Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

margaritaman wrote:

RonKMiller wrote:
The one really good thing about boating at Lake Powell is the beaches - literally thousands of them sprinkled among 2000 miles of shoreline where you can pull up and have it all to yourself almost any day of the year. I've gone twice in rented houseboats - NEVER again.

What is wrong with renting the houseboats. I was thinking of doing that!

Maybe things have changed, but a few years ago the last one I rented was just incredibly bare bones, way underpowered and basically just a pos. It smelled REALLY bad too. Oh yeah, the motor went out and we sat for a day and a half before it was repaired - no partial refund - nothing. ARAMARK is the pits, but then, when you have a monopoly why should they care?

We did rent an Economy model, perhaps the Luxury ones are worth the extra money. As always, you pretty much get what you pay for... but it was a garbage scowl.

I think there is only one vendor on the lake. (Aramark?) The 57' we rented in the picture above had two 60HP Merc 4 strokes on it. It wasn't real fast but it did get down the lake. Two screws gave it pretty good maneuverability. I took it out in the middle and played with that for a while before we got underway so I wouldn't have any surprises.
We got the boat right up the road from Page. They had a different selection at Bullfrog.
We were pretty happy with the accommodations on the boat (clean and well equipped) but I wish we had sprung the extra $100 for the topside steering station. I felt like I was driving a submarine through the periscope using the inside helm.

Uh Oh - the deal is ON. I will soon have a one owner 1988 28 foot tritoon Party Hut complete with trailer and running 90 hp Yamaha with blown reverse gear for next to nuttin.

Time to start tearing it down to the frame to shed excess weight. This is gonna' be a project, but I'm already anticipating the stares I'll be getting in my "creation". I think I'll call it "Puttin' on the Ritz".

The boat, especially the toons, look to be in great shape for 'next to nuthin'.
Have fun and take pics during teardown and build.

Are you trying to make it like a ferry boat.Drive on drive off. Why not just leave it on all the time.Take off the wheel and the tongue. .I have a 24 ft Starcraft .It's rated at 2250lbs. When your on the water in motion close it up When Anchored open it. How do you plan on tieing it down. In heavy water it could move or shift ,then what. It only takes one good windy storm.

Silver Eagle,
Welcome!
Start the thread from page one all that is discussed.

Ron,

Make sure and carpet those trailer bunks!

Parasympathetic wrote:The boat, especially the toons, look to be in great shape for 'next to nuthin'.
Have fun and take pics during teardown and build.

Yep, they're in excellent shape except the middle has a couple of small dents in it on the bottom where it no doubt encountered a rock - I did talk to a mechanic at the marina where it's stored and he said they're nothing to get excited about - kind of like door dings on a car. I'm a looong way off from any final cosmetic touches but I can't wait to polish them. I'm sure I'll do a small section as soon as I get it just for fun. The ultimate goal is make it look OEM.

Pictures and a "builder's log" will be done to document it for the Coast Guard approval. Once again since I'm not really modifying the boat and keeping it stock below the deck so I don't anticipate any issues.

curtiscapk wrote:Ron,

Make sure and carpet those trailer bunks!

Ya, they're kinda threadbare. Luckily I've got a pneumatic staple gun so that will be quick job but I'll probably end up replacing the lumber as well. Everything is really dry rotted bad. The good news is not any rust - Airzona is kind to metals with our ultra dry atmosphere. The trailer is going to be a project all by itself... needs a lot of help. Two projects - what have I done?

Oh well, my last one turned out pretty good: It's a 1979. (WARNING - WAY OFF TOPIC)

curtiscapk wrote:Silver Eagle,
Welcome!
Start the thread from page one all that is discussed.

Thank you berry mucho... you obviously are a man of great tolerance.

RonK,
I'm also an AZ tooner. I've been following your thread and I bet I'm not the only one who is looking forward to your build. Now that you have the actual boat, I bet it's really going to come together for you.

This is a very cool (but a bit crazy ) idea and I love it. Can't wait to see your progress. Thanks in advance for keeping us posted as it moves forward.

Been along time since we've had a 5 page post and he hasn't even started the project

Good luck Greg!

woolznaz wrote:RonK,
I'm also an AZ tooner. I've been following your thread and I bet I'm not the only one who is looking forward to your build. Now that you have the actual boat, I bet it's really going to come together for you.

This is a very cool (but a bit crazy ) idea and I love it. Can't wait to see your progress. Thanks in advance for keeping us posted as it moves forward.

That's good to know you're nearby. I'll plan on your help when it makes it maiden voyage at Lake Pleasant - I'm pretty sure that's the closest body of water to Tucson that will work. (Beside the 100 by 50 yard pond that I have about 200 yards from where it will be stored)

I'll by the beer and we'll plan on drinking heavily right before the launch. Does 911 work at Lake Pleasant?

curtiscapk wrote:Been along time since we've had a 5 page post and he hasn't even started the project

Good luck Greg!

It's RON - but that's OK - I've been called much worse.

I've actually started the project and got my sample of 3/4" honeycomb deck material today. The top will be coated with a UV resistant non slip coating and the bottom with FRP. It's designed for marine use.

Much, much stronger than aluminum decking or plywood, and at 168 lbs. for 225 sq. ft. it beats the heck out of Marine plywood at 525 lbs. It is, of course 3X as expensive but at $1500.00 vs. $500.00 for plywood well worth it.

I know its ron sorry