down $50,000 for a new toon is out of the question, but i have funds for a serious rebuild and am planning out where we will take this rebuild.

I have decided that even though the existing toons have a few issues I will keep them as they function fine and can be used for at least several seasons or until i find a killer deal on new toons.

so we are left with power and a center toon to deal with for improved performance. i would like some opinions

options:

1. stay with the i/o and add a water glide or a third toon with stakes, say a 17 footer (they have some pretty impressive numbers on the WG website from a toon with a very similar setup)
this would be the cheapest
2. ditch the 135 i/o and mount up a 200 hp outboard,
a. utilizing the existing transom and adding a short third log ( the i/o transom is extremely beefy i have no doubt it could handle the hp) fully welded 1/4 inch aluminum, full 2 inch thick marine grade plywood reinforced, 2x2 1/4 inch aluminum square tube crossmember/engine mounts, way more beef than most outboard transoms, this would allow the sale of the existing i/o and lower unit to help recoup some cost.
b. have a custom motor pod/gas tank/third log built (this would allow the sale of the i/o transom and motor/lower unit to recoup some of the cost)

i know what the sticker on the boat says the max hp should be, bear in mind that this boat will not be anything like what came out of the factory.

if you had the funds and the options which do you think would be the better option,

one other benefit to the new third toon/gas tank/ outboard transom option is it would free up 28x60x28 inches or so of additional storage under the sundeck. or give me 28 inches of additional playpen

[Mrtoler]

My vote is get a full center tube with strakes, built in fuel tank, beefy transom and ski well...

I think you'll be better off with a full tube rather than a shout one, I'm going by what most of the newer peformance toons are running!

[rockhound]

leaning that way as well,

I am not sure about a ski well being necessary, but i guess i could find a way to fill it.

bear in mind a 17 foot center log would run tip to engine pod on my current setup, the i/o engine pod is fairly long

[fergusmj]

If you're going to do it, I'd go with the full 3rd log and not a "sport" tube. You create a lot of turbulent water going from the sport tube to the transom. And you get that much more flotation.

[rockhound]

yep leaning that way, found a good source for my new center log so this looks to be way cheaper than i expected and they are closer than most of the other shops i have found so going out to pick it up wont cost me an arm and a leg in gas.

plans are bigger third log with 175-200 hp outboard 25 inch lower, with strakes.

the new center log with strakes and transom will run almost less than adding strakes.

[RcgTexas]

Here is my thought, I only have one at the time. I am not fond of IO's but if yours is good I'd keep it. they are good on fuel.

Then if it is good, you may can move it with proceeds going toward the rebuild. Is that two thoughts? OMG I may have overloaded myself?

[dodger]

We had a sport tube on our last pontoon and it was fast until you got 5-6 adults on it. Now that we have a full third full tube it is sssooo much better. We are 3 ft longer, 300 lb dry weight heavier, and just as fast, plus when we have 7 adults, we are still able to keep it at 33-35 mph. That was NOT possible with a sport tube.

I have a question as to what is or will be the length of your toon. Ours is 24"10" tip of front tube to end of pod. We have a Yamaha 150 and that is plenty of power and speed for us, hit 40 mph the other day. We do use twice as much gas as the previous 115 we had on the other boat, but, that is the price we have to pay to have the performance we wanted.

Is it safe to put a 200 on your toon is my first question, me not knowing the length and dry weight, and are you prepared to fill the gas tank if you do go with a 200. Just letting you know. We take about a 2 hour cruse most nights, slow, fast, med, and burn through almost 10 gallons.

It has been brought up that the Yamaha 150 is putting out almost 165 hp. But the 200 is maybe 210. So for the money outlay and the gas consumption is something to consider when repowering.

I'm a motor head myself and was really wanting a 200 on this boat, but went with the 150 and it was the right choice for me when reasoning set in. With gas prices being what they are, and only going up, we aren't breaking the bank just to take a ride every evening.

There is a new pontoon on the lakes where we are. A Premier with the bar on the back and a 300 Merc hanging off the back. We have seen them pulling a tube around the lake several times. We are wondering how fast he can watch his fuel gauge drop to empty. Pretty toon and lots of power but, oh the price for fun.

[rockhound]

We had a sport tube on our last pontoon and it was fast until you got 5-6 adults on it. Now that we have a full third full tube it is sssooo much better. We are 3 ft longer, 300 lb dry weight heavier, and just as fast, plus when we have 7 adults, we are still able to keep it at 33-35 mph. That was NOT possible with a sport tube.

I have a question as to what is or will be the length of your toon. Ours is 24"10" tip of front tube to end of pod. We have a Yamaha 150 and that is plenty of power and speed for us, hit 40 mph the other day. We do use twice as much gas as the previous 115 we had on the other boat, but, that is the price we have to pay to have the performance we wanted.

Is it safe to put a 200 on your toon is my first question, me not knowing the length and dry weight, and are you prepared to fill the gas tank if you do go with a 200. Just letting you know. We take about a 2 hour cruse most nights, slow, fast, med, and burn through almost 10 gallons.

It has been brought up that the Yamaha 150 is putting out almost 165 hp. But the 200 is maybe 210. So for the money outlay and the gas consumption is something to consider when repowering.

I'm a motor head myself and was really wanting a 200 on this boat, but went with the 150 and it was the right choice for me when reasoning set in. With gas prices being what they are, and only going up, we aren't breaking the bank just to take a ride every evening.

There is a new pontoon on the lakes where we are. A Premier with the bar on the back and a 300 Merc hanging off the back. We have seen them pulling a tube around the lake several times. We are wondering how fast he can watch his fuel gauge drop to empty. Pretty toon and lots of power but, oh the price for fun.

the i/o runs good, but is heavy and underpowered,
it does not get any better fuel mileage than my last 175 hp outboard, maybe a little worse, that may be the boat's fault more than the motor

the boat is a 24 foot riviera cruiser 1997, i would imagine it is about the same as yours

yes the 200 hp motor will fit fine, the new center toon/motor pod is being made just for that purpose, the transom will be rated at better than 200 actually.

BTW we may only wind up with a 150-175 anyway depending on the motor that we purchase, i wanted some leeway in what we did so the transom will be overbuilt, i understand that we are changing the rated hp, but the new center toon and the new cross members etc. are also changing the dynamics of the boat, the original engineering does not apply.

the new engine will be lighter, the boat will have more stability and flotation and additional structure than originally built

the new center toon/outboard is the way we are headed, it will make the transformation much safer and easier

in addition to the third toon we will be able to install solid crossmembers in the back that are now notched out for the motor pod, making the whole rear structure stronger. the engine compartment will allow for additional fuel, mounting space for hydraulics and power steering etc.

[RcgTexas]

I'm liking the plan!

[dodger]

Are you getting in floor storage and in tube gas tank as well? If you can I highly recommend it. You will get rid of all the clutter of stuff on deck and the in tube gas storage frees up valuable above deck storage. The weight is in the center of the tube as well instead of off to one side.

[rockhound]

I dont know if I will go that far, with th I/o coming out I am able to do a lot with the engine compartment, the gas tank would be nice, but it definitely will drive up the cost. I will have a new tank that makes better use of the space at a minimum