OT pontoon boat

Anonymous-0 · Aug 4, 2013

Thinking of buying older potoon boat. Maybe something like 20 footer with 35 to maybe 50 horse motor. What to look for and what to watch out for on these. Any thoughts are appreciated.

JF in MI · Aug 4, 2013

Yea, watch out for alcohol poisoning. They call them 'party barges' for a reason. Take my word for it.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 4, 2013

If it's been in salt water check under the deck for corosion.

Steve A W · Aug 4, 2013

Watch out for soft spots in the floor.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 4, 2013

The are subject to vibration fatigue, and breakage, where the motor mount is fastened to the frame.

Ivan in Mich · Aug 4, 2013

Check to make sure there isn't any water in the pontoons. Look at all the welds to make sure they are not cracked. Mainly the ones holding the deck on

2x4 · Aug 5, 2013

think carefully! The 2 happiest days of your life could be the day you buy & the day you sell your boat. Wish I'd kept my money. You have to use one an awful lot for it to be worth the trouble.

Anonymous-0 · Aug 5, 2013

Here's what to look for...
on the pontoon

Geo-TH,In · Aug 5, 2013

The fuel pump on the older 50 hp johnson, about $500 for the pump, is a weak link. Sister replaced 2 and then got a new motor. Try to find a 4 stroker.

W_B · Aug 6, 2013

(quoted from post at 02:19:42 08/05/13) Check to make sure there isn't any water in the pontoons. Look at all the welds to make sure they are not cracked. Mainly the ones holding the deck on

+1 on this and the rot in the deck. In-laws had a couple of pontoon boats that they never could get the leaks stopped. Sold the last one and got a 30' deck boat with a Merc I/O. Sold it last year after running it many years, FIL had a stroke and couldn't run it anymore and MIL never could handle it.

Be sure to look under the seats for rot too, if they get wet there they don't dry out too fast.

Busflyer · Aug 6, 2013

Agree with what everyone else said. If you're going to have a boat a pontoon is probably the most economical. We've had two and completely stripped both down to the frame and put new decking, carpet, and seats.

Don't know how old your kids are but we have some great memories with the kids on our boat, glad we did it.

OT pontoon boat

Anonymous-0

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JF in MI

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Steve A W

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Anonymous-0

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Ivan in Mich

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2x4

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