Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I have pontoon being built, to day is the 7th week on order, they said it would take 4 to 8 weeks. Today I get a call saying the boat was just about done but the mercury verado 250 I ordered was on 8 week back order.

Ask for the upgrade to a 300 for free

The boat is only rated for 250 trust me I wanted the 300.

That sucks but unless you changer motors you are at their mercy.
Congrats on the new boat!

Ask for the 250 OptiMax. I'm a 2 smoker fan.

They are going to price a few other makes tomorrow

I should of just built this lol

Awfully polite of them to wait until the bitter end to notify you of this. Mercury Marine should have known of the backorder quite some time ago and notified the dealers. SOMEBODY definitely dropped the ball here and owes you satisfaction. Not just an equivilent, but something of greater value for your stress and lost boat time.
Be prepared to take your money (all of it) and walk. They might say that you have a contract, but THEY are the ones not honoring it.
Good luck, captain. Keep ur guard high

Is it possible to go ahead and have them ship your boat ( minus the engine and of course minus the cost of the motor ) w/o the outboard and buy an outboard elsewhere and have it rigged... I know that would be a pain, but might be better than waiting an additional 8 weeks ( and that's if after 8 weeks they're still not backordered, you never know ).

Just get a yamaha and be done with it:)

Dealers can possibly get motors through their regular Mercury distribution channels, however the cost is substantially higher than purchasing them through the boat manufacturers who obtain substantial discounts for bulk ordering.

You're kind'a stuck if you want a Mercury Verado. Manufacturers are doing all the rigging and plumbing for that engine specifically, and dealers are simply mounting and plugging in that engine. Boats with Verados simply cannot be switched over to another manufacturer's motor.

Unless Mercury and your dealer can find a motor, you may be sitting on the river bank most of the Summer.

I suggest you try to find the same boat on order that may be in dealer stock at another dealer.

1roadking wrote:Just get a yamaha and be done with it:)

yea Buddy,
but i'm swayed for the Yamaha

I switched it to the Yamaha sho 250, so that will make you Yamaha guys happy lol
They said I would have it in my possession no later then the 26th. Seems like this has been the longest wait ever!

I think they did you a favor. Yamaha all the way baby:nana

Prostreet...I feel your pain! I ordered a boat last year and then found out the boat was ready and the Verado 150 was backordered! A boat without a motor isn't much fun. I ended up buying another boat from the same dealer...exactly the same boat but a different color that came in with the Verado on it. I asked them if they could switch the motor to the other boat and was told it wasn't possible like other posters have mentioned. They are customized at the factory. (Supposedly) I decided to go with a color I wasn't real fond of but in hindsight the color turned out awesome and I was on the water. Hopefully it will work out...if it is a larger dealer you might have some options if your willing to sacrifice. It sucks but go into it with an open mind and it may work out for the best. You have the leverage now to walk or be made happy...good luck.