Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Central Florida (Lakeland) here.

Picked this up for $250, including title, trailer, and 15 horse johnson (seized).

Deck was shot, transom pan was in bad shape.

Goal is an open floorplan, no permanent seats (maybe bench in the back for safety equipment storage, no carpet, small (very small) center console mounted forward or midship, large livewell, xi5 trolling motor on the front, and removable rod holder set up for crappie/speck fishing.

Stripped down and then everything pressure washed.

Found a transom pan on craigslist for $150 right as I was about to start fabbing it.

Have a couple questions:

1) Why did the previous feller use 3 pieces of C or U channel instead of hat channel and then shim with wood? Is this normal or stupid? Any reason to not just get 3 more pieces of aluminum 1/8" hat channel like the rest are and use it?

2) When it comes to marine plywood, I keep reading different schools of thought regarding protecting them. Do you need to epoxy or seal the marine plywood? What is the best/most cost effective method for doing so? Do you need to sheath it with fiberglass? NOT putting carpet down

3) Vinyl or gelcoat/other nonslip paint? Looks like it'd probably be about the same price within reason. How long does the vinyl hold up? Issues with it?

4) What size engine would you guys say would work for this thing? It came rated at 25hp, but that was with smaller logs under it. I'm sure it was a dog with that 15hp on it. I was thinking 30-40. Not familiar with powering pontoon boats, but my gut tells me I need more power than I think I do.

[quote="sunshine52"]Have a couple questions:
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2) When it comes to marine plywood, I keep reading different schools of thought regarding protecting them. Do you need to epoxy or seal the marine plywood? What is the best/most cost effective method for doing so? Do you need to sheath it with fiberglass? NOT putting carpet down

3) Vinyl or gelcoat/other nonslip paint? Looks like it'd probably be about the same price within reason. How long does the vinyl hold up? Issues with it?
...
[/quote]

Good candidate for "rubber" bedliner, IMO. Get the DIY Herculiner online. Pretty cheap, easy to work with, and definitely is tougher than anything you glue down. If it were me I'd strain most of the sand out before rolling it on. You don't need that much non-slip.