What would you do?

[Wirenut8]

Hey all I was hoping I could get a little advice as my head is ready to explode. I am looking to buy my first pontoon. I currently own a 1987 Four Winns 190 Horizon, but with four kids and gear it gets a little crowded. I do pull the kids on a tube and I knee board and two ski. I have been looking for about a 20ft with 90hp. What I have run into is that there is not a good used market by me (SW Michigan). Either they are underpowered or they cost too much. I have found two units that I am thinking about but can't decide what would be a better route. Here are the candidates:

1991 Harris Float Bote: 20ft, 90 Merc. Redone interior (pretty nice looking) Want $7000 without a trailer (not worth that much IMO) Could maybe get it for $7K with a trailer

2001 Marsh Bros: 22ft (27"tubes with lifting stakes) but it is powered by a 1977 Johnson 200. Boat is in nice shape and owner claims is runs great, no issues (120 psi on all holes) comes with a trailer and lift for $11900. Hoping to get for $10K minus the lift

The second seems like the best choice except for the old as mud engine. However the 91 could also have hidden mechanical things like throttle and steering cables, welds, tube integrity, etc.

I can't/won't spend more than $10K for a boat that sits six months a year. What are your thoughts? Do you think the extra two feet will make it that much more difficult to dock, etc.? Is that motor too old to mess with?

Thanks for any thoughts!!!

Oh, and if anybody is looking for a good running Four Winns I know a guy that will be selling one soon.

 

[muskiemike12]

Re: What would you do?

If you are going to knee board or ski, the 90 will not cut it. You are going to need a v6 motor to produce the power you will need to get a skiier up.

 

[Cubbyblue22]

Re: What would you do?

Neither boat will be able to pull skiers, not nearly as well as your old boat could. So if your really wanting that then your def. going to have to upgrade to the newer pontoons. However, since your not looking to spend more than 10k in my opinion the first boat actually isn't that terrible of a deal. Trailers can get up to $2000 so I think the boat would be a fare deal around $6k if the deck and furniture are as nice as you say they are. In the end i'd go for the first one and then buy a new trailer. Having a stable trailer is def. worth buying new.

 

[Cubbyblue22]

Re: What would you do?

Oh and the motor on the second one....in my opinion yes it's too old to mess with. If your going to be in the middle of a lake on a pontoon i'm wanting a nice reliable motor in my opinion.

 

[Wirenut8]

Re: What would you do?

Oh and the motor on the second one....in my opinion yes it's too old to mess with. If your going to be in the middle of a lake on a pontoon i'm wanting a nice reliable motor in my opinion.

That is something to think about, but in all honesty there has not been that much evolution in outboards from 77 to 91 has there? Both carbed, basic ignition. Don't get me wrong I would love an EFI turn key, but you also can't fix electronics on the water with hand tools. I just can't find a newer boat (newer than the 01) that is asking less than 14-15 grand without a trailer. Certainly not with 200hp. We go out about 10-15 times a year so while I want convenience and piece of mind, I also don't want a huge payment for that. In the same breath my Four Winns due to it's age did require a fair bit of tinkering and one tow. You can see where I am loosing my mind here!!! Our local dealer has an 06 Bentley 203 Cruise Tri-tube with a 75 but at $17k geesh!! Thanks again!!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: What would you do?

My buddy has a boat with a late 70's 200 Evinrude on it. Runs like a bat out of hell. They're gas guzzlers for sure but if maintained I don't think there's any major reliability concerns.

 

[muskiemike12]

Re: What would you do?

I would take the second one out for a test run. If that motor does have 120 psi in all 6, you have nothing to worry about. That 200 should have no problem pulling a skiier, unless they weigh 300 lbs.

 

[Malibu Rudder]

Re: What would you do?

You will not have any problems with the extra 2 feet while docking. I have a 26 footer and enjoy the extra space while cruising.

 

[Wirenut8]

Re: What would you do?

Here is another thought...One of the reasons we decided to go to a pontoon was that maybe we could use my wife's Odyssey to haul it. We don't haul very far to play (maybe 5 miles) but I never was brave enough to try to land my big Four Winns. In talking with the owner of the 22' unit, he thought his rig would be heavier than my bowrider. I always thought toons were lighter. He was thinking 4000-4500 with the dual axle trailer. Any thoughts there? Thanks again for all of the comments!!!

 

[Okieboatguy]

Re: What would you do?

