Pontoon boat flotation

[Boatally Insane]

I'm looking for some ideas to add more flotation to the rear of my pontoon boat.....



Currently it is powered by a 140 hp "iron duke" with an OMC 400 outdrive.

Any idea as to the weight difference between the OMC and an Alpha setup (I currently have several complete Alpha setups)

The only idea I've come up with so far is cutting out my existing motor well and putting a 14' or so john boat under the rear to mount the engine, batteries, and fuel tanks...

Also, if at all possible I would like to get enough speed out of it for watersports. Are there any better engine choices out there? The current engine is getting a bit tired anyway so I was looking in to replacement options. Do the 4.3 s weigh much more than the 4 cyl?

Lastly, Am I just better off going to outboard power and be done with it?

Please keep in mind, this is a budget project.. I currently have less than $2000 in it so far..


Thanks,

Doug

[lakerunner]

Find a 3rd log to put under it

[TX0303]

Adding a jon boat is a novel idea, but I think it would fill with water and then you're doomed. A Water Glide would give you more floatation and supposedly more speed, but they're not cheap. A shorter third log is probably the cheapest route.

[jimrs]

That is a problem with the older boats. The tubes are too small and won't hold a lot of weight. Change your tubes out to 3ea 26" tubes and fix your problem. Could be cheaper to buy a new toon.

[Boatally Insane]

.... Just curious... How would a 3rd pontoon add lift to the rear of the boat ?

My engine well comes about four feet forward from the rear of the boat so if I just bolted another 'toon it seems to me it would lift the front more than the rear..... ..or am I missing something????

I suppose I could cut the top of the 'toon open and weld it to the bottom of the motor well...

BTW I DO have the ability to weld aluminum so any modification would not be a problem....


The only other thing I've come up with is move my pontoons a bit further back, since they Do stick out the front a bit. Then add a third 'toon to it....


If I DID do the "john boat" idea it would be connected to the crossmenbers under the deck and WOULD be sealed with a bilge pump in it... Basically it would replace my existing motor well. Then I would DEFINATELY switch to one of my Alpha drives...

Thanks for the ideas....

Keep 'em commin'


Doug

[slingshot]

Water glides are way too expensive in my opinion. I never understood why someone would go with them rather than just putting a third log on. You can get aluminum logs off ebay and other manufacturers for about $500 to $600. I've even seen them as low as $200. They usually come with mounting brackets too. You can bolt them on or weld right to the cross members. I would point out that by going to a third log you will take away some of the characteristics you may currently enjoy with a 2 logger. You'll rock more and you'll lose a lot of that smooth ride your enjoying now especially in choppy conditions or at wot.

Here's a site:


http://stlouis.ebayclassifieds.com/part ... ?ad=190027

[Woody]

I would point out that by going to a third log you will take away some of the characteristics you may currently enjoy with a 2 logger. You'll rock more and you'll lose a lot of that smooth ride your enjoying now especially in choppy conditions or at wot.

I have found that to be the opposite when I went from a 2 logger to my tritoon.
My tritoon rides much better.

[WaltF]

Adding a 3rd toon wouldnt lift just the back, but the whole thing, which would in itself raise the back up.
I dont think youll ever get the toon to ride 'level'. Toons always ride lower in the back. Usually about half of the back toon is under water from all the ones ive seen...

I agree with the 'pack'.
Since you can weld AL, grab a third toon for 500 bucks and weld away!

[slingshot]

My Crest has Tappertoons which start out at 27 inch in the back and tapper down to 24 inches in the front. It works great with the boat sitting almost level even with a full tank and my fat ass in the back.

[toondog]

If you do the jon boat thing, please...please... take a video and post it on youtube.
Another thing to check out is a center pod with a motor mount.

http://u-fabboats.com/optional/centerpod.htm

[tkrein]

just a thought do the toons have water in them maybe look to make sure they dont leak that might be part of your problem dont know just asking and i would go with a 3rd log with a built in motor pod get that sucker in the air over size the middle one look at the videos online about oversized 3rd toon kinda cool

[Boatally Insane]

just a thought do the toons have water in them

Already checked... No water in them......

If you do the jon boat thing, please...please... take a video and post it on youtube.

I just got a 14' "john boat" fom my neighbor to try and see what happens..... i'll try and take some video as long as it doesn't make me spill my Lone Star. ......


The biggest problem I have with doing a 3rd 'toon is it could possibly take the water from the prop.....
.......remember this boat is an I/O with the propshaft 'bout even with the bottom of the 2 outer 'toons....

...just to give you an idea... Here is the waterline with the boat EMPTY



Doug

[tkrein]

loks like a fun project have fun take lots of pics then post them so we can see the progess later good luck

[toondog]

You could just try and move heavy things towards the front. Battery, gas tanks etc..etc.. I think part of the problem is everything is in the rear and the front has almost nothing. It would be much cheaper.

[tuned]

I just got a 14' "john boat" fom my neighbor to try and see what happens..... i'll try and take some video as long as it doesn't make me spill my Lone Star. .....

Doug

Don't forget to say "Hey, watch THIS!" before hitting the throttle for the first time. That always makes things turn out OK
It has also been known to prevent beer spillage.

As a gotta f with it guy, I love the John boat idea. Cheap way to add flotation. Are you sure the motor mount would take it tho?
I really like my WaterGlide, but not sure if right for you, especially looking at the (gulp) new prices. I am impressed with the look of those stubby center pods that toondog linked to.