First time buyer - Need advice on used boats

[ezmobee]

A friend bought a brand new probably 24' toon last season with a 115. His has the larger diameter logs. It performs really nicely with the 115 and I think can go nearly 30MPH.

but (as one of our former members used to call them) "sofa boats" can get heavy when they're rigged out with lotsa' "sofas"

I'm pretty sure Home Cookin' considered anything that wasn't a saltwater center console to be a "sofa boat". :lol:

 

[jkust]

My buddy on our lake bought a three year old pontoon with a 115hp on it..I believe a 24 footer. With just four aboard and light gear with the engine at wot he can muster 23mph not towing anything.
I will descent to the above and say that in no way is -23mph wot winding out the engine the whole time fun for teens or adults. The little kids are fine for a while being towed slowly. Pontoons are all about the engine size and a 115 is just not enough oomph for multiple reasons. Again I default back to the fact that people have different expectations and paradigms.

 

[muskyfins]

We did the trailering thing for a while. It seemed like wet slipping was for "other people". No matter the drive distance, you either add 2 hours per day or take 2 hours away from your fun by getting boat on/off trailer, parking/retrieving trailer, waiting at the ramp in/out, getting supplies in/out of boat, getting in/out of storage area. When we stepped up to a cruiser, we felt like we had no real choice but wet slip. Positively the best boating decision I have made living my whole life with boats. Makes the whole experience much more enjoyable. I'll never go back to trailering for day use. Bottom can be painted or acid washed for $10/foot in these parts. Now trailering to me is for fishing boats, not pleasure boats.

FWIW, almost all the pontoons on our lakes are slipped. Even my brother (who has tons of boating experience) has always trailered, but is slipping his brand new pontoon this year.

 

[Toto7SC]

There is also a boat storage facility that offers concierge service. Maybe we could store it there and have them put it in/out when we "don't feel like it". This way we would still have flexibility but could save time when needed. From their website:
"Towing to and from Lake Jocassee or Lake Keowee - $35
Towing includes pulling your boat from storage, checking gas, oil and battery. We will have your boat ready to go upon your arrival, launch you at either lake, pick you back up at a designated time and return your boat to storage. A key to your storage unit is required for this service."

Sounds pretty good doesn't it.

 

[JASinIL2006]

There is also a boat storage facility that offers concierge service. Maybe we could store it there and have them put it in/out when we "don't feel like it". This way we would still have flexibility but could save time when needed. From their website:
"Towing to and from Lake Jocassee or Lake Keowee - $35
Towing includes pulling your boat from storage, checking gas, oil and battery. We will have your boat ready to go upon your arrival, launch you at either lake, pick you back up at a designated time and return your boat to storage. A key to your storage unit is required for this service."

Sounds pretty good doesn't it.

I suppose one would have to compare total annual costs of wet-slipping vs. dry storage+concierge service, but $35 a pop to use my boat would probably either discourage using the boat or get pretty expensive. Concierge service would make life easier, though...

 

[Toto7SC]

I ran the numbers and costs of wet-slipping vs. dry storage+concierge service is pretty much about the same (+/- $500) over the course of a year.

Btw, I am not saying we'll buy the boat I found but we'll probably go check it out this weekend. It's hard for me to tell if a boat looks good just by looking at pics but this one makes a good first impression.
https://athensga.craigslist.org/boa/5965050078.html

 

[southkogs]

I'm pretty sure Home Cookin' considered anything that wasn't a saltwater center console to be a "sofa boat". :lol:

That's the guy. It was a cool kinda' grumpy, and I think you're right.
​

Btw, I am not saying we'll buy the boat I found but we'll probably go check it out this weekend. It's hard for me to tell if a boat looks good just by looking at pics but this one makes a good first impression.
https://athensga.craigslist.org/boa/5965050078.html

Sun damage on the back cushions are pretty typical of southern boats. Use the buyers checklist (top of forums) when you go over her and pay close attention to the deck and the wood on those rear cushions (supporting them underneath).

