Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

New pontoon owner here, just bought a 1987 Suntracker Party Barge 24' with a 1995 60hp 3 cylinder Mercury on it. Lots of great info on this site. Anyone know any issues or problems with this boat/motor I should be looking for?? Also, it has a trailer that has rollers that are near the inside of the pontoon, and carpeted slides for both pontoons, are these easy to load/unload, like I said newbie, so any info is great! Thanks!

Welcome, don't forget we love pictures

Welcome merc motor should be good along with the tracker boat. First thought you had a scissor trailer but if you got carpeted bunks for each toon that must not be the case. Sounds like you are set. If you don't have a manual for the merc you can probably pick one up online. Not a lot needs to be done with the 2 stroke just run em when you can
doc

Welcome to the group... don't forget to post some pics of your boat when you get a chance...

Welcome. GLad your here

Hi Partybarger3000, Welcome to the forums!

As for loading and unloading, I have a 22' Sun Tracker and it loads and unloads well.

For unloading, you can pretty much float it off, but I back the trailer just into the water, board the boat, and have my wife back it up the last few feet so I can drive it off and dock while she parks the truck/trailer.

And for loading, just remember to back the trailer all the way in (if the ramp doesn't have a dropoff) and wet the bunks, then pull it out so about 1/4 of the tires are showing. Idle in to toward the trailer until you make contact and lined up, then give it a little power to get it up to the stop. If you ever lose forward momentum though, forget trying to power it on, just back the trailer a little deeper and winch it up. Its actually quite easy, as I was a little worried myself when I first got mine about 2 mos ago.

Enjoy!

Got the boat home today!!!! Very glad, lol. Got a few questions, does anyone know what ratio to mix for the 2 stroke 1995 Mercury 60hp??? Does 50:1 sound right, also, where do I find an owners manual for that motor?? Gonna try and get pics up soon! Hopefully, she'll make her first voyage with us next Friday, if all goes well!!

pull the cowl an see if you have an oil reservoir. my 90 had a small hatch to access the oil tank in top of the motor . Not sure if the 60's have one but worth checking.
doc

You might ask the previous owner whether they had to pre-mix their oil. If the boat didn't come with a separate oil reservoir (might be mounted on the stern beside the fuel tank) and it doesn't have an internal oil reservoir, it's a pretty good bet you have to pre-mix. I think there may have been some Evinrudes that were 100:1, but I'd be willing to bet a frozen margarita at Red Fox here at Lake of the Ozarks it will be 50:1. If you are arithmetically challenged, that's about 2.6 ounces of oil to a gallon of gas. You're on your own for how much in 5 gallons!

Welcome to the club.