pontoon boat

[djwkd]

Originally Posted by cat chaser

Thanks for all of you responce and sudgestions... I managed to scrounge two 10" x 10' sections of pvc from a local construction site... if Ive done my math right that should be enough to float between 500 and 600 pounds... Im going to start construction this weekend ! Wish me luck!

Luck.

[djwkd]

Originally Posted by audredge

I've obtained some 55 gal plastic drums and am also trying to build a pontoon boat.Wondering if the use of PVC pipe for the frame is possible?Also wondering how to calc the weight capacity of each drum. This is going to be an offshore gold dredge so it has to be stout! Would appreciate any help!

well,you could build a simple raft (very simple) by tieing the water drums together with wood (you get what i mean) but ive never built one before,but am hoping to soon.

[djwkd]

Originally Posted by redman

I too am about to build a pontoon boat out of plastic barrels. I need your comments and suggestions as there aren't many plans out on the web.
I have 6 50 gallon plastic barrels. My thought is to use electrical conduit bent into a half circle to surround the barrels as they sit in the water. (I'm thinking 2 per barrel ought to do it). Across the top, I want to use 2" conduit for cross braces. To that, I'll attach 3/4" exterior plywood.

Here's another thought - your comments welcome - I'm wanting to use thin guage metal roofing along the sides of the barrels to streamline water flow and to improve the looks. I'm concerned about the blunt front end of the boat so I'm thinking I could "bend" the metal roofing cover in a shape like this:
" _____/ ". If I do this, I'm not concerned about waterproofing the cover. The barrels will provide the flotation. My thought is that the smooth straight edge of the metal roofing cover will improve my flow through the water.

Any thoughts? Any drawings out there?

Thanks,

i would have thought that a sharp edge would help!

[djwkd]

Originally Posted by ScourtU

I have built this "contraption" as some would call it. I used 1 sheet of good non treated plywood 3/4 inch thick. For flotation i used something as light and as bouyant as possible. 2 inch foam! I cut 4 full sheets of foam 16 inches wide and got 12 pieces. i used spray adhesive to bond them together and applied them to the bad side of the plywood. I then used a piece of nex-wood 3 1/2 inches wide and long enough to go from the rear of the foam and attach to the front of the plywood to use as skidders so the foam wouldnt get chewed up beaching. I then used carriage bolts to squeeze the nex-wood, foam, and plywood together. I used an electric chainsaw to slightly round the edges and to form the front of the pontoon. I smoothed it all out with a belt sander.It is kind of in that order but whatever. Next step was paint... exterior paint works painted the whole thing dark green. i attached 2 spindel seats on top, 1 mushroom anchor, and a simple eye bolt railing system with rope through it to stop anything from getting kicked overboard. I use a foot controlled trolling motor and a big deep-cycle battery.I cut a "sporty" tunnel hull looking front end on it and attached 2 oars to the edge of the plywood. I have had it out twice now on the mississippi river and it does fine. looks cool and floats in 6 inches with all equiptment and my skinny behind on there which is 140. The boat without the battery and motor and seats is literally no more heavier than just the original plywood. I would say less than 100 lbs and can get most likely over 500-600 lbs before the deck hits water. But unless you are a drunken fool it wouldnt have to carry that much weight. I use my mini van to transport the "contraption" to the river and i just slide it in and slide it out of the back of the van. Way lighter without the battery than with it while loading and unloading. Even my co workers think i did a really good job and even wonder what posessed me to build it. Simply put, i wanted a good fishing boat that didnt need a trailer and light enough for 1 man (mainly me) to load and unload. There you have it...MY VERSION of a perfect fishing boat. Im thinking of calling it Foam-ula 1. Ha-Ha... Thanks and hope this helps every home boatbuilder out. i wonder if there is a place where i can post a pic... Thanks ....Mike

click 'manage attachments',i think.

[djwkd]

Pontoons are stable,and the definition is just that there filled with floatation,and theres usually a few.

[djwkd]

Originally Posted by SafariMan

Hello, In a little less than a week my friends and i are building a pontoon boat and are planning to raft down the Niger river from the capital city of Niamey to the border of Benin, a small town called Gaya. It is about a 120 km trip (80 miles), and i was wondering if you had any experience with pontoon boats? The river is a relatively large one with a current flow of about 7mph. So far we plan to use 3 large barrels for each pontoon with a welded steel cone on one end. In between these pontoons i was planning on placing an angle iron frame and wood planks. The dimensions are about 2 and half meters by 3 meters. Thanks for the help!

i dont think you need any propulsion,but i would take a few oars to steer,if you just went and just steered with the oars,you would get there in just under twelve days or so (call it 15,so that you can sleep...)

[rooster]

Hi Everyone

Rooster here from South Africa im new to this forum and hope this is the wright place for this message . i am currently looking at building a pontoon boat i have checked all the websites i could come across and gathered quite a bit of info , now is there anyone out there that could assist me with the designing of the pontoon or is there plans anywhere that i could purchase .
The pontoon will be 8 meters long by 2.5meters wide with a platform and slide which will be collapsable for towing purposes .
Any info would be appreciated .
thankyou
Rooster
email address : ddossantos@telkomsa.net