There are many water vessels that a boat builder can try to build, but pontoon boats continue to be one of the most popular go-to choices for artisans regardless of their skill level.Have you ever dreamed about having your own pontoon boat? Learn more about them and discover if it is possible to build one yourself.
Why Are Pontoon Boats So Popular?
1. Safe
Pontoon boats are more stable and balanced compared with other water vessels. With the overall physics of their design, they don’t easily tip over. You can even equip them with other safety features that you can’t otherwise install on other water vessels such as higher, child-proof railings.
2. Flexible
There are various pontoon boat designs out there, ranging from one-person crafts to luxury party boats. As such, a boat builder can adjust the design depending on the client’s needs and preferences.
3. Accommodate More People
In relation to the previous point, you can build pontoon boats to accommodate more weight and passengers. You can do so by adding a central pontoon to the traditional dual pontoon design of the vessel.
4. Easy to Build
Finally, there are pontoon boat plans that are very easy to build. There are even one-day DIY builds online that you can use as a reference to start building your pontoon boat today. There are tons of pontoon boat accessories that help the building process.
What Are Required to Build Your Own Pontoon Boat?
There are only three fundamental elements required to build a pontoon, namely:
1. Skills
Boat building is not a project to be taken lightly, especially since the safety of people’s lives is at stake. Hence, it requires a certain level of woodworking expertise and experience.
There are numerous boat building schools and apprenticeship opportunities around the country, so better take advantage of them.
2. Knowledge
As mentioned, a pontoon boat is relatively easy to build than other watercraft, but you must have a basic understanding of how a pontoon boat works.
Aptly named, the secret that keeps this type of vessel afloat is its pontoons. These are the tubular floatation devices that you’ll find underneath the flat-bottomed boat.
If one gets the pontoons right, there’s a high chance that you can build a safe and reliable vessel that will last for years.
3. Gear
Finally, you will need the right tools, equipment, and materials to build your pontoon boat according to the design or plan you’ve chosen.
The Different Ways to Build a Pontoon Boat
There are three different ways to build a pontoon boat, and they are:
1. Using Ready-Made Kits
The easiest way is to get a ready made kit. These kits have all the materials you need, along with a detailed guide on how to go about building it.
This method is highly recommended for beginners since the materials are usually pre-cut already. The only thing that’s left for you to do is to assemble everything as instructed.
2. Purchasing Pontoon Tubes
You can also opt to purchase just the pontoon tubes if you want. The problem with these kits, though, is the limited number of design choices you have. If that’s an issue, you’ll probably fare better using a pontoon boat plan instead. It will give you the liberty to choose your preferred materials, challenge your boat building skills, and extend your creativity according to your vision.
3. Creating Your Own Plan
Finally, you can always create your plan from scratch, although this is discouraged for absolute beginners. Remember, boat building, regardless of your chosen project, requires great attention to detail, accuracy in the computation of measurements and cutting of material, craftsmanship, and patience.
For more information on building a pontoon boat, especially in planning and design, check out BoatDiaries.com.
Other Considerations
Besides the chosen method of building a pontoon boat, there are two more factors you have to consider before building.
First, you need adequate space since a pontoon boat is quite big. It won’t usually fit inside a garage, but your backyard may suffice as long as you find a way to protect your project from elements. It will help prevent parts from corrosion even before it gets on the water.
It is ideal if you can build it near the water you intend to float on, but this is not required. You will need a vehicle to transport your build later on, though.
Next, you’ll need to determine the material you want to use for the main frame. PVC pipes and southern pine lumber are popular choices.
Should you choose to use lumber, though, make sure that you treat the wood to prevent warping and rotting once it’s on the water.
Building Your Own Pontoon Boat
Building a pontoon boat is possible if you have the skill, the know-how, and the gear for it. There are different ways to build your own pontoon boat. You can choose to work with a ready-to-assemble kit, follow a pontoon boat plan, or even design the blueprint yourself.
Finally, don’t forget to consider the place where you will build and store your work in progress and the main material you will use.
