Re: Pontoon Tubes
You can start by figuring the volume in cubic feet. Use the PI x r squared formula to get the area and multiply it x the length in inches. Then divide the cubic inches by 1728 (cubic inches in a cubic foot 12 x 12 x 12 = 1728) to get cubic feet.
Example: 23" toons (11.5 radius) that are 24 feet long + nose cone. Then, 11.5 x 11.5 x 3.1416 = 415.48 cubic inch area. Then, 415.48 x 288" length (24' x 12") = 119,658.24 cubic inches. Then, 119,658.24 / 1728 = 69.25 cubic feet per toon not including the nose cone which isn't much. Water weighs about 64 pounds per cubic foot so the buoyancy is 69.25 cubic feet x 64 #'s per cubic foot = 4,432 buoyancy. Then you have to deduct the weight of the toon themselves and this will give you how much weight it would take to submerge the toon. Then cut it in half because you don't want the toons more than half submerged, so the 4,432 x .5 = 2,216 lbs less their actual weight. Then subtract the weight of the boat structure and flooring itself and go from there. This is to give you an idea of what it can hold up, but don't go by this alone. For more info you can look up ABYC guidelines on pontoons but it's hard to find without a credit card number.
Mark
