Posted: 09/30/2007 at 6:47pm | IP Logged

Hi Scbadiver

Was wonder if we could use your story in our Re-Deck Revolution section on the site and in our new Re-Deck Guide.  That is one of the coolest rebuilds I've ever seen, thank you so much for posting!

Posted: 10/01/2007 at 9:20am | IP Logged

Hi Jim. Certainly you may use the story and pics. I would be honoured. Like I said originally, most of the stuff is from you!  The seats, the armrests, the glove box, steering wheel, radio cover, carpet and glue, gate hinges, sundeck hinges, our ladder, the stripes, the deluxe bimini, the list goes on. So, go ahead and show folks what they can do with your 'Pontoonstuff'!

Greg, I used HVAC coil cleaner (acid) first. I went over it twice. Then I used a palm sander with 320 then wet sanded by hand with 400 grit. After that it was just a lot of buffing and elbow grease. You can do it but it's almost like work.  Good luck with it and let me know if I can give you any guidance, I'll be glad to.

Eric, sorry to hear you got rid of the Toon but I do hope you'll still hang out with us. Perhaps you'll get another someday. It is like a sickness once you have boating in your blood.

Thanks to everybody for all the nice compliments!

Posted: 10/02/2007 at 10:23am | IP Logged

Robbie,

Congratulations, your boat is a testimonial to what can be done with an old boat. Your work is outstanding, and should be an inspiration to professional boat builders. I'm sure you and your family will enjoy your efforts for many years.

Joe

Posted: 10/14/2007 at 3:33pm | IP Logged

Ive got some of the same tape you have on your fencing.Did you put it on all 3 stripes at once? One stripe at a time? How did it workfor you putting it on .Was it a pain?Ill be putting mine on sometime before next spring.BTW your boat looks great.Ive been following your rebuild. If I can ever figure out how to make my pics the right size ive got a bunch to post.  Thanks Walt

Posted: 10/14/2007 at 6:28pm | IP Logged

You can resize one of two ways. If you have Microsoft Office 2003, one of the tools called Microsoft Office Picture Manager will let you resize, crop, etc and the other way is to just use the upload feature here. Once here, you'll see it outlined with 6 (for lack of a better word) lines, 4 corners and two sides, just move your mouse to grab a side and condense it down or expand it out to fit to your desire. If you post another pic, it'll either put it right next to it (depending on size) or below it. Hope that helps.

Also look at OpenOffice.org http://download.openoffice.org/2.3.0/index.html?focus=downlo ad as that office suite is Microsoft Office compatible and its free and if I remember right, also has photo editing tools (but don't hold me to it). There are other free photo editing tools out there, here's a google result of free photo editing tools http://www.google.com/search?q=free+photo+editing+tools& rls=com.microsoft:en-us&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&startI ndex=&startPage=1

Posted: 10/15/2007 at 10:35am | IP Logged

Walt, the tape I used was from this site. It came on a roll with all 3 stripes together so it was easy to get the spacing right. I flunked stickers in kindergarten and still flunked it now.  I kept getting bubbles and wrinkles so I paid a guy to do it. He of course made it look so easy I felt stupid that I couldn't get it right. Just cut it almost to length, put it on your marks and use a blade, like an old credit card, to squeeze it on going up and down(as opposed to length-wise, which is what I was doing and why I got all the bubbles). Also, a warmer day makes it easier to work with. Good luck with it.

Posted: 10/16/2007 at 12:31pm | IP Logged

Thanks Robbie,  when I get around to that job ill let you know how it goes.I also bought tape from P.S. The good thing is Its a big roll so I might be able to get through the learning curve and have plenty.

Posted: 12/09/2007 at 9:07am | IP Logged

Thanks Seadog. I hope you will post some pics of yours. Judgepw, I bought the AZEC trough a local harware store chain, Hackmann Lumber in Saint Charles, MO.  If y'all ever have questions or there is something I can help with, let me know. I'll help if I can.  I'm sitting here watching the freezing rain coat the trees and cars wishing it was summer and I was out on the lake pontooning! I hate winter!   

By the way, Merry Christmas to everyone!

Posted: 01/18/2008 at 10:02am | IP Logged

I got the tanks at Bass Pro Actually. They had the best price but I did have to oder them. Thay have a pretty good selection at the on-line site. I tried 3 times to get the hold-downs offered for those tanks but the never were right or usable so I ended up using a big nylon strap. You can see the yellow strap in a few of the pics above. I folded the strap to 3 thicknesses and put 2 SS bolts with big ol' washers on each side of the tank, Stretched it tight and bolted them to the deck. It took two of us to get it done but they will not move! If you look at the pictures above where the boat is sitting on the ramp you can just see the primer bulb hanging down the back fence right in front of the motor. I can lift the Sun deck, reach down and pump it pretty easily. Let me know if you need more details

Posted: 02/07/2008 at 10:26am | IP Logged

Thanks LakeRat! Welcome aboard!  It has been a great project. I have few things left to do this spring when I get to the lake but I'm really looking forward to putting some hours on it this summer. Come on spring!! 

Walt, You got a deal! Don't forget pictures for us...

