Great forum! Newbie question...building a 14' x 8'

[cbergm7210]

Hello everyone. Thanks for allowing me to enter your great community of boat enthusiasts!

I have spent the last two hours perusing your incredible forum so as to help me decide whether I should drop the money on a pro-built pontoon for my family or to build my own. Admittedly I have read through many, many posts on different opinions on building many styles and sizes of boats, but I have to say I have missed any posts that talk about what I need specifically, so if anyone can link me to a thread about what I need that I may have missed, that would be great!

Here's what I need. I simple electric trolling motor powered fishing platform, 8' x 14' would be fine. My parents would be using it, and they are in their mid 70's, so it would need to be stable. Myself and two other fellows would use it for fishing as well. Simple electric trolling motor power is all. No river fishing, no extreme high winds. Just something I can keep tied to the dock all year round and take out on the water for use on this little 7 acre lake.

Here is what I am considering, and for a 8' x 14' you are talking around $4300. I know I can build something for half of that, but I need some guidance as far as how to go about it.

www.rettey.com


So, the two dollar question is:

Do I use barrels? Refurbish an old pontoon boat? Buy new pontoons and build my own deck? If so, plastic or aluminum? And from where? Any plans for this size boat out there?

I reside in St. Louis, if that makes any difference. I have access to most DIY processes, construction, some welding, etc.

Thanks again for all the help, and for a great forum!

Chris

[rasorinc]

You don't need a boat for your usage on a 7 acre lake. build a floating dock. I built one out of redwood and stryofoam dock billits close to the size you want. Bolted it together, never treated the wood and it is still floating after 30 years. The Billits come 20" and 24" wide by 5" or 7" thick by 8' or 9' and float 500lbs to 700lbs each. you need 4. Just build a frame to box them in and run
2 x 6 over the top in either direction. Do not space the boards on top as stryofoam does not do good in sunlight, Build a bracket to hold your electric motor Gives you a stable platform. Billits $500.00 bolts $25.00 and redwood
probably $ 700.00 to $900.00 in your area.(A Grade) No paint or glue and I can draw it up for you for peanuts, Build it in one day. 30 years proven lifetime. Keep it simple. You will be able to troll with it. Only damage to mine on a 20 acre lake is a few muskrat bites in the foam. That is 30 years in the water--never been out of the water.

[alan white]

Ras is right, Cb. Don't throw money away overbuilding the thing. I'd like to add that I recently built a dock that was 10 x 16, twice as big as you want. I used $800.00 in lumber, $800.00 in floats (polyethelene boxes), and my labor came to about $800.00 to the customer.
At half that size, say 8 x 10 you'd be looking at only $800.00 and a day or two labor.
The thing is, the slower you go, the less the hull shape matters. A pair of rows of three polyy boxes are like hulls anyway. No streamlining needed, just keep it under three knots. Use a steering oar in a notch for manuevering. the rig should keep everyone high and dry.

[rasorinc]

And you can build a railing on it if you wish. Stryofoam floats about 55 pounds per cubic foot. Air floats about 62 pounds per cubic foot so either way you go it will not sink.

[cbergm7210]

That's what I like to hear, fellows. DIY is my friend.

Sounds like each of you used a couple of different items for the floats.

Styrofoam or polyethelene boxes, right? I assume both would be fine for my purposes, so I guess my follow up question is, where would a fellow go to find each of those parts for this build? Is one cheaper or easier to find?

Thanks guys,

Chris

[rasorinc]

If you go stryofoam billits here is one link of many. Just Google stryofoam dock billits for many more. http://www.dockbuilders.com/styrofoambillets.htm
These people make plastic tanks for gas, waste, water, diesel and I'm sure would make an air tank for you if you go this route,
http://www.incaproducts.com/site/why_plastic.aspx

[stan v]

Originally Posted by rasorinc

You don't need a boat for your usage on a 7 acre lake. build a floating dock. I built one out of redwood and stryofoam dock billits close to the size you want. Bolted it together, never treated the wood and it is still floating after 30 years. The Billits come 20" and 24" wide by 5" or 7" thick by 8' or 9' and float 500lbs to 700lbs each. you need 4. Just build a frame to box them in and run
2 x 6 over the top in either direction. Do not space the boards on top as stryofoam does not do good in sunlight, Build a bracket to hold your electric motor Gives you a stable platform. Billits $500.00 bolts $25.00 and redwood
probably $ 700.00 to $900.00 in your area.(A Grade) No paint or glue and I can draw it up for you for peanuts, Build it in one day. 30 years proven lifetime. Keep it simple. You will be able to troll with it. Only damage to mine on a 20 acre lake is a few muskrat bites in the foam. That is 30 years in the water--never been out of the water.

I have GOT to see a photo of this!!

I live on a 6 acre lake and something like this is exactly what I'm looking for!!!

[rasorinc]

Here are the billits. Just build a frame around the outside out of 2 x 6 or 8 and run stringers between the billits and cover with decking.
http://www.dockbuilders.com/styrofoambillets.htm There are many suppliers of these billits, and many sizes also.

[cheddar]

contact these people ref to poly pontoons if you decide to go that route. they have some good info on the web site as well. Good luck with your project.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.rotonics.com/flotation/gu...-pontoons.html

or

http://www.plasticpontoon.com/index.html

or

John Davis Jaddco Marine 306-865-3338 (John is in Canada but he knows his stuff)

[cheddar]

I had problems when i checked the link i gave you. Try www.rotonics.com then follow the tabs for pontoons. They have several sizes for you to choose from. Best of all the company is not far from you and you could pick them up for no shipping charges. They also keep the stuff in stock so there is no waiting if you need them.

[stan v]

Originally Posted by rasorinc

Here are the billits. Just build a frame around the outside out of 2 x 6 or 8 and run stringers between the billits and cover with decking.
http://www.dockbuilders.com/styrofoambillets.htm There are many suppliers of these billits, and many sizes also.

Decided to make things more difficult.......12' pontoons...18"x12" plywood/epoxy/cloth with light flooring for a deck, probably 1/2" ply on 2x4 treated stuff, 6x8 or so. Rail of some kind to keep kids from rolling off. It'll be left in the water for 7-8 months at a time, what paint for the pontoons?

Thank you all for a great forum!!!