A 1992 Crest Pontoon Rebuild Made for More Family Days on the Water

A Family Connection to the Chesapeake Bay

For Christopher, this pontoon renovation started with a lifetime spent on the water and a desire to keep that tradition going.

Christopher grew up sailing and fishing, experiences that gave him his own lasting connection to the water. His parents sailed on the Chesapeake Bay for 60 years before sailing was no longer practical for them. 

As his family’s needs changed, a pontoon offered another way to stay connected to that part of their lives. His wife wanted a comfortable way to continue spending time around Solomons Island while undergoing cancer treatment, and Christopher wanted their grown children and granddaughters to be part of those days on the water, too.

The 1992 Crest gave them a starting point. The renovation would turn it into a boat designed around the way their family wanted to use it now and for years ahead.

Renovating a 1992 Crest into Their Own Dream

Christopher had never taken on a boat renovation from the floor up, but he didn’t tackle it alone.

A skilled friend helped guide him through the project, and working alongside friends quickly became one of his favorite parts of the renovation. Each day brought visible progress, which helped keep the project moving during the three-month build.

Neighbors started stopping by to see what had changed. As the old Crest gradually took on its new layout and appearance, Christopher said they were amazed by the transformation.

That progress also gave him confidence in a project he hadn’t initially been sure he could handle.

“Pontoon Stuff made the entire process fun and doable for someone who never thought I could do a boat renovation project from the floor up,” Christopher said.

Building the Pontoon Around His Family

The renovation focused on making the existing 20-foot Crest work better for Christopher’s family rather than simply replacing everything that was old.

One of the biggest priorities was accessibility. Christopher needed to plan the layout and fencing around a bow entry that would make getting on and off the pontoon easier.

That meant thinking through the deck layout before committing to the fencing arrangement. On a pontoon renovation like this, those early decisions affect how people move through the boat and where other components can fit.

Christopher also wanted plenty of protection from the sun for his wife and the rest of the family. He planned a two-bimini setup to create more covered space aboard the pontoon.

He chose to reuse several original parts of the boat, including the existing floor, pontoons, and rub rails. Keeping usable components gave the renovation a mix of old and new rather than turning it into a complete replacement of every part.

Three Months Later, a Pontoon Built for the Family

By the end of April, the 1992 Crest had gone from a renovation project to a boat Christopher was proud to call his own. The rebuilding process gave him the satisfaction of working alongside friends, watching the boat change day by day, and creating something specifically for his family.

Then came the part every renovation leads up to: getting the boat back on the water. Christopher’s first test run made the months of planning and work worth it.

His advice to anyone looking at an older pontoon and wondering if they can take on a similar project is just as enthusiastic: “Just do it!!!! PontoonStuff made the entire process fun and doable for someone who never thought I could do a boat renovation project from the floor up. I am very proud of my new boat!”

Christopher started the renovation without believing he was someone who could rebuild a pontoon from the floor up. Three months later, he had a boat built with, and for, the people he wanted to share it with.

Start Your Pontoon Renovation

You don’t need years of boat-building experience to start making an older pontoon work better for you. A good renovation begins with a clear idea of how you want to use the boat, what can still be reused, and which upgrades will make the biggest difference for your family.

When you’re ready to start planning, explore PontoonStuff’s Restoration Resources for practical DIY guidance throughout your project. You can also watch videos from West Michigan boating expert Tom’s Toons for hands-on pontoon restoration tips and walkthroughs.

When your plan is ready, PontoonStuff can help you find the parts and components you need to start turning your own pontoon project into something you’ll be proud to put back on the water.