I Bought The Cheapest Pontoon Boat On Craigslist

[@timmorris3056]

We bought an older 24 foot Kayot pontoon with a similar trailer to what you have. Love the trailer because there's a 2nd winch that lowers the suspension out from under the boat. You can back onto the lawn, lower the suspension and gently set the pontoon on the grass and drive the trailer out. Great for tire changes and maintenance. We threw away the merc 75,(boat anchor) and bought a '96 seadoo 750, chopped the nose on the seadoo and removed the outboard plate on the boat and it fit perfect. It moves right along now, and don't have to worry about running up to the beach and ruining a prop. Makes for a fun boat. PS, no matter what motor you end up with, it's Always a good idea to have a kicker or even an electric troller, and an anchor, because when the engine dies for whatever reason, you become a kite driven by the wind no control.

[@BrandonsGarage]

Yeah, I noticed that too. The boat is just a huge sail without the engine. I agree, tossing the Merc was a good idea. Have photos of your setup?

[@timmorris3056]

@@BrandonsGarage it's at our summer home, we'll be there in July, I'll send pics. It has inspired others to make similar conversions, a 12 foot inflatable that does 60 across the lake now, with the addition of a seadoo donor setup, aluminum boats, etc.. pretty kool.

[@izzimichaels2892]

yeah and an anchor is one of the things that the coast guard dosent insist you have on board.....go figure.

[@timmorris3056]

@@izzimichaels2892 😁

[@dart5722010]

@@izzimichaels2892 weird. In Canada it's requirement to have a second form of power, paddle or kicker, or an anchor.

[@modelnutty6503]

40hp will do it ok if not TOO many aboard, yank all the seats plant some boat seats on thrones? cleaned up new linoleum and lawn chairs save some weight, with the chairs folded away you could set up a good size "built in" tent on it could be cool.

[@c50ge]

model nutty I HAD AN OLD USED RIVIERA CRUSER WITH STEEL PONTOONS BACK IN MID 70’s. HAD A 35 HP MERC WE USUALLY RAN IT JUST A LITTLE ABOVE IDLE AND PUTTED AROUND THE LAKE (LITCHFIELD, IL) WHAT A BLAST! PLENTY OF HP.

[@TFD1982]

yard farmer you must just like to cruise then

[@AmericanConstellation]

I'd love to work on that Mercury and get it running.

[@rmd9032]

If u use a soldering gun to cut the tarp instead of scissors, it won't fray

[@terryclotf]

i love that " I really don't know what I'm looking at" awesome most people would of bullshit through the wiring.

[@kevinwhite9937]

That Merc 115 was the best thing about the boat

[@michaellowe3665]

I have never seen a mercury that worked as well as omc or Yamaha. I knew people that bought them in the 70s and 80s and they all regretted it. They were always hard to start and misfired all the time. They may have gotten better with fuel injection. I dont know anyone who bought them after getting burned once. Of course with companies like force and mariner out there, Mercury looked great by comparison.

[@redline9579]

Imc is everude right?

[@michaellowe3665]

@@redline9579 Evinrude and Johnson. They were basically the same. They also made cobra I/O drives paired with various automotive engines.

[@AB-bg1or]

@@michaellowe3665 I had one of those carb Merc Tower of Powers that lasted 31 years.

[@uthermaceanruig5098]

My 1984 90hp Merc tower of power is still running fine, starts easy, not bad on gas, never misfires or gives any trouble whatsoever. I’ve also owned several other Merc inline 6’s over the years. So, I have to question what you’re basing your inaccurate information on? Seems like you just don’t like Mercury? The only thing I can think of regarding the inline 6’s is that failure to change impellers yearly can destroy the top (#1) piston/cylinder by causing overheating issues when the impeller fails. Besides that they’re pretty good.

[@ohUredneck]

I have the same trailer. Creep around curves and corners. Those trailers are notorious for laying boat over on it's side. If you think your going slow in a turn, slow down! I haven't done it yet, but I think my fix will be to make training wheels, outside of toons, for stability. Good luck!

[@BrandonsGarage]

Yeah, its a yard trailer. It'll work for now, but hopefully I can find another one.

