Thread: Pontoon Dingy build.

I wasnt going to start this thread till it at least floated but...

Firstly I am no boat builder,I am just winging it and making it up as I go.

That said I spend a lot of time in a dingy and had a pretty good idea of what I wanted in one,low draft,high reserve boyancy,good stability.

Kits I managed to find were mostly too big 4.2m etc and cost more for the kit than I hope the entire build will cost me.

I started out by bending up a bit of scrap into a pontoon shape with our hand folders.



I subed out folding to a new cnc folding company as our hand folders dont like to do 2m plus folds,this turned out to be a major mistake but I am trying not to dwell on it.

Starting to tack up and weld out pontoons.



Scribble on the floor.



So if you can see that you will see she will be a bit barge like, maximize internal room and stability in a fairly short overall length.

Transom to bow 3300
External beam 1700, parallel 1800 forward before tapering to a relatively blunt bow.

Just seeing how things will look.



Port and starboard bow sections tacked back to back while welding the mitered joins to ensure they stay the same but mirror image.





Cut/check/trim/check/trim the bow miter.



Port and starboard sections will be individually sealed for a total of 4 sealed sections, I could see no practical advantage in sealing 6 chambers.

Thats as far as its got so far....Plenty of room for a cockup yet,I should be working on it now but the Wife is working so I cant really take the kids to work with me.

cool so far are you putting an outboard on it

"Plenty of room for a cockup yet" there always is untill a project is FINISHED

Originally Posted by 223nut

"Plenty of room for a cockup yet" there always is untill a project is FINISHED

Even at that stage of the game I'm known to find room for a cockup

Originally Posted by northdude

cool so far are you putting an outboard on it

Yep will run my current 8hp Yam for a start till I get it and the trailer payed for then upgrade to a 15-20hp probably.....I am going to run the pontoons about 250mm aft of the transom to help with the weight of a bigger donky as it is a "short" transom to suit my 8hp.

Good stuff VC. Welding is one skill I would like to have learned. I have never even given it a go.

Originally Posted by Rushy

Good stuff VC. Welding is one skill I would like to have learned. I have never even given it a go.

There is many many different types and processes of welding to master Rushy,I am just good enough at most of them. You need good eyes and steady hands and I am losing both rapidly.

Originally Posted by Rushy

Good stuff VC. Welding is one skill I would like to have learned. I have never even given it a go.

let me know if you want to give it a go ive got a portable welder not a big dollar industial one but it has done a lot of work for me

Originally Posted by northdude

let me know if you want to give it a go ive got a portable welder not a big dollar industial one but it has done a lot of work for me

Thanks Northdude. This is typical, my missus just out sourced a Harrow repair job yesterday.

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

There is many many different types and processes of welding to master Rushy,I am just good enough at most of them. You need good eyes and steady hands and I am losing both rapidly.

I've found that I have developed quite a big 'natural weave' since I left the game full time.
Natural weave.......shakes...... Yup same thing

Used to enjoy working with alloy, but never got around to building anything for me.

I intend to put a high side on top of the pontoon but that will come last after I have used it a bit and worked out exactly what I want....nothing worse than not being able to see over the bow while driving and I see a few homebuilts on trademe like that. Mainly I just want somewhere I can stuff some oars and or a fishing rod so they are not on the deck to trip over and stand on and somewhere to put some rod holders.
Paramount for me is not having shit for a net to snag on anywhere around the hull.....this will require some thought for anchoring etc, also plan to make a wee dry locker in the bow as keeping anything dry(celphone/keys/sandwiches etc) in a dingy is nigh on impossible.

Originally Posted by Rushy

Good stuff VC. Welding is one skill I would like to have learned. I have never even given it a go.

I've been teaching myself to TIG weld at work. Boss thought it would be a good thing to learn. I might blow holes is shit but it is fun

Originally Posted by Rushy

Good stuff VC. Welding is one skill I would like to have learned. I have never even given it a go.

@Rushy

I could teach you to weld in different styles inside a couples of hours

Unfortunately it then takes a lifetime to really master.

Another thing is welding is like shooting, if you don't practice regularly or go away from it for awhile you can easily loose your edge and it will take time to regain the skill you have just lost.

As a young fella I used to be able to lay down bloody awesome overhead welds half asleep and severely hung over day after day after day.

Haven't had to do that for a decade or two now and tried to complete an overhead weld not so long ago........ Think I went through two grinding disks and half a packet or rods before I got it right.

Cheers
Pete

Awesome build VC

Keen to see how it all comes together

Cheers
Pete

Cheers for posting up this project VC. I the ham fisted and mechanically ignorant really enjoy these forum builds ! I know you have something being thinking about this build for some time and know you will build a vessel that will be enjoyed by yourself and your kin and friends for years to come. Please keep us all up dated as I do believe this will be something special!