Posted: 03/30/2008 at 11:47am | IP Logged

Thanks 1stimetooner! Actually I got lucky and found the railing used at an on-line site. They modified it to fit perfectly and shipped it with the panels in and ready to bolt on.  It was a lucky find for a boat as long as mine, I found many smaller play pens but this was the one and only that big unless I had it made 'from scratch' which was going to be VERY expensive. I'd say the Pontoonstuff paneling would be fine and, it won't dent like aluminum and doesn't have to be painted. I'd suggest using it for sure. If you need anything give us a shout. Eveybody here is great and more than willing to help. Don't forget the pictures when you start your re-build thread!!  (I'm guessing about now your wife doesn't like me much huh? )

Good luck on your new project 1stimetooner.

Posted: 03/30/2008 at 5:29pm | IP Logged

The panels are thin aluminum, I'd guess about .030 or thinner? I'd say about the same thickness as you'd find aluminum flashing at the Depot or Lowes.  I just not sure if they sell any wide enough for the rail openings.

The docking lights, well, I'm poor at explaining things, better at making them! I used 3/4 Azek cut about 1 1/4 inches bigger than the lamps themselves then milled out an area the size of the actual lamps about 3/8 deep. Then cut out the rest of the milled out opening leaving about a 3/16 lip all the way around the inside. I pushed the lamp into the opening and then installed the little bracket thing that came with them to hold into the bezel. I marked and drilled the aluminum and put SS screws into the Azek from the back on all four corners to hold it tight to the panel. Does that make any sense to anybody??  ?

As far as the Capt'n chair, Its very comfortable, we got the adjustable stand for it though because my brother-in-law and I are both pretty tall and my sister isn't so I think it goes from about 11 to 14 or so inches high. It does swivel all the around too. If you do that make sure you mount far enough from the fence to clear everything. Also, I opted to through-bolt it with large washers on the bottom instead of the screws that it came with. I figured it would be less apt to pull out of the deck that way. It's VERY solid now. The height is really a personal preference thing, I like to sit high when I'm running the boat.  Also the cushion itself is several inches thick on the premium seat so your behind will actually be more like  13 or 14 inches high on an 11 inch pedistal. Hope that helps a little.

Posted: 04/30/2008 at 1:17pm | IP Logged

larrydrifter wrote: Scuba, the lights that I found at Walmart look like the ones you used but are 2 1/4 inches thick.  Did you cut your aluminum to get them to fit in or did you find some that were that thin?

Those are probably the ones. I cut out the aluminum for clearance, shoved them in and wired them from the back side too. The Rotozip can be your freind here. We just drew around the inside of the bezel with a sharpie marker and free handed the cut as the bezel hides it on the outside and it's behind the seats on the inside. Nothing fancy but it worked! The bezels are screwed in from the back with 4 SS sheet metal screws and washers. One thing to note though, the edges were VERY sharp after cutting them so be sure to file them smooth so as not to cut yourself wide open. (fortunately the blood was also on the carpet behind the seat!  )

Posted: 04/30/2008 at 1:23pm | IP Logged

Brian, I used the cans of OEM spray from a local boat store. I really don't know much about what type it is but I understand it to be an acylic enamel. The only thing I do know is be sure to use primer for aluminum, not the same as 'regular' primer. Perhaps someone else here knows for sure??

JustFloatin, I don't think the acid will hurt the trailer but be sure to rinse it really really well. I think it will be fine then. Seveal folks around here have used it that way. Good luck and be very carefull with that stuff it is really caustic. wear long sleeves, gloves and eye/face protection and do it on a calm day. Let us know how it goes.

Posted: 05/17/2008 at 12:04am | IP Logged

Go to page 1 of this thread and your question will be answered .

Welcome to the forums. Got a great bunch of people here (including yourself). Glad to see you come join us. Be sure to post some pics of your boat(s) in the 'Show Off Your Pontoon' section (or rebuild depending if you have before/after pics), as we'd love to see them. Also tell us your story in How did you come to join the forums? (just click on the red link and tell us all about it ).  You probably did like a lot of have. Looking for pontoon accessories and either found it through www.PontoonStuff.com ebay site or web store. Jim (administrator) and Andrea (pontoongirl) Myers (our hosts) have a excellent staff to help them help you find whatever it is you're looking for your boat and has excellent shipping and customer service. Have fun and happy boating.

Posted: 06/11/2008 at 11:37pm | IP Logged

Hello Stevie, welcome to the forums. Got a great bunch of people here. Glad to see you come join us. Be sure to post some pics of your boat(s) in the 'Show Off Your Pontoon' section (or rebuild depending if you have before/after pics), as we'd love to see them. Also tell us your story in How did you come to join the forums? (just click on the red link and tell us all about it ).  You probably did like a lot of have. Looking for pontoon accessories and either found it through www.PontoonStuff.com ebay site or web store. Jim (administrator) and Andrea (pontoongirl) Myers (our hosts) have a excellent staff to help them help you find whatever it is you're looking for your boat and has excellent shipping and customer service. Have fun and happy boating. Be sure to edit your signature line to include details of your boat and motor like the other regulars here. It saves us from having to ask those questions later

Posted: 08/09/2008 at 6:55pm | IP Logged

Scbadiver,

You've done a great job!  I just got the rotten deck off my 24' Tritoon today.  I was noticing your new rounded corner front rails.  Did you have them made or were you able to buy them on line somewhere?

Posted: 09/29/2008 at 4:02pm | IP Logged

I had one heck of a time finding it myself!  I got it here;

http://www.midwayautosupply.com/c-355-hose.aspx

It is not 'marine approved' but, I figured in my application it did not really matter as it is not subjected to the heat or hazards associated with under-deck installations so I used it with no problems so far. It isn't cheap but, it was exactly what I needed and the ONLY place I found it.