My scratch built Pontoon

[in-d-boat]

This was something fun and different to build. Looks cool on the water. Just need some people drinkin' some beers on deck then it'll be complete!

[galant2door]

I love the detail, looks great mate

[in-d-boat]

Thank you, my friend!

[Make-a-Wake]

Very nice...................got any more pics???

I blew up yours so i could see it better...................

[in-d-boat]

DSC00584.jpgYup, a few more.DSC_7860.jpgDSC_7853.jpg And thank You!

[Make-a-Wake]

Looks very scale!!! Great job.

[hazegry]

how did you make the pontoons? I think this is one of the nicest pontoon boats I have seen.

[mtbenjamin77]

how did you make the pontoons? I think this is one of the nicest pontoon boats I have seen.

Yes build pics please. whats the LOA? How much did it cost in materials?

[in-d-boat]

Thanks, guys!
I made the pontoon logs from 2" phenolic rocket tubes. (actually 2.153 w/ 1/16" wall thickness) Then went over them with 3/4 oz. glass cloth. I left them hollow, no flotation, as anything added to the inside wouldn't do anything but add weight.
I chose 2" because it made everything easier to figure the scale out. 1"=1 foot. Most logs are 2'. LOA, from the prop to the points on the 'toons is 34". I'm guessing I have about $40.00 in it not including the EP-1 and the Tatic radio and the battery.

[in-d-boat]

Build pics

I made 1/8" lite ply plugs and glued the balsa blocks to them and rounded them off to make the backs of the pontoons. Then domed them a litlle.

[in-d-boat]

cont.

For the front of the 'toon I used 1/8" lite ply for the keel and added 1" thick balsa blocks to each side. Shaped them on my disk sander and final sanded them by hand. Also made the 1/8" ply plugs, same as the rear. The stubby tubes they're mounted on are just to get the right O.D.DSC00460.jpgDSC00461.jpgDSC00462.jpgDSC00475.jpgDSC00476.jpg

[in-d-boat]

cont.

Glued them together and went over everything with the glass cloth. I use 5 minute epoxy thinned 50% with acetone to attach the cloth. Let it dry overnight, sand lightly and apply another coat of thinned epoxy to make sure everything is well sealed. Then I spray sandable primer on it, wet sand inbetween coats, until it's smooth and the weave is filled.

[in-d-boat]

cont.

Then it was onto making the mounts for the pontoons to attach the deck to. This took a bunch of time, but it's more scale than just glueing to the tops of the pontoon logs. (.030 styrene) plus some right angles.

[in-d-boat]

cont.

Then it was on to making the deck.DSC00498.jpgDSC00499.jpgDSC00500.jpg

[in-d-boat]

cont.

I made a third pontoon about half the lenght of the outer ones to mount the EP-1 too. Full size pontoons do this to help with the flotation for the heavier 4 stroke engines they're using. I used 1/4" aircraft ply for the motor mount with T nuts.DSC00502.jpgDSC00503.jpgDSC00504.jpgDSC00505.jpgDSC00506.jpg