Pontoon Boat Rail

We are currently rebuilding a pontoon from the floats up. We are debating whether or not to include railing or walls. We can't find any laws/regulations regarding the requirements of this. I always thought they were required, but my partner disagrees. Thanks.

If it is used to carry passengers then no guard rails could be interpreted as an unsafe water craft if it is used an registered as a work boat then a certificate of allowance can be issued if the original railings are beyond repair consider using speed rail products as it utilizes 1.5" pipe & boltable feet, tees, corner tees, and cross tees, at a reasonable price not very attractive but sturdy.

2009-04-26 12:50:01 by thusiatone

www.17Marinellc.com *Sold

I have a 15'6" old aluminum Deep V fishing boat and we are looking at an old 16' aqua patio but we'll need to trailer it. Will a standard 2 rail crank up galvinized trailer hold this safely?

Pontoon trailers are "different'. You would be better off looking for a pontoon trailer. If your only going to use it once, to get the aqua patio to your lake, I'd bolt a couple long boards on the current trailer, tie the boat down really well, and safely move it. Keep in mind that the wheel base would be narrower and `it will be tippy, but by being extra careful, it'll work for a short distance.

2008-05-29 22:05:33 by Jim D

No breakable plastic used in this product
No assembly required
No tools or clamps needed

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

Price: $12.99 $8.72

No moving parts
Made of solid one-piece construction
Finger tip adjusting

My family and I recently vacationed in VA. The resort we were staying at rented boats, so we rented a pontoon boat one afternoon. When the marina person (young male) was going over operation guidelines, he told us that VA law states that if a person is outside of the railing of the boat while the motor is running, you can be charged a $20,000 fine. (To give you a visual, basically you can't be on the back of the boat to fish while it's running.)

I am not that boat savvy, but my father is. He told the guy that we would be happy to respect their wishes that we stay within the metal railing, but that the law he was quoting is BS.

Has anyone ever heard of this law? I have done some preliminary searching for it, but can't find anything close. If there truly is no law, I would like to call the resort and complain.
Bandett, your post is very presumptuous, not to mention completely incorrect. I am not a litigious person. However, I do expect those running a business to be honest. If there is not a $20,000 fine (which I suspect there is not), we should not have been told that there was one. To assume
that we need the threat of a large fine to follow a perfectly logical safety precaution is insulting, not to mention dishonest.

Do you really advocate lying to adults to get them to comply with simple directives? If so, perhaps you should run for public office. That way you can spread your fearmongering to the masses more effectively.

Your father is correct that $20,000 fine is wrong. It has been explained to us by several marine patrols in our area (just south of DC) that the fine is set at what we jokingly call $500 per leg. One person with 2 legs outside the boat is $1,000. Two people with 3 legs over the side is $1500, etc. While not at the amount you were told it can get steep enough quickly.

The law is there for safety reasons and should be adhered to at all times. Nobodies life is worth $1500, correct?

2008-09-04 16:53:18 by OceanGirl99

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