We just bought a lake home and want to get a boat that our parents can get on/off easily. Of course, we started looking at pontoons. We are trying to stay around $5000. For that money, we can get a 1995-2004 20-24 ft pontoon with a decent (no tears) interior, and usually a newer 25hp 4 stroke or an older 40-60 2 stroke. And usually without a trailer.
My wife is ok with the 25hp, as it will be used for the afternoon booze cruise and taking friends/family for relaxing rides around the lake. I, however, fear I will irritated with the slow speed.
I don't know much about them, but some of the older deck boats seem to fit the bill for easy on/off, as they are basically identical to the pontoons up top. With the ride set up, we should also be able to use it for tubing/skiing.
I found a 1994 Hurricane (the owner lists it as a 180 Executive, but I can't find that online) with the original fuel injected 150hp Evinrude. The interior is clean, though missing one cushion. It seems to run well (on muffs). Claims they had lots of work done to the engine. The hull is beat up. the front corners are gouged from hitting the dock (down to fiberglass strands). The bottom is filthy. There is some blistering on the transom, but I could stand on the lower unit and not seem to bow the transom. The deck seems solid, but with the ski storage, it looks like another layer of decking below?
Here's my question.
With all of the old runabouts I have gotten, only one had a good transom. However, the boats I have worked on are 20-40 years older than this one
I can't seem to find online details of the build of a Hurricaine. Am I still dealing with wood stringers and transom? It has a modified trihull design...is that any good? We are on a relatively small lake (290 acres) and a lot of it is shallow (2-5 feet). Would this be a decent boat for us?
They are asking $5900, with a decent trailer, decent bimini, but the storage cover is shot.
I appreciate your input.
Dave
My wife is ok with the 25hp, as it will be used for the afternoon booze cruise and taking friends/family for relaxing rides around the lake. I, however, fear I will irritated with the slow speed.
I don't know much about them, but some of the older deck boats seem to fit the bill for easy on/off, as they are basically identical to the pontoons up top. With the ride set up, we should also be able to use it for tubing/skiing.
I found a 1994 Hurricane (the owner lists it as a 180 Executive, but I can't find that online) with the original fuel injected 150hp Evinrude. The interior is clean, though missing one cushion. It seems to run well (on muffs). Claims they had lots of work done to the engine. The hull is beat up. the front corners are gouged from hitting the dock (down to fiberglass strands). The bottom is filthy. There is some blistering on the transom, but I could stand on the lower unit and not seem to bow the transom. The deck seems solid, but with the ski storage, it looks like another layer of decking below?
Here's my question.
With all of the old runabouts I have gotten, only one had a good transom. However, the boats I have worked on are 20-40 years older than this one
I can't seem to find online details of the build of a Hurricaine. Am I still dealing with wood stringers and transom? It has a modified trihull design...is that any good? We are on a relatively small lake (290 acres) and a lot of it is shallow (2-5 feet). Would this be a decent boat for us?
They are asking $5900, with a decent trailer, decent bimini, but the storage cover is shot.
I appreciate your input.
Dave