Rebuild or start from scratch on different pontoon??

[MASTER Brian]

Long and short of it is, I currently have a 1990 Bass Buggy 18' with 50hp Johnson. If you've been reading my other posts you'll know it's in process of becoming a total loss after a theft and damage to interior while at a boat shop for repairs. I plan on retaining the boat, Kansas is a non-title state, so there is no salvage title that goes with this.

If I retain this boat, I'll strip it down to the wood decking, peal off the cracking and pealing stickers, repaint the skins and maybe add some painted on graphics, etc. I'll then re-carpet the boat and install a brand new interior. I'll end up with a basically new 18' boat from the wood up, unless the wood needs replaced, then of course I'll do that as well, but it feels solid and looks good from underside. I've found I might be able to sell existing furniture for a few hundred, so there is also that.

What has somewhat presented itself in the last day or so is, I found a 1987 Party Barge 24' with a 140hp Chrysler Outboard. The boat has only a console and driver seat, all other furniture is gone, so it's pretty much a blank slate as it is. I would still probably strip the rails and carpet, repaint, new carpet and do a new interior as well. Basically, same thing I plan on doing with the 18', but I'd gain approx 6' of room and a larger motor.

The 24'er can be had for between $2000 and $2500. I am wondering if I couldn't sell the 18' as it is, probably do some light repair work and get at least what I pay for the 24'er. I actually wonder if I could get closer to $3-4k. I've seen similar models listed for close to $6k, but if I could at least break even on going from 18' to 24' I wonder if I'd be better off. My issues are the storage of the bigger boat, I live in the city and that 6' would be a big difference when I park both my bass boat and pontoon in the drive. There are times I put one or both in the back yard via the alley, but I'm not sure I can slide a 24'er back there, it's tough with what I have. I am pretty familiar with the Johnson/Evinrude Outboards, but know nothing about the reliability, cost and ease of working on a chrysler. The 18'er with the 50hp goes about 10-15mph tops, it's about 10mph if I have 6 people on board and that feels like a creep. I don't need to fly, but a bit more speed would be great. Then the trailers are different, my 18'er is on a bunk style trailer, the 24'er is on a scissor trailer. I know both have pros and cons, but I'm too green on the pontoon experience to know which is better/worse for me.

I'm kind of curious what others think? Which way would you go? I'm also trying to get an answer out of my family, my kids get attached easily, so they want to keep current boat. Wife won't say and I'm afraid I'll get stuck with 3 boats and I already probably have 1 too many at 2. I'll add I hate towing the current pontoon as rear vision is non-existent and they are heavy. I pull with a Suburban 1/2 ton. Any idea what both boats might be worth fixed up with new interiors?

 

[HotTommy]

IMHO, there is likely no more than $500 difference in the cost to rebuild either boat. It's tempting to think you could get more selling your current boat than it would cost for the replacement, but I wouldn't put enough faith in that thought to base my decision on it. So that means this is more a quality of life decision than a dollars and cents decision. Here's what I think you said about keeping your current boat (i.e., not getting the replacement boat):
PROS:

• Known condition and history of boat and motor
• Easier to park at home
• Family likes it
• Easier to tow smaller boat
• Uses less gas than bigger boat and motor
• Won't get stuck with a boat you can't sell for a reasonable price

CONS:

• Smaller deck
• Slower

Only you can decide which of these issues is most important to you and your family. If you can prioritize the issues (i.e., the two most important issues are ....), it may be easier to decide what to do. If I were facing this decision, I would place a lot on weight on knowing the condition of the motor.

 

[ahicks]

Regarding Chrysler motors, I'm being kind by saying they are not held in real high regard by a lot of people that have been around them much.

 

[MASTER Brian]

Regarding Chrysler motors, I'm being kind by saying they are not held in real high regard by a lot of people that have been around them much.

That is kind of what my thought was of them.

Thanks for the replies....somehow asking and putting the question out there helps see it in a different light.

I may go look at the boat, but most likely after thinking about this, I'll probably just put the money into mine. I will either try to sell the furniture out of my boat for a few hundred and/or use it to line the walls in my garage! Be a great place to sit and a good place to store whatever under! With that said, I can't believe I couldn't get what I want out of my boat plus what I stick into it if I decide at a later date to unload it and go bigger. I'll likely save several thousand doing the work myself, so I can set that aside if/when I sell the refurbished boat.

If anyone has input I'm still ears...otherwise I guess I'll have to start a thread when I start the rebuild!!

 

[ahicks]

I currently have a '99 24' boat, with a '99 40hp Johnson that's still running pretty strong. Upholstery was removed a while back because it was trashed (due to rot and sun damage). Carpet now pretty much gone as well. Bottom line, the boat has really solid bones with oversize tubes, and a hardtop that I really like, that are in very good condition, but it's in dire need of a major renovation. Value "as is" I'll put at 2K or so (buy the motor and the boat is free).

I'm looking at an '04 22' boat with an older Merc 50hp Bigfoot 4stroke (carbed engine, not the newer injected version). Carpet in pretty good condition, seat material still flexible with no apparent sun damage. Seller at 8K.

So I'm thinking, if I take the 8k I'm considering putting into the used boat (with 12 year old carpet and upholstery nearing the end of it's useful life) and instead invest that in a major refit on the boat I have, I'll end up with a boat that's pretty much all new (with a service life of 10-15 years), with enough left over to go with a much newer engine (E-tek?).

The '04 boat is turn key. Bring it home, put it into the water,and sell the existing boat for whatever I can get out of it. The "refurb" route involves time (as a retiree, have a lot of that!), and sweat (a LOT of it!). In the end, the major upside is I have the boat exactly as I want it (vs. a compromise).

After a talk with the wife this morning, we're going the refurb route. To get the nearly new version of exactly the boat we want. Hope that makes sense, is of some help making your call. Best of luck.