LOWE RESTORATION

[OLEDAVE]

We purchased a 1990 Lowe Classic 28 ft. pontoon boat 4 weeks ago today thinking we were buying a boat ready to go into the water. We took the sellers word on the condition and drove 200 miles from home and paid a high price for a used boat. Our first sign should have been when the tire went flat pulling into the driveway. Please note, this is our first boat purchase and we had no idea what to look for and really the seller must have seen us coming!
After getting home and starting to go through things we realized WE HAD BEEN TAKEN! The seat covers might have been pretty but I am so glad I didn't sit down. All seats were rotten the changing room was rotten it is a miracle that the deck had no rot in it, but believe me we would have found it by now. It sits in the yard with nothing but the helm still on it. Having no knowledge of boats my wifes only input was DO NOT GET A PROJECT BOAT! Oh well so much for that. With that said the Johnson 90 hp motor seems to be in good shape but it was alot of money for a motor, helm, deck and pontoons. The wiring was cut so the whole thing will have to be rewired with all lights, switches etc being replaced. We are ready to lay new carpet tomorrow. Pictures to come.

[rpm121370]

I am restoring a Bennington now, do yourself a favor and go to http://www.pontoonspecialists.com these guys are great and really helpful if you call them. BTW the interior they sell under the platinum line is REALLY nice and they also have a pontoon wiring harness for around $80 and it will save you hours of time

oh and do yourself a favor pm me if you need anything I have found some really helpful people and some places to buy carpet and such pretty cheap

GL
Ron

[OLEDAVE]

Thanks how about furniture? But I want to do my own configurations so looks like I will be buying it per piece.

[ROLAND]

Oledave.... man, I'm so sorry to hear that you got snookered....it's a shame people feel the need to cheat others. well I guess you can chalk it up to a lesson learned. I've only owned a boat for 1 year now and I know that if you don't know what you're doing, and what to look for, you can get taken very easily. Water under the bridge though, right? I agree with rpm, some very nice looking furniture ( either in sets or in individual pieces ) at pontoon specialists.com Hope everything works out for you with the boat.

[margaritaman]

Dave,
Also check out http://www.pontoonstuff.com/ for furniture and parts for your pontoon.

[rpm121370]

Dave,
Also check out http://www.youtube.com/ for furniture and parts for your pontoon.

isn't youtube videos ?

[margaritaman]

Sorry, my bad.

[GregF]

I wouldn't be in a huge hurry on furniture. Try it with some patio chairs to see where you want the furniture and even then, less is more. How many people will you be taking out and what will you be doing? Clear deck space is nice too if you dive, fish, ski or tube.

I am the guy here with a different idea about pontooning. I think you should be using your boat more than working on it and most of the work is keeping furniture nice.

[OLEDAVE]

Posted a couple of pictures of the rot in the changing area and the naked deck as I call it. We now have carpet down and the hubby is polishing the rails to a mirror shine!!

[rpm121370]

Posted a couple of pictures of the rot in the changing area and the naked deck as I call it. We now have carpet down and the hubby is polishing the rails to a mirror shine!!

how hard was it to remove all the old glue

Ron

[OLEDAVE]

It was only glued about 6 inches around the edge so not hard to remove with a
little acetone and a putty knife scraper

[GregF]

I didn't glue my carpet down the 3 times it was replaced over the last 25 years. The rails seem to do a petty good job of holding it down.

[OLEDAVE]

Well after weeks of trying various things to bring out the shine in the rails hubby has decided to start on the toons! I think he has the shine part going on now will post a pic in am of his start.
Anybody got recommendations for length of seats in the front? I think I want a slant arm on both sides but not sure on the length, normally about 5 adults 2 kids will be on it and will have a full wrap around in rear with a removable table. The doors are on each side so I don't want to block them.

[fishmor]

My favorite chairs on a pontoon for driving and fishing are office desk chairs. Swivel, lean back, rock, tilt, raise and lower. I have one that I recovered with vinyl so I can leave it on the boat and another that is cloth that I cover when necessary. I usually leave the wheels on-that works best with thick carpet.

[GregF]

I had a wheel less office chair tied on my 12' jon boat. I got it at a junk store for $5. I was surprised that it actually lasted a year or so before it rusted out.
With a piece of PVC pipe on the tiller handle of my 9.9 Merc I was getting out and about.