[@spencerbrown2594]

Great video. Helps me decide whether I want one or not.

[@daisyladybug]

that interior is the new distressed look everyone wants. :)

[@BrandonsGarage]

Hey, the rustic look is a big thing with classic car enthusiasts. This has it naturally.

[@RossmanGarage]

This is awesome brought that beater back to the water! Where is this the Colorado river?

[@shanebeaudrot777]

I'm impressed! I wouldn't have a clue on what to do with that motor.

[@daleval2182]

Fix a few, thats how you learn, utube full of help

[@pawnansell]

That old mercury tower of power is an extreme para for Motor you’ll love that when you get it right

[@BrandonsGarage]

Yeah, I know. Problems are, all wiring insulation had fallen apart, the power trim didn't work at all, needs 2 power-packs, and 4 coils; and of course, all maintenance parts. Also, its so darn tall, you cant tilt the engine more than a few inches before it smacks the rear door. I don't have a collection of Mercury outboards to start swapping good parts over like I do OMC motors. For now, Ill leave an OMC on it. The Merc will get stored until I find the parts, or get into Mercurys.

[@elvisn4424]

Yeah that things a beast hands down had one on a bass boat there's nothing to them to fix either

[@Paul-ou1rx]

All you need to do is drop in a $500 pop-up camper and you got yer self a lake house!

[@BrandonsGarage]

I have a 16' camper trailer that I've kept should I ever get a pontoon boat. However, this was pre-family. I should sell it.... or just wait until he moves out then make my floatRV!

[@daleval2182]

Cheap for a pontoon 👍 sometimes I see those outdoor chair, couch cushions, would be a cheaper easy mod, make her Purdy

[@bobthediverdudemerrick6811]

I have a Yamaha 80hp and cruise around at 24mph with my family aboard. Perfect speed for a Pontoon.

[@RonMillbrae]

Imo idle is best

[@doughesson]

There's folks who can get over 60 mph in a 'toon.

[@jeffbrummette6357]

I have a question. Can trolling motors be repaired when the only speeds that work are 3-5? It’s a used one but it’s a great price. If you can help me I would appreciate it sir.

[@BrandonsGarage]

Well, it depends on the motor. On the lower level 'budget'models, with a tiller handle speed controller, this is simply fixed with a new switch. On the much more expensive models, the speed is controlles via a circut board inside the motor; a much more involved, difficult, expensive repair. In both cases it came be fixed of course. There is also the case where the motor is starting to fail, and only works on high because of the additional power it need to get ot spinning (think of an old fan) Can it be fixed? Probably. But is it worth it is the real question.

[@jeffbrummette6357]

@@BrandonsGarage It’s a minn Kota with a foot pedal 70lb thrust.

[@barking.dog.productions1777]

Now that is a well trained dog. Comes right back to the boat after parking the truck. lol

[@doughesson]

My dogs expect me to park the truck after launching the boat & then take them riding the lake. They're spoilt!

[@DougsMessyGarage]

Hey Brandon, any chance you could throw your Pontoon series into a playlist? I am heading into a similar build and wanted to review what you did and was surprised to see you didn't have a playlist set up for it.

[@installer1571]

My god what a great deal $1,500 for that in Australia I'd be looking at at least 7 grand for that

[@Steve-wz5pz]

Boats are really, really cheap in California. An anomaly in the US, from what I can tell.

[@billysmith5977]

We have a 24 pontoon with a 115 mercury it’s enough to pull the little ones around on tubes

[@craigmonteforte1478]

I enjoyed this video as i grew up in South Florida and a lot of the camera angles and sounds brought back a lot of old memories of working on old boats i actually still like some of the oldie motors even sometimes because of their popular or well known flaws one time off shore Miami Florida we were out Diving in my Uncles old boat with a Chrysler 110 out board and the electric starter system completely failed we were forced to do a pull start using one of the mooring lines wrapped on the flywheel which actually had notches in the Flywheel for that purpose it took 2 men and 1 boy to get the old girl started but we did it btw the old Pontoon for 1500 bucks wasn’t that bad ive been a DIYer my whole life and about 15 years ago i Ebay purchased a Walk-in Foot Industrial sewing machine to do my own marine vinyl and Canvas in a effort to save money and have more quality control plus ive done some Vintage car interiors of course the Sewing machine is aChines Clone of a White machine that the patten ran out on it basically looks like a Sailrite although they claim they use there own parts and designs that are better and that may be true the Clone works just fine for what i do and in case i need to do repairs the Sailrite parts that are available off their website do fit and work on mine now everything ive made i did make my own patterns but in your case you could easily use whats left on those old pontoon seats you got to make it pretty easy if you so incline to do so

