weight calculations for pontoons

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by pjmar10, Nov 2, 2015.

  1. Village_Idiot
    Joined: Oct 2007
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    Location: USA

    Village_Idiot Senior Member

    The biggest issue with the typical cylindrical pontoon is that you have DECREASING reserve buoyancy once you exceed 50% immersion. This can create a very dangerous situation when overloaded and conditions turn rough. This is why pontoon boats are generally reserved for calm inland waters. They came to prominence because they were cheap to build (although no longer necessarily cheap to buy). People like the idea of the flat decks and open spaces to mimic their living room at home, so their popularity continues.

    A multi-chambered barge-type hull will have much more stability and buoyancy than cylindrical pontoons. Unless you are getting the pontoons for a song, I'd seriously consider a barge-type hull instead.
     

  2. lance linked
    Joined: Sep 2015
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    Location: Pennsylvania, USA

    lance linked Junior Member

    The other advantage of barge type wooden or steel skin hulls is that you can lower your floor in them to waterline while retaining significant shear line, effectively increasing headroom without affecting cabin height above waterline, which controls windage. This assuming a flat bottomed boat.
     
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