Thread: Pontoon question

Got a question for you guys. I'm looking at a 1994 Voyager, 18 ft. fish model Pontoon. It has a 70HP Evinrude but don't know what year. It hasn't been started in 2 years and am guessing that the power tilt does not work. If I said the upholstery is shot, that would be an understatement. The plywood frame for the upholstery is even falling in. Carpet on deck is shot and is anyones guess about the deck floor under the carpet. I would think you would probably have to replace the wood floor. Bimini top is a throw away, frame and all. All lights and electrical is gone, same as not there. Tires are questionable and the spare is blown out. Trailer needs a complete overhaul. So basically all I'm buying is the boat mainframe and logs with an engine I don't know about. Anyone have any idea what it would be worth????

3 years ago I got $3500 for my old pontoon. It was about 10 years older than your model. The 60 Merc motor started and ran, but the power tilt/trim leaked so you could were able to tip up the motor but it would slowly go back down. The logs and frame were good. The deck was weathered but not rotten. The carpet and upholstery were operational but faded and cracked. The 2-axle trailer was fine, but the tires were old and less-than-ideal. Bearing buddies on all wheels.

It was in about the same condition when I bought it six years earlier for $3500. I just kept it maintained, replaced the parts that gave out, and ripped out the front couches to put in fishing chairs. I gave up a lot of fishing time to keep that thing going. Seeing it roll away with cash in my hand was one of the highlights of my adult life.

My only advice to you is... Guesstimate how much time it will take you to fix everything that needs to be fixed and then triple that amount of time. Decide if you have that much time, and what else you could be doing instead. Also, consider the cost of a new deck, carpet, chairs, console, steering and throttle system, motor, etc,. If you decide you have the time, mechanical ability, and money to fool with it, offer to haul it off for next-to-nothing.

Take all this with a grain of salt. My ol' clunker boat is due for a new deck up front and a new water pump and I am wondering if a "controlled burn" might actually be the best solution. If anybody ever wonders why I always fish at Wabaunsee, it's because that's where we keep the good boat.

Thank you Squirrels for the input.Don't know if I am looking at it as a needed thing or a challenge. Really do hate to see the old boat sit and rot away. Come to think about it, I have enough trouble keeping to boat I have off the stumps with one hull let alone two.

Buddy of mine bought a 20'er in about the same shape but a 94 model with a 40 Evinrude for $800 now has a new seats he bought online and a custom cover made so he has $2600 in it but I think he got a steal

I've watched craigslist for a long time and in fact bought and sold more than 10 boats in the last couple of years. I'm done, though, and now have pretty much traded to what I wanted to keep. Old boats, but NO payments.

Anyway, I would tend to agree you don't want to give much for it at all. The cost of refurbishing would be a lot more than you think as others have stated. Marine quality flooring is expensive, and good carpet is, too. There would be a LOT of labor and TIME involved and a good bit of it may kinda require two people.

You can rebuild the seats, etc. pretty easily as I've done it, and you can get new vinyl pretty reasonable from BassPro or Cabela's. The motor is an unknown so I wouldn't bank on it being worth much. If you can fix it, great, and chances are you probably could if you're mechanically inclined ! But don't count on it to make the deal.

If you're really interested in it, I would suggest you WAIT a while, watch craigslist for a month or so and see what you can get for how much $$$ WITHOUT ALL THE REPAIR LABOR and THEN make up your mind. Sounds like this one will still be sitting there waiting if you still decided you want it then.

Just my advice from the voice of some experience......

Sounds like you will have to put as much money into it as it will cost you to buy it, just a suggestion but why not take the money you would spend on replacement parts and repairs and fixing it up and put it into something a bit more water ready.

Went over this morning to meet the guy who owns the Pontoon. Standing there talking to him and his nieghbor backs out of her drive, crosses the alley into his yard and ran into the side of my truck. Now I have a boat question and a door destroyed. I'm thinking tomorrow I will stay in bed.

Get a new truck and see how much he will pay you to haul away that POS pontoon...run,don't walk away from that boat.

doesnt sound like its worth your time !!