Buying a pontoon with a Mercruiser 3.0

[beermunk]

oh i forgot to add--if you're in oklahoma you HAVE to stop and see lakerunner (lr).
you might even get lucky and be there for the annual parade he mc's, lol.

FB PLEASE SEE NHB

HUH?

[beermunk]

Hay beermunk!
First off.. Welcome!
Second, we have a 2007 22 foot Regency with the 3.0.
Love IT!
We've pulled a skier with 6 onboard.
We dont have a GPS (hope to change that), but ill guess we get 25mph +.
Dialing in the prop has been my biggest challange.
Started with a 16x16. Way too much prop.... Now have a 16x13 and i could still drop another 'notch'
Course we are way up here at 5000 ft.
Im thinking of going to a 15x12 or something....

Anyways, Love the thing! Fires rigth up everytime so far!
Have 52 hours on the engine now. Changed the oil/filter n drive lube out at 20 hours, and alls been good...

Cant wait to get it back into the slip! bout 5 more weeks..

Good to hear that you really like your boat! I'm also glad to know that with six people you can still get enough speed to pull a skier, although we'll be doing more tubing and low speed cruising than face smashing skiing! I haven't been up on wood in 15 years probably!

Is your tracker a tri-toon and if so how do you like it? Also how do you count your hours - is there a meter somewhere on the boat?

Last question: Sounds like I'll have to spend some time finding the right prop as well unless this one is already dialed in. How do you go about swapping those out? Do most places let you return them if you don't like it? Or do you end up with a garage full of props that only half work?

[beermunk]

Can someone tell me if this engine has power steering?

[beermunk]

Can someone look at this picture and notice the waterline on the pontoons and tell me if it looks a bit slanty towards the back. Is that a normal rake? Looks like water normally kept upside the 'toons with some weight in the back.

Opinions?

[lakerunner]

Looks like Grand Lake of the Cherokees. Be sure and have them give a check ride
Good luck. As far a s the waterline on logs yes it seems about right.

It is a long story on FB as he has a wierd streak in him.

[beermunk]

Looks like Grand Lake of the Cherokees. Be sure and have them give a check ride
Good luck. As far a s the waterline on logs yes it seems about right.

It is a long story on FB as he has a wierd streak in him.

Thanks man. An as far as FB goes - everyone should have a good weird streak in them.

[curtiscapk]

it probably has you going I-44 which is okay I'm sure you'll be in a hurry to get to the boat, just watch out for "the man" they like that highway from St louis to Springfield.

[badmoonrising]

Can someone tell me if this engine has power steering?

Yep, that's the p/s pump on the left side of the pic. Aslo, 2 belts= p/s. One belt = standard steering.

[badmoonrising]

Waterline looks normal to me. Remember, the 3.0 is heavy, fuel tank and batteries are all at the stern. The black marks on the logs appear to have been made by fenders, so it was probably slipped.

[WaltF]

Yup.. water lines look like mine...toons are heavier in the back.. especially the i/o model. Extra weight is the only draw back as far as im concerned... I like the i/o!
Yup, as BMR said, you have power steering....
Mine is not a tri-toon, although that would be sweet. I also wish i had what Tracker is calling the "NV" pkg... basically struts...But cant complain..
I had tracker install a hobbs meter when i bought it.. it only runs while the engine is running, that way its not racking up hours while im playing the tunes....im sitting at 52 hours right now
DEFF worth having.. keeping track of hours is a major pain otherwise.. and only cost me like $40 to have it installed.
Yes, most places will let you trade props till you dial in, as long as you dont mess it up while playing.. Ask first though to make sure...

[beermunk]

Thanks all again for the oustanding advice and answers. I emailed the seller with some of the questions I've seen here and here is what he got back to me with:


1) When was the impeller changed out, if at all?
Original boat has only 70 hours

2) What condition is the exhaust flapper in? Has it been replaced?
See number one


3) Does the boat come with a transom saver (either webbing or solid
bar) for trailering?
Yes solid bar transom saver


4) What are the numbers on the compression test on the cylinders.
Never been checked, has less than 70 hours


5) Could you tell me what the runout on the prop is?
Depending on condition and load approximately 25-30mph
(I don't think he understood what I was asking - hell I really don't myself.)

6) Is the prop aluminum or SS, and how many blades and what is the pitch?
Aluminum three blade, pitch 15.25 x 15


7) When were the fuel filters last changed?
End of every season. They're fresh.


Does the engine have hydro steering?
Yes,


9) This mercruiser has the TKS carb on it, correct?
no


And then on the trailer - how old are the tires and do any of them
have cracks?
Original tire with less than 20 miles on them and has been stored most of
its life. We ordered you a new spare for the trailer.
This is a custom made trailer for this boat by tracker with dual axel brake
system.

[beermunk]

So was I mistaken to assume that TKS came on a 2004 Mercruiser 3.0?

[beermunk]

Also - can someone tell me what the triangle pieces on the inside of the pontoons are in this picture? They look like lifting strakes except they're not on the outside of the toons in the other photos. Or is that normal?

[lakerunner]

Those are lifting strakes. Most only use them on inside of toons as they effect turning



He is full of shit on trailer. It isn't a custom built it is a standard Trailstar whith brakes on both axles. Mine came with the same thing.

A heads up

If that trailer has been stored outside for 4 years the tires and bunks boards are rotten.

Please get a check ride and while boat is off trailer check the bunks very closely for rot. Mine went after 2 years. If our kids hadn't used the boat and I launched them I would have had a hole in a log as they were rotten at each bunk bracket. Go along and push and pull on them to be sure they are sound.
I hate to be so negative but I wouldn't pull that rig 50 miles with original tires much less to your home.

Make a list of Walmarts and Tractor Supplies along route in case you need tires on the road.

[beermunk]

Those are lifting strakes. Most only use them on inside of toons as they effect turning



He is full of shit on trailer. It isn't a custom built it is a standard Trailstar whith brakes on both axles. Mine came with the same thing.

A heads up

If that trailer has been stored outside for 4 years the tires and bunks boards are rotten.

Please get a check ride and while boat is off trailer check the bunks very closely for rot. Mine went after 2 years. If our kids hadn't used the boat and I launched them I would have had a hole in a log as they were rotten at each bunk bracket. Go along and push and pull on them to be sure they are sound.
I hate to be so negative but I wouldn't pull that rig 50 miles with original tires much less to your home.

Make a list of Walmarts and Tractor Supplies along route in case you need tires on the road.

Thanks Lakerunner! Yeah the "original tires" worries me as they need to go 800 miles back to wisconsin. He said he ordered a new spare for me. I may just have them all replaced. Good call on the bunks though. The boat is coming off the trailer for a test drive on Sunday so it'll give me a chance to poke at them.