Little Pontoon and Big ideas

[Yellowfellow]

Hello and Good day to all

I have been considering a purchase of a in progress project of a 18' pontoon boat.
At the moment it is just the toons sitting on a new trailer with a new deck attached to them.


I was wondering/dreaming/thinking about enclosing the front 10' for sleeping (cotts) and living area which leaves 8' for fishing and lawn chairs.

Camping out for the weekend in it and trolling during the day.

Is this a realistic idea or a pipe dream.

All and any suggestions, directions will be appreciated.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Little Pontoon and Big ideas

Its very realistic and a lot do just that. I more or less fixed mine up to do that 2 years ago. You may want to enclose the back 10 feet , better visibility that way with a clear front deck. When I did my rebuild I left the front 8 feet clear of any furniture so I can pop up a tent and toss in 2 cots.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Little Pontoon and Big ideas

Pontoon boats are finicky when it comes to weight distribution. Your plan may make it bow heavy, resulting in plowing and prop ventilation. Most larger pontoon boats that have a solid cabin have it located nearer to the center. Careful, you don't want to build a submarine.

 

[Yellowfellow]

Re: Little Pontoon and Big ideas

The enclosure idea would be just a frame of conduit and your standard bimini material.
I would not be mounting anything down in the front and the only funiture used would be plastic patio furniture and cotts.


I would still think it would weigh a bunch but would that still be too much?

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Little Pontoon and Big ideas

What a lot do is add a hard top and then use bimni fabric and clear plastic panels and make a enclosure.Or if you have the bimni frame that also can be used. Altho thinking about that I dont see why it wont work, I have been thinking on doing some thing like that but was thinking more on finding a hard top, but yes it should be light enough.

 

[IraRat]

Re: Little Pontoon and Big ideas

Why do you need 10' for sleeping? How tall ARE you!?

:lol:

Can I assume you want to sleep 4?

 

[lncoop]

Re: Little Pontoon and Big ideas

Sounds like a fun little rig and certainly a feasible idea. It will just take some careful planning and imagination. If you decide to take it on keep us updated. We love to watch folks do things like this. Good luck and welcome aboard.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Little Pontoon and Big ideas

welcome aboard

A good friend of mine had a pontoon with an aluminum framed hard top that had a sun deck seating up above and a swim slide he can pin in place. uses a 12volt pump to keep the slide wet.

he had the snaps for canvas side curtains on the frame. He sold it a few years back

sounds like a great rig your building

 

[Yellowfellow]

Re: Little Pontoon and Big ideas

Why do you need 10' for sleeping? How tall ARE you!?

:lol:

Can I assume you want to sleep 4?

No just 2 people and a small dog but I also want to make sure the steering counsel and my captain chair would be in the enclosure also.

The lakes in my area are small power produceing dams.

Here is my favorite fishing spot

File:Kananaskis Lakes aerial1.jpg - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[Fleetwin]

Re: Little Pontoon and Big ideas

Just an idea. I would launch it first to see how it reacts to weight at the stern and bow. Just walk around on the deck with a freind or two.

 

[Yellowfellow]

Re: Little Pontoon and Big ideas

Just an idea. I would launch it first to see how it reacts to weight at the stern and bow. Just walk around on the deck with a freind or two.

Kinda tough for a couple 4 months as the water up here is a little hard.