 

[ezmobee]

Btw, I am not saying we'll buy the boat I found but we'll probably go check it out this weekend. It's hard for me to tell if a boat looks good just by looking at pics but this one makes a good first impression.
https://athensga.craigslist.org/boa/5965050078.html

I think you're on the right track boat wise and that would be a good candidate but that price is high for a boat that old.

 

[redneck joe]

old school 115 yes, newer maybe no. But I think your plan works best.

 

[muskyfins]

..... but $35 a pop to use my boat would probably either discourage using the boat or get pretty expensive. ...

I have always been told (including by many of my friends here on iBoats) to never add up the cost of boating per outing.

But even in a slip, if I used my boat once per week for the whole season (+/-20 weeks), it comes out to $75 per use.

 

[muskyfins]

I think you're on the right track boat wise and that would be a good candidate but that price is high for a boat that old.

+1. Boat looks really good, but around here (Chicago area), that would be a little high.

 

[jkust]

Seems overpriced given the amount of money it would cost to reupholster the cushions whether that was even something you would do or not.
What I will say is that a 2 stroke 115 should move out compared to one of the earlier 4 stroke tanks. The bummer is you can get great deals on much newer pontoons if you can accept a 40hp engine.
On the cost per outing, I don't even let it cross my mind.

 

[Marinescout]

I would get him down some on the price. It's hard to find them around our area with a trailer since most people leave them in the water so that's a good find. The rear deck should be covered fairly quickly because it will get bad fast and I'd suggest a under deck ladder that slides out if y'all will be using the ladder much. If beaching it it probly won't bother you. I would def make them take you for a test drive in the lake since it is a marina that has it. I love the old yamahas I had a Yamaha 40 on my first Jon boat and it was a beast.

 

[Drew220]

https://charlotte.craigslist.org/bod/5975322355.html

This one is in Greenwood SC. Upholstery looks good and it has a newer 2010 4-stroke

It's hard finding an older pontoon with good looking seats. Most are left outside to rot.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

As it was alluded to earlier you need to add at least 2 hours to the time difference between towing and having a slip and just jumping in the boat and going. Plus travel time. If I have a crack of dawn fishing day I need at least 30 minutes to load the boat the night before then another 1/2 hr in the AM to hook her up to the truck, check all the lights, tires, straps, load tackle, cooler, clothes, hook up electronics, set lines, etc. (in the dark if I didn't do it last night). Then the travel time to the slip and another 1/2 hour to get the boat wet. Minimum. Then after a day on the water and sometimes feeling like a wet dish rag just beat from being in and running the boat all day do it all over again. Many new boaters think riding along the water is like taking the car down the highway, it's not. You will use muscles you didn't know you had keeping yourself balanced in a boat. I am so beat by the time I get the boat back home I need to unload and cover it the next day and pray no one steals my stuff and it doesn't rain. Add to that the time to and from the dock and you may have to add another hour or more. Don't forget all those passengers that you entertained all day disappear when it's time to trailer the boat. Then for me if I'm lucky I have fish to clean and package.

Oh my, anyone want to buy a nice boat, I'm tired thinking about it.

 

[jkust]

As it was alluded to earlier you need to add at least 2 hours to the time difference between towing and having a slip and just jumping in the boat and going. Plus travel time. If I have a crack of dawn fishing day I need at least 30 minutes to load the boat the night before then another 1/2 hr in the AM to hook her up to the truck, check all the lights, tires, straps, load tackle, cooler, clothes, hook up electronics, set lines, etc. (in the dark if I didn't do it last night). Then the travel time to the slip and another 1/2 hour to get the boat wet. Minimum. Then after a day on the water and sometimes feeling like a wet dish rag just beat from being in and running the boat all day do it all over again. Many new boaters think riding along the water is like taking the car down the highway, it's not. You will use muscles you didn't know you had keeping yourself balanced in a boat. I am so beat by the time I get the boat back home I need to unload and cover it the next day and pray no one steals my stuff and it doesn't rain. Add to that the time to and from the dock and you may have to add another hour or more. Don't forget all those passengers that you entertained all day disappear when it's time to trailer the boat. Then for me if I'm lucky I have fish to clean and package.