I can see why you are going crazy a bit. First I have a Tri-Toon with a 90 hp Evinrude which at WOT runs at 42 MPH, and it pulls skiers and wake boarders with no problem, and will even pull my to kids wake boarding at the same time. Now that is a Tri-Toon which handles different than a regular pontoon. My opinion, and it may not be the one you want to hear is, Wait. Patience can be your friend. I have been in the same position, I have 4 kids myself and was getting pretty itchy about getting back out on the water after I sold my previous boat. I almost purchased 3 other boats because I had boat fever. It took 16 months before I found this one, and it was all I was looking for. It is a 2000 Voyager I spotted at a bank and bought it as a repo for $4,300 when it was 6 years old. For me, being patient made it so I found what I was looking for and allowed me to save my money and eventually pay cash. So slow down, and shop, and look. The right deal will come along.
Second, I know what the owners manual on the Honda Odyssey says, and about the weight and towing, I own one myself. But do not tow with it, the transmission is not designed for it. It will do it, but you are not taking into account is the wind resistance due to the cinder block aerodynamics of a pontoon. The Honda is a great little SUV, but unless you want to cause pre-mature wear and tear, and limit the life of the vehicle, I would not do it. Personally I will not pull anything more tha 1500 lbs with a tongue weight of more than 500 on mine.

 

[crb478]

Re: What would you do?

If the two I would go with the 2nd one, an I am a fan of Harris Float Botes, the 27 ' tubes and the extra two feet will make it more stable as well as give you more deck room. I think that anything less than 22 feet is a little too small if you have any sized waves at all. As far as the 1977 motor, yep it is old! It is a solid design with good parts availability though, and if you can get at least a few years out of it you can upgrade if wanted. You can probably not wear it out unless you over heat it or starve it for oil, new water pumps and good clean carbs can go a long way.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: What would you do?

If you want to pull skiers on a budget, have you considered buying a used jet ski? Pontoons are terrible platforms for skying unless you can make lots of power. I have owned a ski AND a toon for years. Makes a great combo.

Since you asked for our opinions and what WE would do, I would not buy anything older than a 2000 pontoon regardless. But thats just me.

 

[Wirenut8]

Re: What would you do?

I am looking at the 22 ft this weekend. Scratching the idea of towing with the Odyssey any boat worth a crap for our needs will not be light enough to be towed with a mini-van. I don't expect a Ski Nautique, but if I can knee board a couple of times here and there and still have all good things from a toon, I think that is the way to go. Will let you know. Thanks

 

[muskiemike12]

Re: What would you do?

"I can see why you are going crazy a bit. First I have a Tri-Toon with a 90 hp Evinrude which at WOT runs at 42 MPH, and it pulls skiers and wake boarders with no problem, and will even pull my to kids wake boarding at the same time."

I have to call BS! on this. I have a 17' boat with a 90 and I can't get that to touch 40mph.

Good luck wirenut! Good to hear you have open water out there. Everything is still frozen solid in these parts.

 

[WaterDR]

Re: What would you do?

LOL...there is NO WAY a 90 hp toon is runing 42....maybe a 150, but not a 90. Not possible.

 

[Wirenut8]

Re: What would you do?

LOL...there is NO WAY a 90 hp toon is runing 42....maybe a 150, but not a 90. Not possible.

I think he mentioned it was a tri-toon. I don't have the experience to call BS. Our families late 80s 18 ft Bass Buggy with a 60 Merc would do about 22-23. I thought I read the rule of thumb was ad 20% for a Tri.

 

[BobGinCO]

Re: What would you do?

I can see why you are going crazy a bit. First I have a Tri-Toon with a 90 hp Evinrude which at WOT runs at 42 MPH, and it pulls skiers and wake boarders with no problem, and will even pull my to kids wake boarding at the same time.

You didn't say that it was an 8 foot tri-toon... Or maybe you just transposed the 4 and the 2. You know that this fails the "reasonableness" test, right? My24' tritoon tops out at about 23 MPH. And my 115 is delivering about 90 HP at the elevations I run.

 

[sutor623]

Re: What would you do?

Man those prices are steep. At least for this area.....

 

[Wirenut8]

Re: What would you do?

Man those prices are steep. At least for this area.....

Your not kidding. I hope this strong market will serve me well when I sell mine. I have not been able to find anything else under 15K that is fits my needs >4hp/ft. (Searching within 300 miles). Even the ones at 15K are already sold when I call about them.

 

[arntarchie]

Re: What would you do?

25' tri- toon, 115. my best is 25 to 26 mph but pulling skiers and tubers is no problem at all with 5 adults on the boat.