[@paulatkinson4439]

With a unit like that, you can make it all about YOU. I have a vision of finding an old 18-20ft toon & having drop down sides and a trap door in the floor to fish through. Other little touches to make it a home.

[@piquat1]

Mine isn't a pontoon but I did kinda rebuild it after I bought it. The best thing about doing it this way is you know EVERYTHING about the boat. It makes an odd grumble and you know right what it is and how to fix it. Gives me a lot of piece of mind out on a lake. Then there's the whole saving 10's of thousands of dollars on a new one. LOL

[@barthanes1]

Custom cut blue tarpaulin with zip ties, guaranteed to last until your next outing to the lake.

[@djmjr77]

You forgot about the holes already in said tarpaulin:)

[@doughesson]

Worth every nickel

[@rowdyjohnson2798]

Looking for pontoon. Turn into house boat. Free cottage? No yard work?

[@chuckhembree6101]

Do as I once did and take all seats and stuff that’s removable from the deck off and throw it away. Clean up floor to look good for fishing and go buy a table that you can move anywhere you want alone with some outdoor chairs which you can also move anywhere you want and go fishing, picnicking, or anything you want because you can move anything on the deck where ever you want on the go. We enjoyed the hell out of the one I did that way. So much so I tried to buy it back from the guy I sold it too.

[@GeorgeBonez]

I really like the collapsible top on that ole boat. I wish my boat had a top like that!

[@TexansForChrist]

Glorious seats there. Great addition for any on the water video. Lol. Great video. Great price!

[@get-the-lead-out.4593]

Thanks for the video, but ok and so how much work and money replacing all of that destroyed upholstery if doing it yourself? How much money if taking somewhere to have someone else do it? Is pontoon upholstery somewhat adaptable whereby someone can just simply go out to some supplier and they will have 'aftermarket' kits you can install?

[@BrandonsGarage]

Watch the other videos, its all explained. It looks like a completely different boat now.

[@doughesson]

Boating catalogs usually have pontoon furniture

[@Navywalrus09]

I know nothing about marine motors. So when you turned the key and water came gushing put, my brain immediately went "the engine pissed itself!"

[@BrandonsGarage]

Thats pretty funny, and accurate.

[@lubricator]

THANKS FOR YOUR FUN VIDEO!

[@joshuaadler4259]

just a little question are you on the colorado river by chance cuz the scenery looks very familiar

[@BrandonsGarage]

You are correct! It looks like this from Blythe to Vegas though, where about are you?

[@joshuaadler4259]

@@BrandonsGarage we have a river place in blythe actually it was funny cuz the houses you went buy looked familiar and I new that was on the river so yeah maybe you've seen us come buy

[@dart5722010]

Call it the tetanus. I would def want a bigger motor on there. Even my little 17 bow rider gets pushed around like mad in the wind. The 115 keeps it going where I need it. What was the Merc you took off? Looks like a tower of power.

[@colleenrose5151]

dart5722010 jjjjjj

[@SurviventheOnslaught]

i rented a pontoon with a 5hp

[@one234569and10]

How much did you put in to get it back on the water?

[@BrandonsGarage]

Somewhere bethween 6-8k I dont remember without watching that video

[@Sheddtycoon]

Good project, have fun.

[@heathschwab]

Wish you the best. Man I miss my pontoon boat ide love another one. But being disabled prob won't get one. But would love a house boat and just live on the water driving around not having to take it out and go home. Lol. You have a great week I see your doing the floor on your latest video I'll go check it out. God bless

[@michaelkenrick8847]

Definately piss quicker than that tell-tale!!

