Looking for plans for a 2 person pontoon boat for fishing.

Discussion in 'Boatbuilding' started by kraythe, Dec 31, 2013.

  1. kraythe
    Joined: Dec 2013
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    kraythe Junior Member

    I came across your forum and I apologize for the newbieness but I figured there were a good amount of experts here.

    My hobbies are Blacksmithing, Metalworking, Hunting and Fishing so I am fairly handy. I have been looking for a small pontoon boat that can be used for fishing in small lakes but all of the models I come across are either inflatible or extremely expensive. I figured if I can handle welding and smithing, I should be able to catch on to new tasks. My woodworking skills are decent though I spend more time with metal.

    I am looking for plans to a boat (since I am not good enough to design one.) Basically id like it to be comfortable for 2 people to fish on and have a bit of extra space. I also would like to have a boat that isnt such a slug in water as many small pontoons are. Each hull should have a cutting bow rather than just a blunt nose and a keel under to help the boat track. I was thinking some kind of fiberglassed construction on the pontoons and fill the pontoons with liquid pourable marine grade foam*Then I would make the frame for the pontoons out of aluminum and then the deck with aluminum, fiberglass or plywood and put something like rubber tile on it for ease of grip when wet. I would like the boat to be able to handle 1 foot waves that sometimes creep up on big lakes if a storm blows in. Im looking at about 800# payload. Oh and I would also like to be able to row this guy with some oars.

    Can anyone suggest some plans that would accomplish my goals and perhaps some vidoes on glassing and how to build fabric over frame boats.

    Thanks a bunch.
     
  2. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    Sounds like you just need a simple open boat with a tiller outboard. A rectangular plan boat like a shallow-vee punt would do the job. 15 feet or thereabouts. Anyway, don't stay out on the lake with storms brewing, waving a carbon fibre lightning conductor, er, fishing rod, around ! :D
     
  3. kraythe
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    kraythe Junior Member

    Hah I have no intention of doing that but sometimes the wind kicks up around here unexpectedly. Want to be able to get to the shore without soiled trousers.

    I thought about a single hull but there is a question of stability. Since the floatation is in the pontoons, its pretty much impossible to tip them (unless you put a big sail on it and go looking for wind. :) )

    I guess a cross between a sailing catamaran and a fishing pontoon boat.
     
  4. upchurchmr
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    upchurchmr Senior Member

    You could double up the length of one of these.
    [​IMG]

    SORRY - just a joke.

    I haven't seen something specifically for fishing, but one of the old sailing catamarans could be a good start.
    I specifically like the Nacra line. You would need to move the center area farther forward to get the boat more balanced. That means new cross arms and a solid deck. It should be able to take a small motor. If you want to row you would need to reduce the beam from the typical 8 feet, but as you say it shouldn't be a problem with tipping. In Texas these come up on Craigslist about one a month. Other boats like a hobie cat 16 have too small of a hull to support much weight, although they are more easily found. Most are trash though.

    There is a 12 rowing catamaran by Mark Gumprecht.
    http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/gumprecht/cat12/index.htm
    Looks like you would need to stretch it to about 16ft to get two people on it reasonably. I think.
    [​IMG]
     
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  5. Dave T
    Joined: Sep 2011
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    Location: Anamosa Iowa and North Buena Vista on the Mississi

    Dave T Senior Member

    Take a look at my boat on my thread [A boat a motor and a trailer] under boat building. It's real simple and quick to build, unsinkable, drafts 4" of water, real stable and has handled waves of over 3 feet on the Mississippi. I don't have any plans but if you're interested PM me or post a message.

    Dave T :)
     
  6. kraythe
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    kraythe Junior Member

    LOL That guy is missing a few thrusters.

    As for the rowing cat, thats sort of the idea. I wonder how wide I need to make tipping be unfeasible? I know the general idea of the lines of the pontoons but Im not a boat designer so knowing the general idea and getting good lines are two different stories.
     
  7. kraythe
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    kraythe Junior Member

    Link to the thread?
     
  8. Dave T
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    Dave T Senior Member

    Don't know how to make a link to thread, just scroll down and you will find it.

    Dave T :)
     

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  9. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

  10. kraythe
    Joined: Dec 2013
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    kraythe Junior Member

    Cool project and nice info but I am looking for something with a more defined keel for better performance. I don't know if a flat bottomed boat like that would row especially well. Im thinking something based off a catamaran sailboat but doesn't have to be so long and thin, a fatter version of that. I want ot be able to motor out on the lake then row up to where the fish are so we dont scare them.

    I am reading a free boat building book I saw linked here and I was thinking wood core with fiberglass on top might be even better for beginner. Is spray fiber pretty much impossible to do without specialized equipment?

    If I had the plans it would be an excellent project. And since TV bores me ... would be fun.
     
  11. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    CLoth glass on plywood wet out with epoxy is the easiest for a beginner if the beginner can do carpentry. If you can weld and rivet aluminum that would work for you.
     
  12. kraythe
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    kraythe Junior Member

    now I just need to find some plans. What is the best lightest wood to use in composite design? I know balsa wood but that stuff is seriously expensive.
     
  13. kraythe
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    kraythe Junior Member

    I am wondering if I could adapt a plywood canoe design and build two of them and tie them together. Something like in the following:

    http://www.gatorboats.com/images/pirogue2.jpeg

    My only concern is that with a canoe design, the boat will have less boyancy on the ends and be less stable when standing on the bow or stern.
     
  14. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

    Weight wise you can't do much better than cedar.
     

  15. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

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