New project | SouthernPaddler.com

New project

tx river rat

Well-Known Member
Feb 23, 2007
3,043
2
Waco Tx
I tore my shoulder up a month ago so need something different to fish from while it heals. I have had a few ideals about a boat like this for awhile so this is my chop change try boat.
First it will be foam.
Ron
 

tx river rat

Well-Known Member
Feb 23, 2007
3,043
2
Waco Tx
I will have some pics tomorrow.
Little explanation on what I am building. I like to bowfish and the yaks arent the best for that but they do let me access places a regular boat cant. like hauling down a river bank.
And then I hurt my shoulder again,riding them bulls was a fun deal when I was 20, not so good in places now so I need a boat to rehab in.
I need light ,stable , portable,ability to stand up and shot a bow.
Here is what I have come up with so far 12 ft long pontoon boat 65 inches wide.
Each pontoon will be 2 ft wide 12 ft long 5 inches thick ,laid up from 1 inch foam laminated together.
The hulls will be detachable and hopefully be able to paddle separately. They will also be built with the option of covering in cloth like a skin on frame,or epoxy and cloth and will have wood strips inset in the foam so if I decide to I can come back and strip the hull with cedar strips.
One hull will be laid out enough tomorrow to go do a float test.
Ron
 

tx river rat

Well-Known Member
Feb 23, 2007
3,043
2
Waco Tx
I am having fun with this build.
These are not real good pics but they will get us started.
From the nose
p00ntoonboat002.jpg


Side view of the nose

p00ntoonboat001.jpg


Mounting plates for cross member's to bolt to
There are plates set in the bottom of the hull in matching locations

p00ntoonboat003.jpg


Pic of all three plates mounted.

p00ntoonboat004.jpg


There will be bolts run from bottom plates up through the top ones then mounts for the cross bars will be mounted.
All for now
Ron
 

tx river rat

Well-Known Member
Feb 23, 2007
3,043
2
Waco Tx
The second pontoon is glued up

p00ntoonboat005.jpg


used a router to cut foam for wood inserts,pic of the bow before shaping

p00ntoonboat006.jpg


and after shaping.


p00ntoonboat007.jpg




Ron
 

tx river rat

Well-Known Member
Feb 23, 2007
3,043
2
Waco Tx
Both hulls are covered and close to finished ,I weighed them 27 lbs each .

Laid them out a bought the way they are going to be.


p00ntoonboat009.jpg


p00ntoonboat008.jpg


I am hoping you can paddle each hull individually.

p00ntoonboat010.jpg


p00ntoonboat013.jpg


p00ntoonboat012.jpg

Blends in with the grass pretty well just might be a hunting boat lol.

I will start figuring out cross bars and mounts, boat assembled should come in at about 70 lbs
but will break down into three pieces.
Ron
 

tx river rat

Well-Known Member
Feb 23, 2007
3,043
2
Waco Tx
Did some serious thinking about this boat and how I am going to use it. It is going to be dragged across gravel and sand bars , bounce off rocks in the Brazos pulled up boat ramps.
I decided to cover the bottom and both ends with strips

p00ntoonboat015.jpg


I figure no one will see the bottom so I just used a lot of strips I had left over from other builds.

p00ntoonboat016.jpg


p00ntoonboat017.jpg


The sides and top are still camo.
Ron
 

BEARS BUDDY

Well-Known Member
Aug 27, 2003
1,492
6
76
BAY CITY MI
Ron, I can't wait to see some afloat pictures. Do you have a launch date yet? Is the primary use going to be as a bow fishing platform?