1983 24ft Aqua Patio Pontoon Restoration

Joined
Jun 17, 2011
Messages
8
Hello everyone! After reading through so many great build projects, I thought I would contribute my own. I've got a 24ft Aqua Patio Executive Cruiser with a 76 Evinrude 70hp motor. I grew up spending every summer on the lake with my grandpa on this boat. He had it redecked and recarpeted about 12 years ago, but after that, he bought a brand new pontoon and this one was reserved for fishing. It has been left in the water and out in the sun for 10 years straight and it shows.
Last summer, he offered it to me in the hopes that I might be able to get it cleaned up and running again. Overall, the pontoon is in okay condition. The furniture is shot, the rails and pontoons need repolishing, the carpet is ruined, I need a new transom, and the engine needs a tuneup. I'll probably end up spending more on this old boat then I should, but it does have a lot of sentimental value and I can't wait to see the look on my grandpa's face when it pulls up to his dock this summer.
Here is the boat as it sits in my yard right now.
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I've already removed all of the furniture and started removing the rub rails. I plan on replacing the furniture with the Wise Deluxe stuff from Pontoonstuff.com, redoing the carpet with blue 20oz carpet, and adding a new blue bimini top. I also plan to strip and repaint the siding, but I'm not sure what color I'll be doing yet. I've made some quick mockups in Google Sketchup to get an overall idea of what I want to do.
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Joined
Jun 17, 2011
Messages
8
Re: 1983 24ft Aqua Patio Pontoon Restoration

So, now that I've explained my plans, I have my first question. My current transom has a hole rusted through it and I'm not sure how best to fix it. I know I can buy one from the local boat dealer for around $450, but I am on a tight budget... I have also talked to a guy who can custom fabricate an aluminum one for around $300. My question is, can I simply patch this hole for now and replace the transom in another year or so? Here is what it looks like.
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Joined
Jun 17, 2011
Messages
8
Re: 1983 24ft Aqua Patio Pontoon Restoration

In hindsight, I guess I should have created this in the pontoon section. Mods, would you mind moving this?
 

boatnut74

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Aug 29, 2010
Messages
1,835
Re: 1983 24ft Aqua Patio Pontoon Restoration

First off welcome to iboats. We don't see many pontoons on here. Looks like that rust is on the splashwell, the plywood would be considered the transom. I find it odd that it rusted because it should be aluminum but I don't know much about pontoons. I would definatly fix it correctly while your restoring it.
 

5150abf

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 12, 2007
Messages
5,808
Re: 1983 24ft Aqua Patio Pontoon Restoration

A decnt welder could fix the motor pod but it si gonna be a chore, you have to cut it bakc till you get rid of all the rust then weld in new plates.

Considering the load that the pod takes I woudl really think about a new one since fixing this one will not be that much less.
 
Joined
Jun 17, 2011
Messages
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Re: 1983 24ft Aqua Patio Pontoon Restoration

Ayuh,... Sure thing...
Thank you kindly.

Fortunately, one of my good friends is a welder and has already agreed to help with some aluminum work. I should be able to get the repair done for the cost of materials and a 12 pack of beer :)
I'm wary of sinking too much money into it until I get the motor checked out. It starts up on the first crank, but it will start hesitating at WOT and sometimes cut off completely. I suspect the fuel filter and carbs need cleaning, but I haven't decided if I want to try and look at that myself.
 

Bamaman1

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
May 15, 2011
Messages
1,895
Re: 1983 24ft Aqua Patio Pontoon Restoration

GreatLakesSkipper.com is a big salvage boat parts dealer in Racine, WI. They have the mounts for $699. If you can get one fabricated for $400, you'd be coming out ahead.

But, I would suggest your fabricator look at some mounts on a dealer's lot. Mounts are not just mounts. They've got to be properly designed to strongly hold the motor AND have the correct the water flow in front of the motor.
 
Joined
Jun 17, 2011
Messages
8
Re: 1983 24ft Aqua Patio Pontoon Restoration

I think we're going to cut out the rusted sections and try welding in the new pieces so that they match the original design. Then I'll cold galvanize the new area.
 
Joined
Jun 17, 2011
Messages
8
Re: 1983 24ft Aqua Patio Pontoon Restoration

The weather finally cleared up a bit for me to get some work done. I was planning on buying a full set of Wise furniture, so I ordered a 36" Wise seat to see if I liked the quality before buying the rest. The seat looks decent, but they're not very cushy. I've been debating on Deckmate seats, but while they look more comfortable, I won't be able to get quite as much seating for the price. Any thoughts?

