Hello From near Cincinnati

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JLester273
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed May 10, 2017 10:23 am
Location: Cincinnati Ohio

Hello From near Cincinnati

#1 Post by JLester273 » Thu May 11, 2017 7:26 am

Hello everyone.

Just bought my first pontoon boat. A 1988 FloteBote 24 foot. With a Force 75 ELPT

It is in pretty decent condition for the age IMO. The guy I bought it from kept it under a shed roof. So the floor is solid except for the front deck that is starting to get a bit of flex in it. The motor lower was shot. but the seats were in usable condition.

I grew up fishing of my Grandfather's SeaStar bass boat. But I have a bunch of kids now and need more space than a bass boat or even my older open bow gives us. We rented a pontoon at KY Lake a while back and loved it. So I started looking randomly on Craigslist and FB Marketplace etc.

I have a trip planned for the end of the month to KY Lake so I really was hoping to find something that was usable and didn't need a total rebuild.

This one came up and was 2500 with trailer and motor. I'd been looking enough to know at this time of year that was probably the best deal (in my price range) I could find so I went to look at it and even took the wife. She liked it so I made her hand the guy the money (that way she bought it not me HAHAHA)

Anyway I got it back and pulled into the shop and started in on it. The wiring was a rats nest with almost nothing hooked up. The motor cranked fine and all the controls etc seemed fine. So that was a plus. But every other electrical wire was rigged and a mess. So I tore most of it out under the console and re did that better. I do have to revisit it all after the trip and plan to run mostly all the wire new as someone decided indoor home wire would work for some things. But it will work temporarily. I did add fuses at the battery so if any of that shorts I don't end up with a charred boat.

Found a lower on Ebay after looking at the parts I needed to fix mine and realizing that was the cheaper route. It came in and I installed it and other than a clogged Tell tale pipe it was an easy install. I started the motor on muffs and everything there seems great.

I found and older Minn Kota 74 lbs thrust Trolling motor on Craigslist too for cheap. Put that up front and just wired in the batteries.

All that is left I believe is to get it wet. I hope anyway. Oh I did power wash and took the drain plugs out of the toons. Got a little out them then resealed the drain plugs. Not sure if that was from sitting in the water at some point but it wasn't much. They seem to be in pretty good shape. other than the dried on stuff I power washed off them. No major dents etc.

A link to the album since my picture links aren't working

http://smg.photobucket.com/user/JasonLe ... oon%20Boat

Here are some pics he had on his ad.

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/ ... pxocof.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/ ... bjstqm.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/ ... lt8xod.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/ ... 2y4qnu.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/ ... l36bi6.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/ ... ngwpsv.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/ ... idu2dk.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/ ... 9m3kjn.jpg[/IMG]

And some now with some progress on it.

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/ ... jbenk9.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/ ... 7jazxr.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v357/ ... dvfgpa.jpg[/IMG]
Last edited by JLester273 on Thu May 11, 2017 9:13 am, edited 3 times in total.
My rebuild thread.
http://www.pontoonforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=24807

JLester273
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed May 10, 2017 10:23 am
Location: Cincinnati Ohio

Re: Hello From near Cincinnati

#2 Post by JLester273 » Thu May 11, 2017 7:27 am

OK not sure why my pictures didn't link. I had uploaded them and they were huge....so I figured photbucket links would be better...I'll figure it out hopefully
My rebuild thread.
http://www.pontoonforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=24807

User avatar
smltooner
Posts: 2814
Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2008 12:53 pm
Location: Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia

Re: Hello From near Cincinnati

#3 Post by smltooner » Thu May 11, 2017 11:59 pm

Welcome to the club.
SMLTOONER
Ted & Emily
2019 Bennington 21SL Tri-toon
2019 Yamaha 150 HP
Smith Mtn. Lake, Virginia

User avatar
ROLAND
Posts: 4248
Joined: Sat Oct 03, 2009 4:29 am

Re: Hello From near Cincinnati

#4 Post by ROLAND » Fri May 12, 2017 12:01 am

Congrats on the new to you pontoon... and you're right, she does seem to be in fairly decent shape.. you and your family will love it. congrats again.
Roland & Jo
2010 Bennington 20 Sfi
Yamaha 75 4 Stroke
Shreveport, Louisiana

JLester273
Posts: 241
Joined: Wed May 10, 2017 10:23 am
Location: Cincinnati Ohio

Re: Hello From near Cincinnati

#5 Post by JLester273 » Fri May 12, 2017 10:13 am

Thanks guys. I get so wrapped up in a project. I really want to tear it down an rebuild it just to do it. But it is in good enough shape I will at least use it as is for a while.

Been kind thinking about replacing or painting the rail skins. or something this winter.

Unfortunately the trailer is a single axle. But it too is in pretty good shape and seemed to do just fine with my 2 1/2 hour tow home so we should be good for a while.

It will be the biggest thing I have loaded and unloaded into the water so I'm wondering how that will go. Probably not one I want to attempt on my own. LOL we will see. Hoping to get it out this weekend.
My rebuild thread.
http://www.pontoonforums.com/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=24807

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