Polyethylene pontoon boat kits

[jusfloatin]

Good day to all
I am considering the idea of buying a 21' pontoon boat kit (8'x20' deck)which is a medium density polyethylene that comes 3' sections ( execpt for the front/rear sections 42").
I fully understand that these types of boats do have there issuse and I am prepaired to live with them.
My intentions is to build a poormans house/fishing weekend getaway boat. The house part would just be a tent with a propane barbeque that has a side burner.
Speed is not a issue and it will not be pulling any tubes unless it on a jig, so it will be running something in the way of a 40hp Bigfoot or the high torque Yamaha.
Those are my piticulars.

I seek ideas on what has worked and what has not or things to consider when it comes to building my boat on a very limited budget. I am the type of person that can live comfortable with things being more funtional than show, I have been seen driving a moped and I love the big bottom girls.

 

[kciv]

Re: Polyethylene pontoon boat kits

I considered building a pontoon boat from a kit because I am cheap. But by the time I added everything up it costs a lot more than a used pontoon. Finally bought a 25' pontoon with a trailer for $850. I would suggest that you buy one the size you want and strip it to point where you want to start building your camping boat.

Mine came with a transom, rails, trailer, and best of all a last forever fiberglass composite deck. I put a tin roof over half the boat. I leave mine beached on the shore and did not add anything that would hurt to get wet.

p.s. Aluminum pontoons last forever it you do not break them.

 

[jusfloatin]

Re: Polyethylene pontoon boat kits

Pontoons are no where near as plentiful in my area (Calgary, Canada) or even close to it that a deal like yours could be had.

What type of composite decking did you use?

 

[kciv]

Re: Polyethylene pontoon boat kits

I do not know. It came decked. The guy said that it cost $80 a sheet. It looks like wood chips mixed with fiberglass/resin.

 

[kciv]

Re: Polyethylene pontoon boat kits

In Texas it's $1000 sometimes. For $2500 you usually get a motor and can take it to the lake.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ftw/boa/1409781902.html

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/boa/1404674438.html

http://dallas.craigslist.org/sdf/boa/1402776911.html

These are not good deals, but are examples of ones that have not sold because of price.

 

[jusfloatin]

Re: Polyethylene pontoon boat kits

You cannot find deals like them anywhere's up here and I would think that they would go for 4 to 5.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Polyethylene pontoon boat kits

i paid $1,800 for mine, the engine was worth more than that. it may be worth taking a trip to pick one up. have not seen any of the kit boats.

 

[jusfloatin]

Re: Polyethylene pontoon boat kits

Distance is not a problem it the cost to bring it across the border than the cost to register an out of country boat and trailer.
We have a tax for just about everything up here.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Polyethylene pontoon boat kits

Distance is not a problem it the cost to bring it across the border than the cost to register an out of country boat and trailer.
We have a tax for just about everything up here.

All you will pay is GST. You don't have a provincial tax in Alberta and there is no duty to pay on a used US made boat and/or trailer. Registering is federal and quite inexpensive.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Polyethylene pontoon boat kits

All you will pay is GST. You don't have a provincial tax in Alberta and there is no duty to pay on a used US made boat and/or trailer. Registering is federal and quite inexpensive.

I agree. I bought a 20' pontoon and 30hp Johnson and trailer last year in Fla for $850 and towed it home around 1800 miles. It cost me less than $100 at the border in GST. And maybe an extra $150 in gas. It's cheap to do. Call your Canadian border services and they'll tell you exactly. It also makes it a lot cheaper if the trailer is more than 15 years old.

However, I never registered the boat so no idea on that part or it. We're on a river that has a patrol maybe once every 5 years or so so nobody cares. I haven't seen a patrol in at least 5 years now.

 

[QuoteWarz]

Re: Polyethylene pontoon boat kits

Building from a kit will save you some money, but it will be a ton of work too.