Found one and bought it....Want to buy--18ft pontoon with 20 or 25 horse 4 stroke...not a project boat

[fishinwrench]

5 hours ago, yowoodchuck said:

 

All that said, who do you think is making the best 4 stroke 20-30 horse engines now?

Yamaha.   Hands down. 

But I sure wouldn't buy one.   

Who the hell wants a 25-30hp outboard that you can't lift off the transom without an engine hoist ?   

Or one that can never be rebuilt when the plastic components in the powerhead get brittle or sloppy.  Because lord knows that even if you do decide to agree paying 34 hours worth of shop labor to have it done......the parts to do it properly will NOT be available.   And neither will a replacement powerhead be available.   

It is a disposable outboard.   

Have you ever heard of someone having their 4-stroke lawn mower or motorcycle engine rebuilt?   No!   Because it isn't cost effective.    You just go buy a new mower/or bike and throw the old battle-axe in the dumpster.     Same deal with all small engine 4-strokes.   Outboard 4-strokes are no different.....they just cost even MORE.     

But a 2-stroke outboard/dirt bike/chainsaw/whatever......you can rebuild that sucker a dozen times, economically, and make it run as good as new (if you know what you are doing).    That's why I love them so much. 🙂 

My two personal primary outboards are 30-32 years old, and if you rode with me your impression would be...."Wow those are some easy starting, smooth and strong running motors.   And gee, they aren't even smoking like everybody says 2-stroke outboards do".    And neither have ever even been overhauled. Yet.  

Keep any 4-stroke outboard alive and well for half that amount of time.....and I'll buy you a night out on the town.   👍

[yowoodchuck]

12 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

Yamaha.   Hands down. 

But I sure wouldn't buy one.   

Who the hell wants a 25-30hp outboard that you can't lift off the transom without an engine hoist ?   

Or one that can never be rebuilt when the plastic components in the powerhead get brittle or sloppy.  Because lord knows that even if you do decide to agree paying 34 hours worth of shop labor to have it done......the parts to do it properly will NOT be available.   And neither will a replacement powerhead be available.   

It is a disposable outboard.   

Have you ever heard of someone having their 4-stroke lawn mower or motorcycle engine rebuilt?   No!   Because it isn't cost effective.    You just go buy a new mower/or bike and throw the old battle-axe in the dumpster.     Same deal with all small engine 4-strokes.   Outboard 4-strokes are no different.....they just cost even MORE.     

But a 2-stroke outboard/dirt bike/chainsaw/whatever......you can rebuild that sucker a dozen times, economically, and make it run as good as new (if you know what you are doing).    That's why I love them so much. 🙂 

My two personal primary outboards are 30-32 years old, and if you rode with me your impression would be...."Wow those are some easy starting, smooth and strong running motors.   And gee, they aren't even smoking like everybody says 2-stroke outboards do".    And neither have ever even been overhauled. Yet.  

Keep any 4-stroke outboard alive and well for half that amount of time.....and I'll buy you a night out on the town.   👍

Thanks for your input on this, perhaps I will expand my search to consider a later model 2 stroke 25 horse....that will be tough to find with power tilt. 

But not having much luck on finding any 18 ft pontoon in good enough condition that I don't have to strip it and rebuild the interior.

[MrGiggles]

14 hours ago, fishinwrench said:

Those 2-stroke Lawnboys were the quietest mower ever, though, weren't they?     Figure that one out. 🤔 

And light as a feather in comparison to any Briggs & Stratton unit.....which is the reason why so many folks loved them.   

When it comes to mowers, I've always had clunky old 4-strokes.   Only my candy-assed neighbors that belonged to the "Country club" had Lawnboys.  😅

You want one? I don't usually mess with push mowers but I grabbed this one from an auction.

I always thought it was neat how they routed the exhaust under the deck to hide the noise and smoke. And they are light as a feather.

[fishinwrench]

1 hour ago, MrGiggles said:

You want one? I don't usually mess with push mowers but I grabbed this one from an auction.

  If you were closer I'd be interested.  Everything I mow, these days, gets done with a Snapper rider, or a weedeater.   

If I had one though, I could start making my youngest kid do the front yard and the badminton and pool area that needs mowing every 3 days. 😅

[yowoodchuck]

Found a 2015 G3 20ft set up for fishing in great shape, with great trailer and a 2005 Yamaha 60 horse 4-stroke.

All looks good, 84 total hours on the engine.  I'm hoping to have the engine last till 2035, so Wrench can take me out on the town!

Oh wait, 2035?  Maybe we can get a meal at the nursing home together.  I'm thinking the one in Forsyth with the dock on Taney right by the dam. 😎