Posted: 01/29/2009 at 9:25pm | IP Logged

 Here are some pictures of my 'almost' pontoon.  It's been 11 years since I started this project and I'm planning to hit the water this year  .....   FINALLY!

Each of the three hulls were built in the basement and then moved to the garage.  These pictures were taken after all three were on the trailer and I was dry fitting the aft end parts.

I'll post more later.  I need some more practice getting my pictures where I want them.

Curly Maple Dashboard Panels (wood from my grandfather's tree)

Bennington Furniture

***realigned pics for better viewing***

How'd you do that????  This is how I wanted it in the first place!!!!!

Posted: 01/29/2009 at 9:32pm | IP Logged

Hello WoodenPontoon,

Thank you for the pics, I cannot wait to see more.  This looks like a beautiful pontoon boat.  What types of wood did you use for the toons and decorations.  What a huge undertaking and detailed maticulous work.  Good Job!

Posted: 01/29/2009 at 9:43pm | IP Logged

Thanks for the compliments.

Yes it has been a huge undertaking!

I have many kinds of wood in her.  The outboard hulls started life as spruce 2x4's from Home Depot.  The decorations are walnut, Hondurous Mahogany, Bird's Eye maple, and white maple on the sides of the hull.  The transom plates are western red cedar and spruce

Additonal species include: oak, walnut, mahogany,maple, butternut, cedar, redwood, pine, .....  I like to use various contrasting woods for coloration as I don't use stain.

All of the wood is or will be sealed in epoxy and sometimes fiberglass as well.

Posted: 01/29/2009 at 10:17pm | IP Logged

Hi WoodenPontoon,

As a cabinetmaker, I appreciate what you are building. Very nice work. It would be worth the drive from Chicagoland to CT just to see it finished. Is that storage I see in the center tube? Your trailer is pretty nice as well.

Bunniestone

Posted: 01/29/2009 at 10:36pm | IP Logged

My Dad is a cabinetmaker as well.  He cuts everything nice and straight and square.  Me ....  I can't cut a straight line to save my butt .... so i cut things crooked and build other stuff!

Yes there is a 6' long stowage compartment in the center tube!

I had the trailer custom-made in Ohio.  I was told that, it was the first trailer they had built for a boat that didn't exist!

Posted: 01/30/2009 at 6:41am | IP Logged

That is gorgeous!  Very impressive. Have you floated it at all yet? What an undertaking.Keep the pictures coming please!! Thank you for sharing this Dan and,

WELCOME ABOARD!!

Posted: 01/31/2009 at 10:14pm | IP Logged

judgepw wrote: I admire the determination to undertake such a creative and massive project.  Additionally, I appreciate the art involved, but are you sure you don't have Rube Goldberg somewhere back in your family tree?

I don't think he was in my family, but one can never know for sure.......I sure do seem to make a lot of extra work for myself ... but as you said it's ART.

Maybe I should have just bought an aluminum one so that I could at least be using one!  Ummmmm ......... No, It's better this way!  I get to enjoy the design and construction aspects as well as the anticipation of a launch ..... finally

Posted: 02/03/2009 at 10:13am | IP Logged

Dan,

That is some beautiful work. Norm Abram would be proud of you! BTW, I hope to see him at the St. Louis woodworking show this Friday.

Joe

Posted: 02/03/2009 at 7:20pm | IP Logged

Joe,

Thanks for the compliments.  If you see Norm and he's giving away tools ....... pick me up some.  I don't have enough!!!!  LOL

Take Care,

Dan

Posted: 02/06/2009 at 5:27pm | IP Logged

captain58 wrote: hey wooden pontoon guy, do you have any better pix of your boat?

Yes I have hundreds of pictures of my boat in various stages.  None yet of it finished!  Mostly cuz it's not.  Most of my pictures need to be resized for internet posting.

I will be posting some additional ones very soon.  I am working on the fences and gates,  I expect to complete my first fence section (maybe this weekend).  I will post several pictures after that.

I have some others posted on the Pontoon & Deckboat Magazines's forum as well. (www.pdbworld.com)  Look under 'Restoration & Project Boats'

Posted: 02/19/2009 at 11:14pm | IP Logged

Some updated pictures ...... just to show that I've been doing more than shoveling Snow!

Laying out the aft fence sections.

Laying out fwd fence sections.

Fwd Port Fence with Veneer pattern.

Fwd Port Fence with 'rough-sized' veneer pieces.

Framing of Fwd Port Fence.

Fitting Fwd section of Port Fence with Fwd Gate.

Fwd Port Fence with Port Gate.

Inside View of Fwd Port Fence.

Had to make a second panel for the forward gate.  Used water bags to hold veneer on first attempt ... failed miserably.  Bought a vacuum bagging kit for second try!

Set-up for vacuum bagging of Fwd Gate Veneer.  (Note how wavy the veneer piece (at top) is.)

Vacuum Bagging in Process.

Veneer & Fiberglass Applied to Gate Panel.

Panel fitted into Gate.

Gate with frame epoxied.

I am almost finished with the port fence and will start immediately on the Fwd Stbd fence.  It will be much faster as I now have all of the dimensions!

Posted: 02/22/2009 at 10:14pm | IP Logged

Thanks for the compliments guys!

It certainly has taken a lot of time ... too much!  I do enjoy building it however.  I estimate that there will be about 7000 individual pieces of wood in her when I'm finished.  Store bought would have been much much easier and faster!!!!

Brian - I can't tell you anything about the flood. (oops did I say that out loud??)

Posted: 02/22/2009 at 10:42pm | IP Logged

Wooden Pontoon,

Reminds me of Cleopatra's barge. You need the oarsmen instead of a motor. 

Posted: 03/21/2009 at 10:07am | IP Logged

Dan, that is going to be considerd the 9th wonder of the world!!!, because no one could possibly build this whithout the great minds of the egiptions or the thought of alliens builtit,? HAHA, But with the uttmost respect to SCUBADIVER, that is now the most creative thing that has been built by one person with the vision and god given talant that ive seen!!. Kinda makes pulling the stripes of my pannels this winter embarissing to talk abouttrully a work of great craftsmanship

Posted: 03/21/2009 at 6:21pm | IP Logged

Thanks for the compliments guys.

rrhodes wrote: I can't wait to see the finished product. What will the total estimated weight of your too be?

The estimated weight is between 2500 and 2800 pounds.  I've been putting on a great deal of mahogany for the fences and gates, which is fairly heavy.  These components weigh more than I had thought they would, but most of the pieces ended up on the ligther side of my estimates.