9 things to consider before buying a used pontoon boat

Important tips and things to look for when you're looking at a used pontoon boat, like a Sun Tracker, Manitou, Bennington, Sylvan, Godfrey, Harris, Stafcraft, Avalon, Crest, Float, etc. I give 9 things to consider before buying that used machine that you're looking at, these are things you should look at before making a purchase. Pontoon boat shopping. Watch this video before you buy a used pontoon boat! #pontoonboat #pontoonshopping #boating #usedboat #purplecollarlife
1 - Pontoons (size and condition)
2 - Decking/floor (plywood condition)
3 - Carpet
4 - Upholstery
5 - Overall age/condition/features
6 - Bimini Cover
7 - Motor
8 - Trailer
9 - Cover (fitted, weatherproof)
Using our 2011 Sun Tracker Party Barge 21 as a demonstration
------------------------------------

Partners and Sponsors

OUR EQUIPMENT LIST
Takeuchi TB235-2 mini excavator
John Deere 2210 Compact Tractor
Ford 641 Workmaster tractor
Ford 8N tractor
Toro TIMECUTTER
Toro TIMECUTTER MAX 54 with MyRide 77503
Toro PowerMax
Split-Fire 2265 two-way log splitter
Split-Fire 3465 two-way log splitter
Polaris Ranger
Yamaha XT250 dual sport motorcycle
Stihl chainsaws MS271 MS290 MS261C
Super Duty Ford F-350 Godzilla 7.3 CCLB
2011 Sun Tracker 21 Party Barge with Mercury 60 EFI Bigfoot
1995 Ford Bronco XLT 351 w/Bassani stainless exhaust

We live in Northwestern PA and have around 70 Acres of Land, in the middle of family homestead land from more than 4 generations back. We have one daughter, one rescued Great Dane, and one cat. We enjoy working on our property and making improvements. We enjoy tractors, chainsaws, splitting firewood, rural living, and all purple collar life projects. Our day jobs are primarily white collar job, but our rural life is full of blue collar and purple collar activity. #purplecollarlife

YouTube Community guidelines:

The content of this video is intended for entertainment purposes only.

Thank you for your support.
#purplecollarlife

Published July 30, 2024
Current subscriber count at the time of upload: 22,952
Purple Collar Life is a privately owned channel and part of Education Situation Specialists.

Sponsors: Toro, Artillian, Curtis Industries, Earthway, Andersen, B&W Hitches

0:00 - F350 towing pontoon boat
0:44 - Introduction - shopping for a used pontoon boat
1:50 - What we paid for our boat
2:20 - Consider the pontoons (condition and size)
5:06 - Consider the decking (floor plywood)
6:35 - Consider the marine-grade carpet or vinyl flooring
8:00 - Consider the upholstery
11:43 - Consider the bimini cover
13:32 - Consider the age and overall condition
14:59 - Consider the outboard motor / engine
18:08 - Consider the trailer
20:50 - Consider the boat cover (custom fitted)
23:00 - Blemishes, scratches, dents, etc.
24:20 - Always do a water test, test drive
25:15 - Great family boat
26:31 - Sunset cruise on pontoon boat - priceless

[PurpleCollarLife]

Check out our other pontoon boat videos:

[mileshiles]

We love the time we spend on our pontoon. Great advice.

[aliciaarroyo]

This was a wealth of knowledge! My grandparents always use to take us out on boats and pontoons. They have passed and I am ready to buy our first one used so I can enjoy this with my family. I feel like you covered everything in this video.
How do you recommend cleaning the boat? Any videos on that? I remember always wiping it down when we got off the water but I didn’t know if it needed more care.

[tucuquito]

Great video man, I was looking for these info. Thank you so much.

[davida.p.]

Excellent advice and tips! 👍 I say "Bima-KNEE" . A little trivia: The makers of Mercury outboard motors are NOT the same as Mercury cars. Those were made by Ford, but THIS Mercury is a separate company. Mercury Marine. (And again, you can tell they're tough because they're....marine) 😊 Thanks for sharing, Chad.

[theonlyluisyouknow]

This was SUPER helpful. Thanks for the thourough video!

[ppgwhereeverett]

I wish I would have know all this last year but we got very lucky with our NEW to us 2003 Godfrey 160 last summer. The owner covered it always and took care of it in general ! Our first boat. Been on Bayliner 16 to 18 footers but a 16 Flat Deck pontoon boat has five times the room ! Never even looked at anything but pontoons and would have nothing but a pontoon Except maybe a Hatteras 50 MY, of course !

[RCAFpolarexpress]

Good Evening Sir, This Is Truly An OUTSTANDING INFORMATIVE VIDEO 👍🧐👌Very Nice Tips Sir Cheers 👌👌🧐🧐👍👍🍻🍻

[ppgwhereeverett]

Buying a pontoon boat ? WATCH this First !! Save yourself someone else's Head Ache ! Great video !!

[fingerlakesdiet]

Nice video. You can use WD-40 to spray on the vinyl believe it or not. The smell goes away within a day.

[rickmervine]

The top 'Awning' is called a bim - eh- knee, just like the island in the Bahamas where it got its name.

[stoweman]

If it’s a 4-stroke motor and 2005 or newer, you can get the hours by taking it to a certified mechanic for your brand of motor and have them hook it up to the motors brand proprietary software.

[cameroncoulombe]

Hey man, love your videos you should make another Video about the Ranger

[MartinStockel]

Have you lost some of the snap buttons that hold the travel cover? They make a special tool to unsnap these buttons which can usually be found at your local boat shop. Beautiful boat and thanks for all the things to look for before purchasing.

[bash]

That custom cover might be pretty to look at but no protection for your painted sides, nor will is keep rain water from entering the bottom edges going into your carpet. Just for those of us that don't have large storage buildings.

[ppgwhereeverett]

We did replace our Bim inn nee 'cover' only, not the frame, about $150.oo

[stoweman]

Power steering is referred to generally as hydraulic steering on boats.

[fredbiden]

I just ordered a 8 ft bimini cover 4 bows complete for $199:00 not 500-1500...

[GlasonEarnie]

That's no bass cat jauger STS pro with the 500 R mercury.😂😂😂😂😂😂

[mkkem]

Not (Ba mee knee ) take it from a canvas man