Mini pontoon/5 inch gold Dredge

[Tye]

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I’ve already typed out a lengthy couple paragraphs while trying to post photos with my story my story disappeared so I’m posting photos first. I’m an amateur gold, miner it’s mainly a hobby. I have a full-time job as a mechanic. If you’ve ever watched any of those gold shows on cable, I do about the same thing, but on a much smaller scale. I recently traveled to the western side of Nebraska to pick up these pontoon tubes. I plan on making a miniature pontoon with a 26 inch wide 8 foot long, gold sluice that will fit in a framework adjustable on the bottom side between the tubes. I know this is a simple build. I just need a framework a deck, one or two seats maybe three a railing. But I’m not a boat designer or builder. I’ve been doing a little bit of research on the Internet and I keep on coming across this forum. Even though this is really a simple build there might be something I’m not thinking of. I am going to put a motor on this pontoon. I’m not really going be running up swift waterways but I could. I don’t wanna add a lot of weight to this set up so I’m not looking for a large motor to attach to it. 26 inches wide up the center between the pontoons I wanna have a limited amount of framework. The deck is going to be completely covered but in the center from top to bottom, I wanna have two 13 inch hinged panels that fold open to give me access to my sluice.

 

[Tye]

Also, is anybody making UHMW strips for bottom of pontoons? Pontoon thickness is 0.90 but I would still like to have an additional protection on the bottom. I suppose I could take these pontoon tubes to a fabrication shop and have a an additional layer of aluminum sheet TIG welded to the bottom. And one last question Construction is going to be made from aluminum the framework and the deck. I think I’m going to run 2 x 5 rectangle for my framework. Is there a minimal wall thickness I should be thinking of. And decking I think I’m going to put diamond plate on the top and glue on marine carpet is there a minimal thickness for decking would like to keep the weight down.

 

[montero]

Hi Tye .
Lenght and width of main pontoon ?

There are 4 welded pieces, do they have a connection with bulkheads ? What's inside pontoons ? Wall thickness and alloy type ?

 

[Tye]

I know there 13’10” long. I believe they’re 17 inch diameter but I’ll have to verify when I get home. the four welded pieces Are welded down to the Tube. I don’t Think that there sectioned off on the inside, but that would make sense that they would be sectioned off where the Tabs are on the top of the pontoon is placed. I mean they could be there is one vent per tube or pontoon. And I don’t believe they are filled. And I don’t know the alloy. I’ll have to contact the manufacturer. Wall thickness is 0.90,,,,,

Update- I just contacted the manufacturer and they told me it was 5052 aluminum. And there is one bulkhead half the length of the pontoon minus the front cone. And it’s not foam filled.

 

[montero]

Pictures lie. Draw on a piece of paper how your plan looks from above with dimensions.

 

[Tye]

Pictures lie. Draw on a piece of paper how your plan looks from above with dimensions.

I’ll do this This evening when I get home and I’ll post it, this is gonna take me a minute it’s in my mind, but it’s been quite a few years since I’ve sketched a dimensional project.

 

[montero]

 

[Tye]

Yeah, I’ve been turning wrenches for 39 years not working on a drafting table. I’m not gonna make out the requested even so simple sketch of what I’m gonna make. I’m just gonna look around this site and that’ll be about it. I’m sorry for wasting your time.