[@huntr4lfe]

That motor didn't seem like it was pumping enough water?

[@trav5205]

huntr4lfe our 25 hurts ur hand that’s how hard it pumps

[@jdjeep98]

Did you at least give it some time to check that the floats weren't leaking before you set out?

[@BrandonsGarage]

Hahahah, oh that's funny. Of course not. Heres the thing, we launched and headed up river; Should it have sank, or started to, a life jacket would have gone around the outboard, and we (My friend, I, and the outboard) would have floated safely back to the truck & trailer.

[@spencerhutchison3667]

My little 7.5 has the same fuel problem. Have to pump the bulb to keep it going.

[@ethanwebb1666]

Either a vacuum (impulse) leak or a bad fuel pump

[@doughesson]

Either the fix mentioned above or tell the kids to pump on it while you motivate around the lake

[@CRFHONDARIDER100]

Probably your fuel diaphragm when you push the bulb and flood it it pushes fuel past the diaphragm id look into that first. My old 78 Mercs fuel pump runs off the impeller so you may need that too try to start simple

[@chrisn262]

Hello There are two happy days in a mans life the day he buys a boat and the day he sells it ..... my personal experience

[@drmrjon]

Where is this??? Looks like Parker Az.

[@BrandonsGarage]

I bought it down in Parker. Right on the water.

[@lakesideranch]

Good Memorial Day to you and your family Brandon! Much respect for your channel content and technical info. Been in the outboard game since '69 here in Massachusetts, fresh water only thru the years. Have a safe work week, see ya on the next 1 Doug@ the "ranch"

[@brandonandsons2353]

Interesting video what were those things on the back of both pontoons

[@BrandonsGarage]

Gas tanks

[@vboytek]

Where do you live dude? Looks like a huge rock quarry filled with rain water lol

[@BrandonsGarage]

Bullhead City, AZ

[@michaellowe3665]

Please adjust your microphone level so we can hear you as loud or louder than the engine noises and commercials.

[@Speakno12]

Did you ever replace the water pump wheel?

[@BrandonsGarage]

*Impeller and yes! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fH2nnph7frZ2kJI

[@leodanryan966]

Thanks for making this video. It has served as a reminder to me why I truly believe I need a brand new boat in warranty.

[@BrandonsGarage]

Its pretty nice now though

[@paulstevens3401]

enjoying your channel! looking forward to more vids on the pontoon. Wondering from you comments any reason why you would go from a 40 to a v4, wondering if there is a reason to avoid 3cyl? Thanks.

[@BrandonsGarage]

Power and speed really. However the 40 seemed to do just fine. I just like the 40/50's better. Smaller, lighter, cheaper (much better on gas) I would like to put a 4V on it to just compare the performance difference. And no, 3 cylinders are just fine too; I just don't have any.

[@paulstevens3401]

@@BrandonsGarage thanks and good to know. yeah the v4 can burn a bit of fuel ;-) I have a 93' 90hp johnson, great torque, note replaced VRO with standard fuel pump and I think it is more efficient on fuel. All the best with the test!

[@doughesson]

Rule of thumb with cars is "After 50,000 miles YOU are the warranty". I'm still not sure what that works out to with boats. At least you like to tinker

[@jonathanchavez3002]

1:50 yeah idk what im looking at here lmao 🤣🤣🤣

[@sunnyqzado3455]

lol almost done installing a new boat on my outboard.

[@BrandonsGarage]

thats so funny

[@doughesson]

@@BrandonsGarage Often not too far from reality..

[@petecraymer1188]

Keep goin man I'm verryinterested in s÷ing what you run into and how you handle it I bought one last year ran it a summer and now its down to bare frame putting a new deck on

[@BrandonsGarage]

Got new plywood and hardware for the deck, carpet is on its way, so there will be videos for that coming up.

[@Juanito_Peligroso]

Cloudy days on the river is a nice break from the 1000 UV index.

[@BrandonsGarage]

Aint that the truth.

[@JabbaDahut-cv9up]

2024 I can't find any used pontoons for under $5,000 in Florida. 😮

[@donalddarbonne779]

Time for a 7 Marine engine.

