Looking to get into a Pontoon Boat

[brtnstrns]

... crawl under it and check the deck real good,the toons as well. Also look at the trailer tires and wheel bearings....

No kidding! We went to purchase a small jet boat last time I was off from work as the price was modest and the owner claimed the boat while old needed absolutely nothing and the pictures backed that up. As soon as I pulled into the driveway I knew something was up as the boat really looked nothing like the pictures. Turns out this schmuck used pictures plucked from the Internet. While I was still interested I was guarded and found lots of little issues that would have required time and skill to make good lasting repairs so I bartered the price down with him bitching the entire time. Hooked up the trailer and pulled out of his driveway and before I can exit his neighborhood I hear this growling sound so I pull over. What do I find but the right wheel kilted out! So I've got no choice but to go back to his house as it will never make a 90 minute drive. Turns out the first dip at the bottom of his driveway it dropped the wheel bearings. And now the guy is yapping on and on about how he sold me a boat for XXX and that the trailer was basically just thrown in for nothing... By this time I'm frustrated, dripping in sweat and blood from a cut I got while looking at the wheel bearings... Long story short I demanded my money back and that it was in his best interest that we simply go our separate ways on this deal....

World is truly buyer beware....

Damn, I would not have wanted to be in that situation.

I'm sitting on this one till next week at least. Otherwise I'll keep checking Craigslist every hour

A 24 footer came up yesterday for sale without pictures for $2000 and from what the ad said sounded like a screaming deal. Power tilt, dual axle trailer, floor in good shape, only needing an impeller on the motor. By the time I got a hold of the lady selling it she said there were five people already interested within a couple of hours. Once I saw the pictures though I decided to nix it - trailer was pretty rusty and was the "non-bunk" style and from what she was describing it had been sitting for at least two years. I probably would have gone ahead and checked it out if it was a 20 footer but at 24 feet, I don't have the garage space to fit it for a few months while restoring it so decided to just bail on the idea and keep looking for the 20-22 footers.

Going to Vegas this weekend with the wife so there isn't much point in scouring the for sale ads outside of Houston but I can't help it! Hopefully a super good deal doesn't show up while I'm out of town (probably will... )

[teecro]

... Hopefully a super good deal doesn't show up while I'm out of town (probably will... )

That's always the way it goes... I'd love to pick up on an SKS Paratrooper rifle but they are never to be seen while I'm home only while I'm away at work for a month at a time.

Enjoy Vegas!

[brtnstrns]

... Hopefully a super good deal doesn't show up while I'm out of town (probably will... )

That's always the way it goes... I'd love to pick up on an SKS Paratrooper rifle but they are never to be seen while I'm home only while I'm away at work for a month at a time.

Enjoy Vegas!

Thanks! To get my fix we may go out to Lake Mead on Tuesday before our flight leaves (leaves at 4 PM) and rent a pontoon boat out there LOL. What better way to see the Hoover Dam.

[teecro]

Thanks! To get my fix we may go out to Lake Mead on Tuesday before our flight leaves (leaves at 4 PM) and rent a pontoon boat out there LOL. What better way to see the Hoover Dam.

Absolutely.... Love it out there; wanted to move out there before we decided on TN...

[brtnstrns]

So I'm aware of the disadvantages of u-shaped pontoons but if you were in my position looking for a lower-cost pontoon boat, likely older than the mid-90s, would you straight up avoid u-shaped pontoons? Or are they still worth looking at? Will they essentially at some point in their life fail due to the sharp upper corners or can they possibly be maintained for their lifetime?

Also, does anyone sell fencing for pontoon boats that has a larger radius corner such as these newer type ones?


Seems that the only options for aftermarket fences are the sharper bent corners from what I've seen.

[teecro]

Hey now I don't know who is using my boat in that picture but that's ok.... Really it is!

[brtnstrns]

May be going to check out a 'toon this Saturday. A little more than I want to spend for a project ($4000) but supposedly it has a freshened 90 HP with power tilt/trim, tandem axle trailer, good deck, cylindrical pontoons and seller is willing to do a lake test. So if all goes well (and I don't get murdered by a Craigslister) may be trailering back a boat that I have to figure out where to store! Meh, details...

[CapKaz]

You brought up a point about U shaped pontoons. Not sure if it is a commen problem to them but our 14 year old 20' had a pontoon that started to crack along one of the bends. The boat had a 90hp and was used to pull skiers and boarders. Took two repairs to fix crack.

[brtnstrns]

You brought up a point about U shaped pontoons. Not sure if it is a commen problem to them but our 14 year old 20' had a pontoon that started to crack along one of the bends. The boat had a 90hp and was used to pull skiers and boarders. Took two repairs to fix crack.

Yeah, plus it seems with the cylindrical ones, it's easier to upgrade to say a center toon in the future. Don't see much of that on the u-shaped ones.



I managed to pull the title info up on the boat I plan to go look at and everything looks good. Hopefully the motor will be equally titled and the trailer that is shown in the pics is the trailer that comes with the boat. If all that checks out then I think a 90 HP, 1994 20' PartiKraft with tandem axle bunk trailer is a pretty damn good deal for $4k, especially if the owner is down for a full blown lake test. Anyone else agree?

[curtiscapk]

Agree good deal!

[brtnstrns]

Seller is being a little strange when I ask about motor title. Hmm.


EDIT: Nevermind, got the scoop. Guess the boat needed a new motor so that's why the mechanic has it so I'm going to check it out tomorrow and do a lake test. Mechanic will be there as well so I should be able to get a pretty thorough insight into the boat and make sure all the documentation is good. I'll keep you guys updated!

[brtnstrns]

Welp, no go. Boats in decent enough shape but motor has no title. Not willing to deal with that nonsense.