Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Figured I'd go ahead and start a rebuild thread here so I can have all the pics in one place... I got the trailer first here's a pic of it.



On to the boat, it is 27-1/2' long and 8'6" wide. It has the 51gal fuel tank and ski locker in the center tube, it also has full lifting strakes and a big 300hp transom. My plan is to hang an atlas jack plate followed by a mercury verado 300pro.im hoping this rig will see 50mph. I'm wanting this boat to be fishing friendly, but still be as comfortable as possible. As of now the plan is fishing seats in all four corners, baitwells front and rear and a big livewell midship. I still want nice couches in the center of the boat for entertaining and relaxing, and a 12volt sink and stainless BBQ pit built in to top it off.

Here is the boat after we loaded it on the trailer





Here's a few pictures of her once I got her home.

I haven't been feeling well the past few days but I finally got a lil better so I got started acid cleaning the tubes this afternoon.





Here's one side finished



Here's another before, I hope to finish tomorrow

What'cha going to be doing about furniture, fencing and the console?

With the power plant you're talking about, it should be quite a performer. I think you're right to go with the Atlas jack plate with that large a motor. You can find many people that know how to setup bass boat props, but a tritoon with a 300 hp motor is really somewhat rare. Maybe Bryan can point you in the right direction.

JacosMarine.com sells Merc's cheaper than just about anybody. Most his big motors are ProXS's going on bass boats. I was noticing online that he's not even pricing Verado motors, as the Mid South is not Verado country.

Mrs. Jaco was telling me how difficult the Verados are to setup with all the fly by wire binnacle, SmartCraft gauges and custom ordered wiring harnesses to hook it all up. They had never repowered any Verado--choosing only to install them on boats that were factory wired for Verados. When they're hooked up to GPS/fishfinders and autopilots, they must need an electrical engineer to order the parts to put'em together.

Depending on what wiring you have in the boat, you might want to get the Verado wiring harness installed prior to installing all the furniture, etc. That's quite a project.

To answer some of your questions, as far as Furiniture I'm really looking into veada. I like the fact that you can custom order all there products with any color you want... Plus, out of all the furniture I've seen it looks closest to factory.. The console will also most likely be veada, I like the big fiberglass unit they sell.

Fencing is a different story, I have a reliable source of factory rails but I'm choosing to custom fab my own. 1-1/4 square tubeing and aluminum plate for the skin, that way I can build them exactly like I want.

On to the verado, I wish I wanted a cheaper engine but I can't help it there is just something about the vrod that appeals to me that I can't shake. I love the fact that they have the digital controls myself, for one they just look cool. My boat can Handel a 300 so I figured I I can swing it why not bit there is a couple good deals on some 250's that have me looking.

The atlas jack plate is what glen reccomends at veradoclub.com and they seem to know there verados over there so ill take there word for it..lol

Thanks for your interest in my dream toon! Ryan

Can't wait to watch this build!

I could say the same about your build Fergusmj! Your boat chassis is very similar to mine except mine is longer....

Ouch!

Story of my life.

Any updates on this yet? I'm anxious to see what you've done and are planning to do.

Sadly no, all I have done is looked at it and took some measurements trying to decide how I want to layout my seating arrangement. The boat show will be here next month, and you never know, I might just have to bring home a nice new verado.

and a little bit of....

Do you already have the fencing, or do you have to get that still as well?

Our boat show is in February in Indianapolis. I've thought about that. Any of you all know if the prices are that much better than during other times?

No fencing yet, I've got a good source of factory rails for very good prices but I'm going a different route. Ive still got my mind set on custom fabing my own fencing, this way I can build it to 100% accept my deck layout and most of the nice looking factory rails won't work for me. I'm going to skin it with aluminum plate so it'll be more dent resistant than that cheap crap thats sold for skinning.
Can't say for your boat show but mine always has great deals and the winter show is even better...

If you're going to be fabricating your own fencing, I hope you're an accomplished TIG welder. Building fencing might require a great deal of patience, as square tubing bent into a tight radius is quite easily collapsed.

And you might to have to invest in a hydraulic square tubing bender, which is more expensive than round tubing bending equipment. I've seen fencing fabricated on UTube.com, and it's not easy to do.

Go Ryan go! I love my SouthBay. Glad to see another builder.
As far as Mig/Tig, I actually BRAZED my rails together (although not a full build rail job). Several doors and length modifications tho. I can send you a link to it if you like.
I also was wondering (like others) how you are hoping to bend your tube?