Hey Y'all!!

[Partybarger3000]

New pontoon owner here, just bought a 1987 Suntracker Party Barge 24' with a 1995 60hp 3 cylinder Mercury on it. Lots of great info on this site. Anyone know any issues or problems with this boat/motor I should be looking for?? Also, it has a trailer that has rollers that are near the inside of the pontoon, and carpeted slides for both pontoons, are these easy to load/unload, like I said newbie, so any info is great! Thanks!

[HandymanHerb]

Welcome, don't forget we love pictures

[dockholiday]

Welcome merc motor should be good along with the tracker boat. First thought you had a scissor trailer but if you got carpeted bunks for each toon that must not be the case. Sounds like you are set. If you don't have a manual for the merc you can probably pick one up online. Not a lot needs to be done with the 2 stroke just run em when you can
doc

[ROLAND]

Welcome to the group... don't forget to post some pics of your boat when you get a chance...

[tooned out]

Welcome. GLad your here

[jlbutl]

Hi Partybarger3000, Welcome to the forums!

As for loading and unloading, I have a 22' Sun Tracker and it loads and unloads well.

For unloading, you can pretty much float it off, but I back the trailer just into the water, board the boat, and have my wife back it up the last few feet so I can drive it off and dock while she parks the truck/trailer.

And for loading, just remember to back the trailer all the way in (if the ramp doesn't have a dropoff) and wet the bunks, then pull it out so about 1/4 of the tires are showing. Idle in to toward the trailer until you make contact and lined up, then give it a little power to get it up to the stop. If you ever lose forward momentum though, forget trying to power it on, just back the trailer a little deeper and winch it up. Its actually quite easy, as I was a little worried myself when I first got mine about 2 mos ago.

Enjoy!

[Partybarger3000]

Got the boat home today!!!! Very glad, lol. Got a few questions, does anyone know what ratio to mix for the 2 stroke 1995 Mercury 60hp??? Does 50:1 sound right, also, where do I find an owners manual for that motor?? Gonna try and get pics up soon! Hopefully, she'll make her first voyage with us next Friday, if all goes well!!

[dockholiday]

pull the cowl an see if you have an oil reservoir. my 90 had a small hatch to access the oil tank in top of the motor . Not sure if the 60's have one but worth checking.
doc

[bassn386]

You might ask the previous owner whether they had to pre-mix their oil. If the boat didn't come with a separate oil reservoir (might be mounted on the stern beside the fuel tank) and it doesn't have an internal oil reservoir, it's a pretty good bet you have to pre-mix. I think there may have been some Evinrudes that were 100:1, but I'd be willing to bet a frozen margarita at Red Fox here at Lake of the Ozarks it will be 50:1. If you are arithmetically challenged, that's about 2.6 ounces of oil to a gallon of gas. You're on your own for how much in 5 gallons!

[smltooner]

Welcome to the club.