Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hi all from Canada. Just bought a cottage on an island, figure a pontoon is best for all concerns. Saw a 14 year old Weeres fibreglass deck boat (18' w/ 150 new rebuilt Merc)yesterday, asking $9800, but I noticed it has deep cracks in the deck, including straight across the bow and about an inch in along one side. Is that new deck time? How much would that set me back?
We also looked at a new 20' aluminum pontoon with a 25hp Merc, the dealer quoted us all in $13500 with free tow and storage for this year.
Took the Weeres for a test drive, very good mix of space and power, but the brand new pontoon is very tempting, but lacks any speed for anything.
Suggestions?

Keep looking and for a toon unless your on a very small lake you need more power.

With 25hp you might be upset when ducks can swim faster then you.

While 40 hp may be enough for some, others wouldnt be happy with less then 250hp. Its really up to you.
For me, 90 hp would be my cutoff....

Also , all those cracks sound like a no deal, for me anyways...

WaltF wrote:While 40 hp may be enough for some, others wouldnt be happy with less then 250hp. Its really up to you.
For me, 90 hp would be my cutoff....

mmmmm.... 250hp does sound good. i'd avoid anything new, unless you are adverse to the possibility of having to work on the boat/motor. anything used is likely gonna have a few issues that will need to be addressed. but buying new will give a huge depreciation, just like a car. a used boat will depreciate, just not as quickly. you may not have the luxury in your area of a big used market. good luck.

There is used, then there is late model used. Most late model (3 years old or less) are on the market because the owners either can't afford the boat or didn't know what boat ownership is like and are not selling. These boats are thousands less than new and generally have no issue with them at all.

You still have to do you're homework but there are great deals out there and this is the best time of year to buy. Folks are motivated to sell so they don't have to worry about winter storage and the like.

We bought our boat in '06 with less than 50 hours on it for 50% of what it cost new. It was a repo that went through a few dealers before we bought it on ebay from a guy who bought it at auction looking to make a little money on it. Couldn't be happier with the decision.

Thanks for the replies. Still looking I guess. Getting down to the wire trying to move in before the ice.
Is the fibreglass deck a lot to repair? I've attached a drawing of where the cracks show, would the deck need replacing or could I just patch them?

If it cracking that means it having support problems and can't take the load, the front one for sure it looks as it came from diving off the front .

I would run not walk away from it, keep looking and don't be in a hurry and get a good one, you still have to work on that one, but it be the little things we so good at, not making fiberglass beams to ad support to the deck.

Just my opinion, but i would stay with a aluminum toon as they wont take as much maintenance as the glass boats NOW before anybody gets up and pee's in my Wheaties..... i have a glass boat too

the toon will be lighter and probably more room, and take a smaller motor to move it around, and if you stay with an outboard you wont have to pay to winterize it

that's waaaaay too much money for those short boats. our's started life as a 28 footer (now longer) and i still wish it was bigger. and i often wish i had more than the 140 hp i've got. get at least a 24 foot boat with a 90 or 115 outboard or 120/140 i/o minimum. you will regret a short boat. you will regret too little power.

Thanks to everyone who responded. I found a good one in the local classifieds, older guy selling off his boats and moving to the city. Bought a 1999 24' Weeres in mint condition (he had a cover for everything even the steering wheel) with a Yamaha 90 with 20 hours on it.
23" diameter toons and just totally clean from front to back.
Had it on the lake Sunday, ran perfect, can't wait for summer.
Thanks again.

Without pic's you could be fibbing

We want pics!
We want pics!
We want pics!
We want pics!
We want pics!

OK, OK, I'll try to remember to take some this weekend.