Oh my, anyone want to buy a nice boat, I'm tired thinking about it.

Add to that the stress of knowing the whole time you are out that you have to get it back on the trailer at a busy ramp with a short dock and crabby kids and wife. The above is THE reason we bought a lake house. I literally can't stand the thought of being a trailer boater any longer. Now, I use a remote control to lower my boat into the water and I'm gone in 30 seconds at most and come and go as needed and only launch and retrieve once per year. We had years of fun times and I think everyone should trailer before buying their lake house to really appreciate it.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

Add to that the stress of knowing the whole time you are out that you have to get it back on the trailer at a busy ramp with a short dock and crabby kids and wife. The above is THE reason we bought a lake house. I literally can't stand the thought of being a trailer boater any longer. Now, I use a remote control to lower my boat into the water and I'm gone in 30 seconds at most and come and go as needed and only launch and retrieve once per year. We had years of fun times and I think everyone should trailer before buying their lake house to really appreciate it.

We have a lake house too jkust, but there isn't anyway I can keep a ramp or dock here without Mother Nature taking it away. I find myself using the boat less and less every season. For the last 5 out of 8 seasons I had a slip including last year and it is convenient and can be frustrating. Living on the south end of the Niagara peninsula we are surrounded by water on 3 sides. Having the boat at a marina limits my access to all this other water. Within an hour I can get from Erie to Lake Ontario, but don't. I haven't decided what I am going to do this coming season, slip, tow or sell and downsize. If I downsize I can get a 15 footer in and out in minutes a few hundred yards from the cottage here. If I downsize I can't get out to deep water safely. A nice problem to have deciding where to play.

 

[roffey]

I to have a place with water front. I can sit on my deck and when the feeling hits I just walk down to the boat and go. It is truly a luxury to have the boat and the cottage. I trailered my boat for a few years and while it is nice to get out on the water and your boat never spends days in the water I still like the dock.

My avatar is a picture of my lake front. I can't wait to get back there.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

I to have a place with water front. I can sit on my deck and when the feeling hits I just walk down to the boat and go. It is truly a luxury to have the boat and the cottage. I trailered my boat for a few years and while it is nice to get out on the water and your boat never spends days in the water I still like the dock.

My avatar is a picture of my lake front. I can't wait to get back there.

Nice roffey. We couldn't wait to get to the lake. Only an hour from our home in the city many times we went after work and stayed the night, I would commute on weekends I was scheduled in. Finally I said why have 2 places less than an hour apart. Then I realized if my wife was willing to commute 40 minutes we could sell one, remodel the cottage and I could take a ridiculously early retirement, 45 years old and we had 25 and out, no penalty. It's been 17 years now and it's the best thing we ever did. Winters can be tough but spring, summer and fall make up for it. If I could dock the boat here I would have nothing to complain about. We are on a wind swept rocky point. Too windy to anchor for the night, Erie winds are crazy here and with my luck I would have 19' of aluminum scrap in the morning. Strong lake effect winds of 60 kph can come up in minutes without warning.

Sorry I should have PM'd this. Sorry OP.

 

[jkust]

I to have a place with water front. I can sit on my deck and when the feeling hits I just walk down to the boat and go. It is truly a luxury to have the boat and the cottage. I trailered my boat for a few years and while it is nice to get out on the water and your boat never spends days in the water I still like the dock.

My avatar is a picture of my lake front. I can't wait to get back there.

I'm with you...less than 1% of Minnesotans own a lake place and we count ourselves very blessed. Oddly enough, once you are on a lake, you don't boat nearly as much as you'd think because there are a hundred other things to do. Fact is, our Waverunner gets used a lot and the boat mostly sits on the lift all day and we may take an evening cruise and sometime an afternoon cruise but the waverunner is coming and going all day long. When we were trailer boaters, we'd be on the boat for ten hours at a crack then trailer it up and back to wherever we were staying...I don't think I've spend more than a couple hours on the boat for years now.