Im want to built a pontoon boat,help pls,?

Question

i have a 2 pcs16feet by 8 inch diameter aluminum tube,want to cut each in half so i can have a 4 pcs 8 feet by 8 inch pontoon 2 pcs on each side in tandem,what is the best deck dimension for this?can it carry a 4 person?is it safe to built apontoon with this readilly available tubes?thanks

Answer 1

no don't do it far to small for the flotation needed.

Answer 2

8 inch diameter is not really big enough to build a boat with. Most pontoons are approximately 24 inches in diameter.

Answer 3

Wow!  What a wonderful idea...

Problem is however, with the 2 pieces of 16' x 8" aluminum tube you already have, it will only float 500 lbs maximum.   So, that means that if you weighed 150 lbs, your tubes weigh 50 lbs, and you add 100 lbs of materials (one sheet of 3/4 inch plywood is 75 lbs) to build your floor joist and decking... you will only be about 3 inches out of the water...  for each additional 50 lbs you add, your vessel will sink another inch in the water.  And as a foot note here - trying to manually manuver (paddle) an almost totally submerged craft through the water is virtually an impossible task.  So, you really wouldn't have the floation for a friend unless you just want to sit on it and float... it will do that just fine.  

So, at best, you would be looking at a stationary swim platform or a one maybe two person raft.

certainly no motor of any kind.

But, don't give up the idea of building your own boat... that is a great idea...

If you want to see a very easy to build pontoon boat or even houseboat...  however...

visit > www.glen-L.com < they have great easy to build plans, information and instructions for the novice boat-builder.

Happy & Safe Boating!