Build A Pontoon Boat

I have the logs from a 18ft boat. It need a floor, rails and a motor seats and everything else. I was thinking about starting a new project but I was curious as to how much money I will have to dump into it. Thanks

You may actually be better off buying used. Cheap marine seating can cost upwards of $1,000 for the basics. Not sure about rails.

check out www.pontoonstuff.com (no, not kidding at all)

I just redecked my 25' toon last year. I got furniture off Ebay for $1200, but had to drive six hours to get it. Used engines in the 50 horse range can be had for as little as $300-$500, but a new 50hp will cost you about $4,500. Figure roughly 100 bucks per horse in that range, but you can get some deals.

Rigging for steering, throttle, shift, and all the lighting, will cost you roughly $500 new, but again, used is available on Ebay or in boneyards. I started with a beater boat, but the rails, motor, etc were already there. Oh yeah, the rails are very pricey. You'd be money ahead scouting the papers for a solid used boat that you can rehab.

2007-05-17 13:23:42 by I'm as cool as ice cubes

how to build a pontoon, in auto repair shop

How or where can I get information on boat building and the
legality issues. I have access to large diamiter stanless pipe
and other materials, plus a large shop with facilities to do most
any comercial project. I could build a extra large pontoon style
craft that would float a 8x40 foot conex\container. I could put deck on either side to make overall dementions around
28x40. Building it, dissambling and houling to the coast, then reasembling would not be a problem. Usage would be limited to east coast close to shore and intercoastal waterwways.
Dock and bridge repair and underwater welding equipment
would be primary use.Should it be self powered or towed like a barge?Any related info helpfull. Thanks

dont know of anywhere to look for info on something like that.
will say, if you are using it for mainly stationary platform, and building it yourself, be better, id say, being a barge. if you add engines or propulsion system of some form to a pontoon style craft, the design will have to incorporate a mounting platform etc for this engine. then your going to need fuel tanks, your going to need some form of control system. your going to need to figure out how you want to do it, most likely outboard id say, but then you need an outboard mounting plate and figure out how to get it situated so it would work efficiently, pontoon boat that size, would be very non hydrodynamic and would require a large amount of power to propel. so a large engine would be required. with a container that size on it, i dont think an outboard would be up to the task, you wouldneed to go diesel inboard. then you have engine bays, load bearers, various fire extinguishing systems, stern drive would neen to be mounted, ad on a pontoon, this is difficult without careful design of some form of pod between the sponsons. unless you went twin engines in each sponson, then your getting even more cost and more design. id just go tow, if the only time it moves is to and from a job site.
legality? i wouldnt know, BUT, if it was being used as a commercial craft, im sure the coast guard will require it registered, and thus, inspected and meet the standards of a commercial craft, usually safety systems and so forth.
im sure also it would be very hard to get a craft like that insured. iknow my boat is custom made and getting insurance for that is hard, and thats n ot used for commercial use. and that was built using modern day standards, to code.
also on coastal waters, materials would be something needing careful concideration. you have access to stainless but bare in mind, in salt water, it would have to be marine or hospital grade stainless. regular stainless wont last long at all in salt water.
i think its an ambitious project, especially to carry a load that size, and id sit down and do some serious math on it and design before you weld together a platform. weight distribution going to be key. thats abig load and a high load thats going to be sitting high int he water with very little draft. going to be unstable, even on a pontoon design. hafta design it so the weight is well distributed so as not to sit the bow too low or make it too side to side.
sure it be possible, just probably pretty expensive if safety is a concern.

2007-11-22 02:32:00 by fishwater

Price: $2.99

I would like to build a homemade pontoon boat. What are my options. Can I build a frame of marine plywood and fill the thing with something like foam?Thanks for the help. Engineering students here's your chance!

30 gallon drums and wood frame.

2007-06-21 12:00:13 by rosey6075

I've looked around online a little and havent come up with much. Im lookin to build my own boat to fish from mostly something in the 12'-14' range. Plus it would just be cool to say "hey i built that". Many thanks for any help. Oh and also free plans are even better.

No, you won't find much online. Free plans are a waste of time, I'm afraid, they're often incomplete. Your best bet is to buy some design software and draw up your plans yourself. It's much easier than you think and it would be better to be able to say "hey I DESIGNED and built that!" The software I use is under $40 and it's superb. I've put a link below to where I got mine from.

2009-05-31 18:24:14 by kk

I am building a pontoon boat out of mild steel, i'll be building literally everything for it except maybe the toons because they would take longest - i have calculations for bouyancy and all that good stuff all i need to know is what is the rule on weight limit and amount of people for the size, Im making it 19 foot by 8 foot. I live in North dakota but will be using it mainly in Minnesota, any idea on how high the toons have to sit out of the water at full payload, etc. Anything you know on these regulations would help. I have all the information I need for life vests, fire ex. and all that just I need the design regulations, such as whether or not rails are REQUIRED and all of above. Thanks.

building it out if mild steel isn't suggested !!

steel is heavy and will RUST

the "toon" would have to be gigantic

2007-05-29 20:44:41 by Jesse C