[@BrandonsGarage]

7 Marine engine?

[@boatsandjeeps780]

Ya they make a 525hp out board, like a chevy small block turned vertical or sumthin

[@puertorro7630]

Where is that place?

[@koltenchotovinsky1969]

I’d put a 300hp

[@backwoodsshiner887]

I had same fuel issues on mine new jet in carb rebuilt fuel pump and new primer bulb fixed that

[@laykhampane2056]

What’s the name of the lake?

[@charleschidester6767]

Looks like the Colorado river.

[@WoodGuy]

You nailed it, it is Arizona, that's mentioned in a few of his videos.

[@johnhaller2594]

I live on the Colorado River in AZ. Where is this exactly?

[@Jasdar1973]

You did a Tear Down of Johnson 9.5 hp , would you be available to do some problem solving for the same engine?

[@BrandonsGarage]

Perhaps, what problems are you having?

[@briankruse3584]

Was your water pump okay?

[@BrandonsGarage]

yeah, it had a water pressure gauge on it at one point, most of the pressure was being diverted, resulting in this weak stream

[@chrishoyt0917]

God damn I wish I was mechanically inclined!

[@hugeblue]

Needs water pump ? Pee hole not enough water coming out . Try cleaning out the tube. use a piece of wire .

[@smoknarrow]

I saw Mohave Valley on CL.... where you at . Bullhead ,fort Mohave?

[@BrandonsGarage]

Fort Mohave. Are you a local? Pontoon came out of Parker. I travel between here and Southern California frequently.

[@smoknarrow]

@@BrandonsGarage havasu.. it's nice to see local video's an places I recognize

[@johnhaller2594]

That’s where I live. Lol.

[@alexurbaniak3161]

Love your humor 😂

[@BrandonsGarage]

Thanks! I have my moments

[@csinalabama]

I guess when you come down to it, they are all just 6 sheets of plywood floating down the river.

[@BrandonsGarage]

And, some of these boats cost nearly $100,000 Faster and newer, but still wood floating on logs.

[@csinalabama]

@@BrandonsGarage I know! I went to the boat show last fall. Some over 150k!

[@doughesson]

@@csinalabama It's nice to dream, ain't it?

[@bradleyroth8447]

im pretty sure he said it was a Mercury Tracker 40, but it looked to me as a 40 Evinrude

[@ammoalamo6485]

...and you made a Craigslist seller one very happy camper, err, boater, err, seller. He was heard to be shouting "I sold that white elephant pontoonn I found out in the desert! I can't believe someone bought that POS for more than the scrap metal value! whooie, free beer till the money runs out, that's only a couple of twelves so get it quick.

[@WoodGuy]

But if you look at the follow up videos that piece of "scrap metal" is now looking pretty good.

[@coalitionofarttechnologycl9063]

What's the dimension of this boat?

[@BrandonsGarage]

8' wide 24' long

[@easydoz1]

You live next to this river? I'm jealous...

[@ghostofreagan3181]

Dude 1500 is a DEAL!

[@cecee8845]

Can someone please tell me the name of the tool you used to check the compression please thanks

[@BrandonsGarage]

Its a compression gauge. That one is a 10 year old Harbor Fright tool. Don't buy one from there now though, everyone complains about how far off they are. Get one at your local auto parts store.

[@cecee8845]

@@BrandonsGarage thanks I'm picking one up today

[@waltershumate5777]

Im impressed the seller got more than 50 bucks for that pile of junk!! ESPECIALY with no trailer!! The motors were legendary, but Most of the Craigslist motors are ruined beyond repair where the sea is near by. No canvass, seats in ruin,...Scrap!

[@BrandonsGarage]

Came with a trailer...

[@johnpike9612]

The sea isn't nearby and for $1500 in Arizona you can't beat this boat. I nearly bought it back in February when I stumbled into it while working out of town, didn't have any reasonable way to get it home or it would've been mine 😀

[@johnpike9612]

Oh and BTW, there's way more than $50 worth of scrap aluminum in that thing.

[@BrandonsGarage]

I completely agree.

[@carbonflinger1]

Yep that motor needs to come up, you can not see the cavation plate.