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While I continue to debate the seats, I removed everything from the deck and tore the carpet up. I was hoping to find the deck in good condition, but the plywood has bubbled up in a few places where water sat for an extended period of time. I scrapped the bubbles off, but I'm not sure if I need to replace the entire sheet of wood, or if I can just use some filler to make the deck level again. I'll try and get some pictures up to show what I mean. The wood isn't rotted or spongy at all, so I guess that's a plus.

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lncoop

Vice Admiral
Joined
Apr 18, 2010
Messages
5,147
Re: 1983 24ft Aqua Patio Pontoon Restoration

Welcome aboard, say, or is it jonas? Oh wait, it ain't jonas! Sorry couldn't resist.:p That is definitely a labor of love, and I know it makes your grandfather proud that you've taken it on. Go ahead and replace the deck. Even if it doesn't need to be done now (I suspect it does) you'd be slapping your forehead in a couple of years and asking yourself why you didn't go ahead and take care of it when you had the furniture and carpet off. Have you looked at the redeck kits at http://www.pontoonstuff.com/?
 

ezmobee

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 26, 2007
Messages
23,767
Re: 1983 24ft Aqua Patio Pontoon Restoration

Wise changes and discontinues stuff ALL THE TIME so if you like that seat and want to get matching ones, don't mess around, order them. I was SO GLAD that I ordered all 6 of my seats all at once cuz sure enough, they discontinued them shortly after.
 
Joined
Jun 17, 2011
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Re: 1983 24ft Aqua Patio Pontoon Restoration

I've probably memorized everything for sale on pontoonstuff, pontoon specialists, iboats, and ******** by now :) I think I'm still leaning towards the Deckmate furniture at pontoonstuff.com. The Wise seats look ok, but they aren't as comfortable as I had hoped. I took a couple more pictures of the decking. It was replaced 10 years ago and only has a couple damaged spots. I would like to get around replacing it if possible since I've got a tight budget. I've seen a couple posts were people use bondo or carpet glue to fill imperfections in the deck. Thoughts?

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rogerwa

Commander
Joined
Nov 29, 2000
Messages
2,339
Re: 1983 24ft Aqua Patio Pontoon Restoration

One thing I am considering as I am looking to do a major rebuild this spring, is to use the Marine vinyl flooring that they offer. I can't stand the dirty carpet and would rather just hose off a hard surface..

I still may make some snap in carpet sections, but I like the idea that I won't have the mold, sand, pop, wine, etc on my new flooring.
 

a1nowell

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 12, 2009
Messages
437
Re: 1983 24ft Aqua Patio Pontoon Restoration

I'm with you rogerwa. Since I did my rebuild in 2008, my carpet has gotten plenty stained and if I had it to do over I would go with marine vinyl. Still may do it in a couple of years.
 
Joined
Jun 17, 2011
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Re: 1983 24ft Aqua Patio Pontoon Restoration

I considered vinyl, but I doubt I'll be doing much fishing on this boat, so I'm going with the comfort of carpet. Hopefully carpet will help mask these imperfections as well.
 

MH Hawker

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 13, 2011
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Re: 1983 24ft Aqua Patio Pontoon Restoration

And unless your set on moving the thread I think it will be better here just because here is where the pontoon people stay. And I have been concidering asking the mods to move my resto thread from the dry dock to here . I will leave it to the mods how about it.
 

lncoop

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Joined
Apr 18, 2010
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5,147
Re: 1983 24ft Aqua Patio Pontoon Restoration

I considered vinyl, but I doubt I'll be doing much fishing on this boat, so I'm going with the comfort of carpet. Hopefully carpet will help mask these imperfections as well.

I wouldn't summarily dismiss alternative flooring surfaces. They've come a long way, and some are as comfy as carpet. Not dissing carpet, just saying something like Marideck is worth considering.
 

MH Hawker

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 13, 2011
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5,516
Re: 1983 24ft Aqua Patio Pontoon Restoration

I considered vinyl, but I doubt I'll be doing much fishing on this boat, so I'm going with the comfort of carpet. Hopefully carpet will help mask these imperfections as well.

lolol the fish wont hurt the carpet but some of those drink boxes is what gets mine.
 
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