TOPIC: '74 Marlin with 1350 Merc tower - $595

The important stuff looks pretty clean, but it would take some TLC. Looks like it has been stored outside, so my guess would be that it has a soft floor. If there are no structural problems looks like a fun boat after you fix the cosmetics

northernwi.craigslist.org/bpd/5669631740.html

The Marlin was another copy of the Tahiti and if they were made the same the floor is the structural element as they didn't use stringers. Just be worried about the transom as once wood gets wet it seems to spread to all the other wood in the boat.

For the price it would make a heck of a great project seeing as it is complete with a motor, trailer and all the rigging.

Karsten

For that price, it's a no-brainer! The PT&T setup alone, if you were to sell it on eBay, is worth just about the price of the whole rig!

But don't do that, it'd be a shame to part out that beautiful 1350. It needs to be restored to its former glory.

I used to have one just like that on a 16' Sidewinder SS, an almost-identical hull and the Merc was an absolute Beast on that boat!

ok, ok - I get the picture. It was really growing on me already!!

Cal is probably going to think that I am crazy to buy another boat. This will take up the 4th stall - nowhere for the van this winter!!

Time for a garage in a box from Sam's!!!!

Here is some more information on the boat from the CL poster - not a lot of help!!

1 - When was the boat last used?

Don't know

2 - Has the motor been checked, impeller, tilt / trim, lower unit, etc

no

3 - How is the floor and transom?

To the best of my knowledge it is in fair condition

4 - Trailer and lights - have the bearings been checked and are the tires good.

Trailer has been sitting and will need some attention

5 - What size are the tires, and is there a spare?

I am not sure of tire size, but I can tell you that there is no spare.

6 - How has the boat been stored? I understand it is currently shrink-wrapped, but has it been sitting in the elements uncovered in the past?

No always been stored

7 - Are there any issues with the hull besides cosmetic concerns.

I don't believe there are many cosmetic concerns, it's dirty

Going to look at it this Sunday. They are going to prep it - charge battery, inflate tires, etc. Hopefully everything pans out and by the end of Sunday I will have a full garage!!

Got an email from the seller today stating that they were prepping the boat for me to look at it on Sunday and they thought it was a lot rougher than they thought. Told me they will sell it for $250 as is. I asked them to send some pics, but even if the hull is trash, the Merc and T&T is worth a multiple of their asking price.

They have me a little nervous with what I am going to see based on the little that they mentioned. However, even it the hull is toast for some reason - the seats will look good in the GT-150 if they survived. Here's to hoping that I am pleasantly surprised!!!

Good luck! hope you get all you want out of it. I road trip tomorrow to buy and haul a pontoon home for a friend...I always find things for others when shopping for my stuff. Gotta help when you can. Finally, their family can all fish together with 3 generations rather than someone always having to stay home until next time in the little fishing boat. I love seeing people get family and friends out on the water and having fun!

That sounds like a worthy trip to me. Glad that you can help out a buddy. If you find a secret spot with a lot of cheap pontoons, let me know. My dad is probably going to look for one next spring after getting the lagoon dredged at the cottage. That is one of the reasons I keep looking for outboards.

This boat is going to be a project for me and the kids. Haven't been able to spend much time with them since the divorce. Once the boat is done I will title it in their names! My son is really excited about that. He will be 18 in January, and my daughter who is 19 already loves to spend time on the water. Hopefully this is just the thing to spend some good times with them. Bonus is that we save another glassic and a Merc tower.

Send me a direct message as to what size (length), what age/condition, furniture or not, fishing model (live-well and swivel seats), OR just family seating, with motor or no motor. I am in pontoon area a lot and try to keep my ear to the rail as best I can. Some people want just solid structure with the larger diameter tunes and then they do total re-builds. Others just want a clean boat in good shape so they can turn the key and go. Tell me what to look for and I will help you however I can. I helped 2 friends hook up with each other for a sale a few years back and also did some elbow grease on fixing up a pontoon we got a few months ago for my 81 year old mom who loves to go. We painted, and bought simple stripes for 100 bucks and it turned out great...helped make it affordable for my brother and I to keep Mom on the Water. She just had kids (me and wife), 3 grandkids and Spouses and 4 great grandkids...Great Grandma had an amazing day on the water and so full of life!

Nice looking rig Mark. I'm still in the process of downsizing. Might have a sale Sunday afternoon.

What's for sale? I think I am at least equally in need of Merc parts vs OMC now. My concern right now is fuel fittings and hoses for old Merc towers. Plenty of tanks, but no gas hoses to get it to the motor

Let me now when and where and I might swing by with the new rig. I will be picking up and dropping off the kids at home so I will be right in the neighborhood

Misunderstanding. I'm not selling parts. Selling boats. Have someone coming from 2 rvrs to look at Pull Toy. Part of my going out of rebuild business at home.

Isn't that your daily driver? Are you going to slot in the Tomahawk to that role, or are you not going to have a boat to play with?

Mark - I will let you know what he is looking for. Our biggest issue is no pontoon trailer. We would have jumped at a few at Rawhide, but no trailers. Let me know if you see a toon trailer up for sale as my dad and a buddy might go in on it. Or if you have one to rent at a price that doesn't break the bank. From what I have heard, renting a pontoon trailer is the equivalent to selling ice in the South - stealing!!

63SLtriton - trailer wise, I will keep my eyes open. I do know what you mean...so many toon deals, but you have to live on water because most people do not have trailers. I see $50 dollar trailer rentals from dealers. Used trailers sell like they are made of gold as you know...usually used range from 1,000-1,800. It usually is a benefit to buy a tune with a trailer rather than separate (everyone likely already knows what I am saying). The one I am leaving to get in a few minutes has a trailer and my friends life away from water (so that was a must). Got lucky this time. Keep me posted on a length if you want a toon WITH a trailer.

Mark - ultimately the toon will live in the lagoon at the cottage all year. We just need the trailer to get it home and in /out every year.

got the toon home. rained the whole time. dead battery and old gas and fouled plugs - solution...had jump-pack, spare plugs and remote tank fresh gas and a raincoat. Brought just enough stuff. 2 hours of cleaning to surprise our friends. I guess the 6 "P's" works. Prior Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance (actually was taught it was 7 "P's", but want to keep it polite.

Does the 7th "P" fit between "prevents" and "poor"??

The deal is done!! 6 hour round trip drive, a tank of gas, and $250 cash. I am now the proud owner of a 1974 Marlin with a 1971 Merc 1350 !!!!

I will post a few pics related to the journey below, but I will post an inspection video and future updates in Member Projects or Merc Outpost.

All in all a great day and nice to spend time with the kids - even if they slept most of the way there and back!!

Where it has been sitting since he took the shrink wrap off 2 days ago. Poured yesterday!!!





Handshake has been made - Monkeys by their new project



Thanks Matt!!



Have to stop at the Worlds Largest Muskie Shop!!! Rollie & Helen's








Dropping the kids off at home - almost made it!!



Home safe!! Just need to shimmy her into the garage. She is a little wide in the rear end!!

Looks like a great road trip. Glad everyone is home safe...Did you buy Musky Lures instead of ice cream as a reward?

You would be correct on that 7th "P". Great rig you picked up!

We grabbed a catalog to order materials to make bucktails. I have a tool that will make the eyes and bend the wire to make bucktails. It is almost more fun to see something take a swipe at something you made yourself than catching them.

My daughter still talks about the size of the tail that took a swipe at one of our bucktails when we were fishing for muskies up in Bemidji. Thats the fun of musky fishing - even a swipe counts!!!

Sweet!