[@chriscorum7266]

Water line should be lower now it was on top of the pontoons

[@tarzanapeking1981]

Kudos to you for buying this. I hope you negotiated it down just a little..? Also did you see if it floated first?

[@nr3rful]

I never go out on my pontoon if it's windy.

[@CRFHONDARIDER100]

Why take off a big merc for a little 40 hp motor

[@alexandertherrien2307]

I was wondering who else had that question

[@skeetersaurus6249]

Fuel consumption...when you don't need to get there fast, you just need to get there affordably. Not the first time I've seen someone 'de-tune' a boat for sake of outrageous fuel bills...

[@CRFHONDARIDER100]

Skeeter Saurus my 79 150 merc sips on fuel compared to other big motors to each his own

[@teddy198820]

Show more on that evenrude 40! I have the same motor!

[@BrandonsGarage]

Oh I will. Plan is to do a VRO delete / fuel system video, a lower rebuild / water pump video, and a power trim/tilt electronics/controller video. I have a lot on the 1989 40 HP I did, but they are a tad different in 93.

[@teddy198820]

@@BrandonsGarage I guess mine is a 1991 Johnson 40. I just found your channel last night I'll be watching quite a few more of your videos! Thanks!

[@jeffperkins6514]

Take care of that OMC motor and it'll last longer than you. Great video.

[@7808y]

What river is that?

[@BrandonsGarage]

Colorado river!

[@markroeder2491]

Heck with the impeller huh? LOL

[@BrandonsGarage]

Yeah, who needs it right? ....I gotta change it. Got lucky this run.

[@jack-wl8uj]

That roof looks like a great place for a dozen solar panel and...

[@doughesson]

As of this posting, $190+tax at Harbor freight gets a 100 watt,4 panel rig

[@1952ford8n]

nice job but 40hp will be a dog and very slow esp. when you have a few people onboard

[@yeeyee5312]

Sounds like Lester off of gta 5

[@jeffmech600]

Compression is always #1

[@burnair1608]

Why didn't you leave the 115 Merc on it?

[@Akkede]

Its too big For that

[@Solracotos]

Is this Arizona?

[@BrandonsGarage]

Some is filmed in Arizona, some is filmed in California. Depends on where I'm standing.

[@edwardchance2543]

Pretty cool boat great video

[@ashtonlabb1646]

We have an old duracraft it was in much werse condition now it looks brand knew new wood new carpet and a new moter a paint job some welds to patch the holes and some time so I think u can get that in good condition

[@BrandonsGarage]

Oh I'm half way there already. Stay tuned for the deck and carpet replacement.

[@ashtonlabb1646]

I will

[@Sheddtycoon]

New water pump for sure.

[@BrandonsGarage]

well yeah, but the slow flow was because of a restricted hose. This was gone through in the waterpump repair video.

[@FishingwithCristina]

I forgot I was looking at your video and I opened the OfferUp app and I'm like oh my God they giving away a boat then I realized it's your boat lol what a heartbreak

[@justinholmes5328]

Put down the bong

[@FishingwithCristina]

@@justinholmes5328 I don't do drugs but it was late and I was on offer up looking at boats

[@justcausecatfishing9278]

Do you work on boats for other people? I have a boat I would love to get worked on, would you be interested?

[@independentthinker8930]

Love those inline motors!!!!!

[@abhvgas]

the 40 will move it but your better off if the 115 is good, to sink $ in that. once you put 5 people on that you will see how under powered the 40 really is.

[@cooperleonard6105]

U need like a 200hp on that boat

[@williammarnoch174]

Cooper Leonard no 80 is perfectly fine for going around 25mph so i would think 200 is a little overkill

[@skeetersaurus6249]

Buy a bassboat if you want 45-knots on the water. Buy a pontoon to drink beer and drown worms...40-hp will get you there, JUST FINE (and save you a LOT of beer money in the process).

[@theoneandonly7191]

Hey man I will buy the old motor off of you if you don’t want the old one.

[@hagansmith2047]

My grandpa got one for 500 local in great condition just with no motor but he already had one

[@opposetraffic2597]

Sure looks Colorado Riverish.