May buy a 1990 Harris 20 ft

[hunterpa64]

Ok, I think I found the boat I want. Scheduled a look see on Saturday. It's a 1990 Harris Sun Tracker with a 2006 20 hp Honda 4 stroke. It's through a dealer so that makes me feel alittle more confident since I'm a novice. It comes with a depth finder and hard canopy. No trailer. I live on a lake with a dock so the trailer is not a selling point for me.

I didn't ask alot of questions to the dealer, yet. Is this an aluminum deck boat? What size would the toons be on this?

A dumb question maybe, but how would I unload the boat off of a trailer to store it on the ground? I can use a friends trailer to move it but would need to store it off the trailer.

Any other comments on this boat & motor would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: May buy a 1990 Harris 20 ft

1990 is likely a plywood deck, but I don't know for sure. Pontoons are most likely 21". If your friend has a scissor style trailer, no problem, it can be lowered to the ground. If it's a bunk, I gave a detailed answer in a reply to ONERCBOATER's thread last week. Just scroll down in this section.

 

[5150abf]

Re: May buy a 1990 Harris 20 ft

Just be aware thet that engine will move the boat and not much more so if you wanted to pull a tube or something you will need a much larger engine but just for putting around the lake it should do fine.

Harris was a good boat, walk the entire floor looking for any give in the floor(bad), inspect the furniture especially inside the storage areas looking for any rot, but there really isn't much to go wrong with a toon.

 

[lncoop]

Re: May buy a 1990 Harris 20 ft

Are you sure it's a Harris? I could be wrong, especially given the age of the boat, but in my experience Suntrackers have always been made by Tracker. Hast thou seen pics?

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: May buy a 1990 Harris 20 ft

Are you sure it's a Harris? I could be wrong, especially given the age of the boat, but in my experience Suntrackers have always been made by Tracker. Hast thou seen pics?

You are correct.....

1990 Tracker Marine models

SUN TRACKER SERIES
BASS BUGGY DL(*) - 21'
BASS BUGGY(*) - 18'
PARTY BARGE 24 DL(*) - 25'
PARTY HUT 28 DL(*) - 30'

1990 Harris/Kayot models

COMMODORE 5924 - 24'
COMMODORE 5928 - 28'
FISHERMAN FAMILY 2920 - 20'
FISHERMAN PRO 2920 - 20'
K180 DLX - 18'
K200 LTD - 20'
SKIPPER 3916 - 16'
SKIPPER 3920 - 20'
SKIPPER 3924 - 24'
SKIPPER 3924 23" - 24'
SKIPPER XL 4920 - 20'
SKIPPER XL 4924 - 24'
ULTIMA 2000 - 21'

 

[5150abf]

Re: May buy a 1990 Harris 20 ft

Didn't even catch that, I geuss that is what you get when you post at 4:30 in the morning, stupid time change anyhow.

 

[1980Coronado]

Re: May buy a 1990 Harris 20 ft

Didn't even catch that, I geuss that is what you get when you post at 4:30 in the morning, stupid time change anyhow.

I love the time change.....I'm stuck inside all day and the extra hour of day light in the evening is great....especially if ya wanna tow the boat to a reservoir or lake and go skiing after work.. It used to take me a week or so to get over loosing the hour.....like an extended jet lag.....doesn't bother me anymore. People hate change though...gives the old farmers around here something to "b eye itch" about.

 

[lncoop]

Re: May buy a 1990 Harris 20 ft

People hate change though...gives the old farmers around here something to "b eye itch" about.

And the old pontoon builders.

 

[hunterpa64]

Re: May buy a 1990 Harris 20 ft

It's listed as a Harris Sunliner, my bad. Floor and carpet have been replaced. Dealer said 19" tubes? Sound right?

 

[goldnrod24]

Re: May buy a 1990 Harris 20 ft

Is the price less than $2K? If not, keep looking. BTW, for $2K it would need to be a fine specimen @ 21 y.o.

 

[hunterpa64]

Re: May buy a 1990 Harris 20 ft

2k? Even with a new deck / carpet and a 2006 20 hp Honda 4 stroke? Man, I can't hardly find a row boat with a motor for under 2k in Pittsburgh.

I sure wish I lived in the land where boats were all cheap.

 

[lncoop]

Re: May buy a 1990 Harris 20 ft

2k? Even with a new deck / carpet and a 2006 20 hp Honda 4 stroke? Man, I can't hardly find a row boat with a motor for under 2k in Pittsburgh.

I sure wish I lived in the land where boats were all cheap.

Yeah, 2 grand is just silly. The motor alone is worth that, and I'm responding from the land where boats are all cheap.

The main thing to consider is for three reasons the boat will be sloooooooow, especially when it's windy. First, the hard top will be a wind magnet, which is good when there's a tailwind, but when there's a head or crosswind, well........ Second, the toons are pretty small. That's okay, but it does mean less buoyancy, so you'll sit lower in the water when your barge is loaded to any extent. The result will be more drag and you'll end up with a plowing effect, which will cause things up front to get kinda splashy, and you know the rest. Third, a 20 horse. Don't think any expounding is required on that point.

Now, since you're considering a barge with a small motor I gather speed isn't really a consideration for you, so with a new floor and carpet if you like the price go for it. Unfortunately I can't give you any guidance on price because my sarcasm not withstanding boats really do trade cheap in the natural state. However, I will say the odds are in your favor given the age of the boat and the size of the motor, so if you decide to proceed don't be afraid to dicker. Keep us posted.