Newbie from the Nashville Area

[playcat]

Welcome, and post some pictures after you get it wet again!

[oldcoot]

Welcome!!!...that's what we paid for our 2003 24ft Party Barge...best we've ever spent!!

[Bamaman]

I bought my 24' Starcraft pontoon boat 6 months old in 1985 for $2400 from Mercury Marine Acceptance (repo.) I found a Yamaha 115 hp engine that was 6 months old for $3500--the original owner traded for a 150 hp motor. My trailer was $1100, and rigging was about $500. Grand total= $7500. I sold the trailer for $600 5 years later--after I never used it.

It was the best money I ever spent, and I'm still running this pontoon. I once had to put an oil pump module on it ($241) and a water pump impeller ($25.) I replaced the carpet 5 years ago. I did all the repairs myself, and it's never been in the shop.

Think how long one of those motors would run if I ever winterized it.

This is why pontoon boats are such long term recreational investments. They simply don't wear out if you keep the seats and carpeting dry all year.

[haganjeff]

Took the Bass Buggy out of storage yesterday and brought it home to get the new registration numbers on as well as a clean up with LA's Totally Awesome Cleaner (Thanks for that recommendation), and put in some new JBL speakers. It was a a nice day and exciting to get to spend my first quality time with the new pontoon.

Decided to go fishing with a buddy this morning before taking it back to dry storage. It was great to get it out, but conditions were terrible. Cold, windy, and started raining as soon as we got it launched. Rained till we came back to the ramp. Percy Priest lake was muddy and full of debris, never saw it like this. Bumped a couple rocks and actually grounded ourselves in a bay for a moment due to low water levels. Probably my last trip out until they raise water levels and the debris clears.

Couple Notes: 1) Loved the 54lb MotorGuide trolling motor with foot control. My first experience with a TM. Everybody should have one! 2 ) Still having a problem launching. It's like the boat is stuck on the boards and doesn't want to slide off. Slammed the brakes several times. It just sticks to the trailer. 3) Backed down the ramp on my first try without pulling back up. Incredible accomplishment for me!

[ROLAND]

Couple Notes: 1) Loved the 54lb MotorGuide trolling motor with foot control. My first experience with a TM. Everybody should have one! 2 ) Still having a problem launching. It's like the boat is stuck on the boards and doesn't want to slide off. Slammed the brakes several times. It just sticks to the trailer. 3) Backed down the ramp on my first try without pulling back up. Incredible accomplishment for me!

Yeah the toons tend to stick to the carpet when not used for awhile... what we do is when we back the trailer down the launch, we back down ( with the strap still hooked up ) further than normal just to try and get the bunks good and wet... then pull forward a bit, unhook the strap and then back down and hit the brakes to help push the boat off.... you might also want to try some type of lubricant spray on the bunks like Pam or liquid rollers... but be warned, if you do use a lubricant, make sure you have the strap hooked up when backing down, and also make sure you hook the strap back up before you pull the boat back up out of the launch... I have a friend who used pam on thier boat and when they were backing down the ramp, then ended up dropped the boat on the concrete... over 5 grand in damage....

[haganjeff]

Couple Notes: 1) Loved the 54lb MotorGuide trolling motor with foot control. My first experience with a TM. Everybody should have one! 2 ) Still having a problem launching. It's like the boat is stuck on the boards and doesn't want to slide off. Slammed the brakes several times. It just sticks to the trailer. 3) Backed down the ramp on my first try without pulling back up. Incredible accomplishment for me!

Yeah the toons tend to stick to the carpet when not used for awhile... what we do is when we back the trailer down the launch, we back down ( with the strap still hooked up ) further than normal just to try and get the bunks good and wet... then pull forward a bit, unhook the strap and then back down and hit the brakes to help push the boat off.... you might also want to try some type of lubricant spray on the bunks like Pam or liquid rollers... but be warned, if you do use a lubricant, make sure you have the strap hooked up when backing down, and also make sure you hook the strap back up before you pull the boat back up out of the launch... I have a friend who used pam on thier boat and when they were backing down the ramp, then ended up dropped the boat on the concrete... over 5 grand in damage....

Thanks for the info Roland. I saw there was a spray spcifically for this issue, but I wasn't sure if it would work since I can see very little carpet when the boats on the trailer. One problem is my Infiniti FX35 has a short overhang in the back and I can't get as far in the water as maybe a truck can. I still try to stop well before water can touch my tail pipes.

[Bamaman]

Awesome cleaner is the best stuff I've ever used on black streaks on my travel trailer. It's so good that it's taken the paint off after a few years--and I need to repaint.

Just don't use it very often. You can dilute it with water, however.

I start with car wash concentrate, a stiff bristle brush and plenty of elbow grease before I resort to Awesome.