Homemade Pontoon Boat

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

Polystyrene Boat 2,5meters x 1,24 meters. Electric motor 250W, 30Ah 12v Lithyum Polymer batt.

I have about 10 plastic 55 gallon drums at my disposal and was wanting to make a pontoon boat out of them, just wanted to get some ideas

I kinda think you could strap 'em to a frame. If your straps held 'em firmly to the bottom, you could frame around 'em to immobilize 'em.

If you plan to have them floating where half is above the waterline and half below, each will support about 234 pounds *minus* the weight of the drum itself. So with all 10 drums you could use around 2300 lbs of building materials (*minus* the weight of the drums).

Try to get the weight evenly distributed. Unless you can figure out a way to add planing strakes to the drums, you'll have a displacement vessel -- it won't go very fast no matter how much power you hang on it. I'm thinking 40hp max...she'll be a lumbering beast, difficult to control. But she'll be your lumbering beast!

2008-09-21 14:16:11 by stumpjumper84

Price: $2.99

I have built a 3 hull 8 man pontoon boat. It is 13' x 8'. It has three hull's and a wood framed platform 10' x 8'. There is a tiki hut framed canopy covering the platform with 3' high bamboo siding around the perimeter. There is wood framed benches running along the back and both sides. I have framed a 2" x 6" motor mount along the back of the hull's. I'm thinking of getting a 8 to 9.9 hp outboard motor for it. I have not the slightest clue how I'm going to steer this boat. There is a 3' low wall that runs along the back of the boat and the out board motor will mount about 2'-6" behind the captains seat. How can I connect a steering system or connect an extension to the throtle where I can steer the boat? Please help?

get yourself some PTO cables, secure em to the motor bracket, you can use a steering wheel but youll only be turning like 130 degrees total so a lever would do just as well.

some people preffer a strait mechanical linkage, like steering on a truck, but for a little pontoon that wasnt built to have remote steering, it would be more cost effective to use PTO cables.

i wish i could post a drawing i just made... it makes perfect sense when you 'see' it.

2007-07-27 19:08:15 by Jason H

Price: $329.00 $265.30

Power-up/free-fall down design with built-in light
Anchor deployment speed of 620 fpm with no battery drain
Measures 10 by 8.876 inches; 2-year warranty

ive built homemade boats before so im good with tools, but ive never made a pontoon boat, i plan on building a small one man fishing boat, what materials could i use for the pontoons?, i do have some 55 gallon drums i was thinking of using, but what could i do to make them more hydrodynamic

You'll want to add domed or conical end pieces to the leading edges of the first two barrels. You could probably get a sheet metal shop with a rolling machine to fab up conical ends. Be careful if you are considering welding the drums and verify that there are no explosive fumes in the drums. Four drums, the minimum I would consider, is 1600+ pounds of displacement.

2009-01-03 09:56:48 by Me

dont know what type they are but its on a old homemade pontoon boat. its 18 foot and has 3 chambers per side. I put 10 psi in and it seemed to ride a little low but not sure if i should put in more or if this would cause damage.
it is metal and has 3 air valves.
seems to look seaworthy and didnt have any troubble on the lake just not sure if it takes air and if so how much.looks like all other pontoon boats i have seen.

Are you talking of a metal pontoon boat or a inflatable? Metal pontoons are vented not pressurized. Must inflatables boats run 3-4 psi. But seeing that is home made, take it to a dealer and have them look at it. It may not be sea worthy

2006-08-01 18:41:20 by Cheryl S