It is structurally sound, soild pontoons and deck, good carpet. It's old but I bought it from a Judge. He said he parked the boat 2 years ago.

So my concern is with the motor. A 1989 Yamaha 90hp 2 cycle. Old but recently rebuilt. But as I said, he just parked it and it sat for 2 years in his boat house on a hoist.

I assume it needs the carberators rebuilt, a new water pump kit, fresh lower unit oil, spark plugs etc etc.

The Question is, since it was running when he parked it, is it worth it to fix up this old motor? I tend to think so.

The Dawson Marine dealership in Jasper was very discouraging about fixing it. I think he's just trying to work me into buying a new motor.

Any comments are welcome, thanks.

I would pull the plugs, put some lubrication in the cylinders and do a compression test. If the compression test is good, I would check each spark plug for spark. Then check the lower unit oil for signs of water. If the motor passes all of these tests, it is very likely to be a great motor. You could still have something else wrong that is costly to repair, but these three things will cover the vast majority of potential issues.

If you can do the work yourself, you will be able to get her going for less than $200 - and that is assuming you buy a complete water pump kit, carb kits, etc.

I certainly would not buy a new motor for an old pontoon boat under most any circumstance. Worst case you go and buy a used motor from a boat with a bad transom or something like that, but not a new motor.

to me an '89 is a fairly new moter. I still run a '75. By all means, its probably worth fixing up. If compression is good, rebuild carbs and new water pump. Do yourself a favor and buy the manual. Good luck!

Make sure you get a carb job done...Motor should be fine after a little maintence...

I'll give you half your investment back on that motor with controls tomorrow if you're worried about it.

don't even try and run the boat without rebuilding the carbs. You can ruin that powerhead in a hurry by running it with bad carbs. No Fuel in one or two cylinders also means no oil. So don't even take a chance.

Thanks guys.

I figure the motor couldn't be too bad. The owner, my new neighbor here on the waterfront on Toledo bend, just parked it in the boathouse and left it neglected for 2 years.

So maybe gummed up carbs, dry rotted impeller etc. It turned over fine but didn't start. So it's not like it threw a rod or locked up with melted bearings or something.

A fishing pontoon boat, can't hardly wait to get it fixed up and go fishing.

Guns Donavan.. I havent had much luck out of those fellows over the years. We lived on Toledo for about 15 years and always used a guy named Alton Carlson his business is Carlson's Marine in Hemphill, his number is 409-579-3170, he is a super nice guy, and if cant fix it, than I dont think anyone on this planet can fix it. I would trust him with anything I have. He is located in Six Mile on Hwy 87, from Jasper is about a 40 minute hike, take 96 north until you get to Hwy 255 turn right, and then come to intersection of Hwy 87 turn left and then drive about 20 miles (give or take 5) and he is on the right in Six Mile... I hope this will help....

Rick

Hope is not lost, I just rebuilt a motor that was sitting for six years and had dirt dobbers in the cylinders. Cost was not bad, just what it took to get new gaskets etc. In your case it shouldn't require near as much as mine did. Asuming it was not invaded by any bugs or moister. I would just make sure your compression is good, new plugs, new water pump kit, change lower unit oil and if you want rebuild the carbs. The carbs are easy to do and its worth the effort. If everything is done right and you maintain the motor properly it could very well outlast the boat itself.

Thanks Rick,

Yeah I had a bad feeling as soon as I talked to some service guy named Keith. He gave me the impression all was lost, and I was doomed. Don't think he even wants to work on it.

Wednesday he'll said he'll tell me how the compression is, which is the "biggie" but he ignored how the previous owner just parked it and just left it neglected.

Anyway, I'll call Carlsons if Dawson Marine (Keith) can't handle business.

Moved here from Georgia so didn't know who to deal with.

Thanks a lot Rick.

Sounds like to me that someone is trying to screw you outa your motor & make a ton on selling you a new one!! I run a 1982 model 35 hp Evinrude that starts runs as good as a new motor would!! By all means check the fire & compression on it FIRST, if it has compression, IT WILL RUN!! Sounds like you got a sweet deal on a neat old poontoon boat!

Thanks prater,

I agree with everything you said. Hehehe there were a few dirt dobbers, but I believe it can be recovered with the fixes mentioned.

Anytime, if you need anything else over in that neck of the woods, I still have a lot of contacts in Jasper as well as Hemphill, so just shot me a message if you need something. If you do talk to Alton, tell him Rick Paradis said hello.


Rick

That's the feeling I got too with this guy.

My first real job was at Albany Outboard Marine (Ga) 30 years ago. First rigging new boats, then doing winterizing and tune ups. And naturally, doing service on people's motors who didn't winterize. So the next season the carbs were gummed up.

We'd clean them up with carb rebuild kits. Put them in the test tank after and make sure they ran ok, check to be sure they pumped water, if not, rebuild the water pumps. Drain the lower unit oil, check for water and metal shavings etc etc etc.

So when I finished talking to this Dawson Marine service guy, I was left wondering if I was nuts or he was.

That's why I came here to ask other people with experience what they thought about the situation.

And you guys have helped a lot with your logic.

I may still be nuts but not about this apparently.

Will do Rick.

I have a feeling I'll be seeing Alton. Today Dawson Marine (Keith) said he'd let me know what's wrong in his opinion. If it makes no sense, I'll be calling Alton, and give him my business.

Thanks.