Restoring my first Toon !

[The Flame]

Hi I have a 1989 Crest- 3 ...24ft tooner with a 115 hp 2strk mounted to the transom.....Today I bought all of the top of the deck parts and accessories from a wrecked 2011 Suntracker 21ft that had a 90hp 2strk.........he offered to sell me the fuel tank and transom pod for a good deal ......I am not sure if the new transom pod can handle the higher hp motor ......my Bro is a killer Tig WELDER ... who can beef up the new pod if needed .............any thoughts from a long time Tooner PRO ??....Thanks this is my first post and I am stoked !.. Built many Cars Bikes Boats ect.....but the pontoon restore is starting to get me excited.....I never would have thought !!

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

Re: Restoring my first Toon !

It may have had a 90 hp on it but what is your the boat rated for most tracker boats was sold with smaller motors than the was rated for.
I suggest you go look at the parts boat and find the rating plate and see what it says if it's rated for a 115 or bigger I would get it because from what you have said your after the built in fuel tank. Welcome to the forum by the way . You will find alot of good information, knowledgeable people (way more than myself) and you will experience alot of differences in opinions lol good luck with your project

 

[The Flame]

Re: Restoring my first Toon !

You know I checked the rated hp options for the 2011 Sun Tracker 21 fishing barge and I believe 90 hp was the largest motor option and it was the original motor that came with the pontoon ,hell it only has 49 hrs on it.Everything on the tracker was basically new.....my current transom pod is angled height wise so the newer gas tank would not fit in the old crest pod......so what I am basically looking for ---- is what makes the MAJOR difference in the hp limits on pontoons ?????....by the way the old crest has 25 inch toons ,if that makes difference....I believe I can cut the old plate out of the crest pod and weld it into the pod also ,lots of work though

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

Re: Restoring my first Toon !

Ok you have checked the hp rating and max is 90hp .
well being an ol car guy in sure you have put more horsepower into an automobile than it came from the factory with and alot do the same on boats I ran a 115 on a transom rated for 65 hp without any problems and in your case you are talking about 25 hp difference which is not much when compared to strapping a 225hp in place of a 90 which would raise alot of concern.

 

[The Flame]

Re: Restoring my first Toon !

Yeah thats was pretty much my thought process , 25 more horsies....well I have read a post about a Sun Tracker transom fallig off ....well that pretty much confirmed the fact that I will buy the Tracker pod and most certainly beef the heck out of it ..Thanks

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

Re: Restoring my first Toon !

I remember reading that post about it falling off also. I also believe other factors may have played a roll in that if the whole story is told like maybe being trailered without a transom saver . If I remember correctly it broke out were it mounts to the cross members which is a easy prevention by adding a strip down each side and using big fender washers.

 

[dls322]

Re: Restoring my first Toon !

Congrats on your new project. Remember to post pictures so we can share in the fun!

 

[MaPaHa]

Re: Restoring my first Toon !

I used a piece of 2 x 2 x 1/4" aluminum square tubing for my rear cross member and the re-enforced it and the two cross members in front of it with a 2 x 2 x 1/4" aluminum angle and had it all welded in. The transom is important but so are the rear cross members. I'm not sure whether your restoring project includes replacing the floor, but if it does I'd recommend doing the cross joist while the floor is off. If not, I'm sure they could be beefed up without the floor coming off.

I also recommend (like many others on the site) to under-skin the entire boat and preferably turn it down to the pontoons so water can't squirt out over the top of the toons. The more the load, and the rougher the water, the more under-skinning helps. Without it there is a constant drag with water slamming against the floor joists.

Mark