I went fishing with a friend a couple of times this summer on his pontoon boat w/75 horse Merc.. Both times we went out the motor stopped running and we had to be towed . To make a long story short, the secound tome we were towed his wife came over to my house withe the title to the boat and trailer. Kind of a mixed blessing. Anyway I accepted the boat. Not knowing anything about boats I asked around. I was told to use carb cleaner and it seemed to work. My question is: The boat is a 24 foot Harris 1969 and seems to be in pretty good shape. The deck has 3/4 treated plywood (only a couple of corners need worked on). How do I get the river crud off the pontoons? Wire brush? How/or should I check the pontoons (logs). Anything else?????Thanks
Go Here: Overton's and type in "Toon Brite". It really works well! Or if you are near a A/c Parts house, ask them if they will sell you some "Alumibrite" Coil cleaner. Also does the same thing.
Hi Graywolf, I have a 20' Fiesta Fisherman pontoon I keep in the river here and I pull her out and use a pressure washer whenever the need arises. Works great. Good luck.Ron
you got a good boat there in the harris/kayot. if it's as old as you say, yes, you should check the pontoons for leaks. if you find water in the 'toons, drain them. note; they are sectional, there is more than one drain per pontoon. they are on top and its a bummer to drain them.if you find water you can use soapy water and a little, very little-5psi-max air pressure to find the leak. check very carefully the welds on top where the cross members (z-rails) attach to the pontoons
Hey Graywolf, I am in the process of purchasing a harris flote boat, proably close to the same year(early 70's). The boat is equipped with a 50 hp Johnson. I have owned power boats but never a "toon". Wondered if you have had your boat in the water.
Graywolf,It sounds like you have the toon part figured out.Now, go to work on the engine.DO NOT use carb. cleaner in a 2-stroke engine like your Merc. 75. It washes down the bearings and the cylinders and will turn your Merc. into a boat anchor.Your engine probably needs the minimum.1. Impeller (water pump) service.2. Lower unit fluid change.3. Carburetor rebuild.4. New spark plugs.You can do all of this yourself. I's not that complicated.I would suggest you purchase a manual. About $30.00. They are available here on iboats.We'll be here to help.
Djohns...... Wondering (your point of view) Why not to use carb cleaner? I might be reading wrong??? We use decarb cleaners and several additives in fuel. How are you saying not to use carb cleaner? Direct injection into the carb as the engine is running????????? Carb cleaner is good in cleaning a carb when you are doing an overhaul of the carb...Just trying to see what your saying???
Trent,I have no problems with most fuel additives. Nor, do I have a problem using carb. cleaner to clean carb. parts-off of the engine.All carb. cleaners, I'm familiar with, contain no lubricants. They are made to super clean things. They do just that inside a 2-stroke. They wash down the bearings and the cylinder walls.About the only thing I will use it for on a 4-stroke is to clean the choke linkage on a carbureted engine. I try not to spray alot of it down the throat of the carb.
Thanks a lot guys, I am getting ready to have the motor gone through, a friend of mine works on motors part time. I have asked around and everyone says he is great. Severino the title says it is a 1969 and yes I have had it in the water and it helped to produce some nice fish for us (I'm in heaven ). I have found a manuel and it helps. As soon as I figure out how to post a pitchure, I will do so. The boat shop says the motor is a 1985 according to the Ser.#. Any ways my friend says he doesn't think there is much wrong with the motor , which is my main concern. After that is up and running I am going to start working on the deck and stuff. Not much wrong with that but boy does she need a good cleaning.
Care & feeding of pontoon boat
. To make a long story short, the secound tome we were towed his wife came over to my house withe the title to the boat and trailer. 
Kind of a mixed blessing. Anyway I accepted the boat. Not knowing anything about boats I asked around. I was told to use carb cleaner and it seemed to work. My question is:
The boat is a 24 foot Harris 1969 and seems to be in pretty good shape. The deck has 3/4 treated plywood (only a couple of corners need worked on). How do I get the river crud off the pontoons? Wire brush? How/or should I check the pontoons (logs). Anything else?????
). I have found a manuel and it helps. As soon as I figure out how to post a pitchure, I will do so. The boat shop says the motor is a 1985 according to the Ser.#. Any ways my friend says he doesn't think there is much wrong with the motor 
, which is my main concern. After that is up and running I am going to start working on the deck and stuff. Not much wrong with that but boy does she need a good cleaning.
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