25 1/2' Fishtoon build

[novaman]

What can I say, but "One Helluva Nice Job"! =D> ! =D> ! =P~ . That's the coolest conversion I've seen on anything. Do you do fabrication as a profession or just liken to build cool things? That's real nice work with a spoolgun. Real cool engineering too 8) I also see You are used to working with one of the best tools in fabbing, a crescent wrench. It's amazing that very few people realize how handy they can be.
I'll definetly be subscribed to this thread. Carry on and hope everything goes the way You intend it to.

ps Great job with the camera on the project, we could all learn something from this.

 

[Bmac]

Well thanks, novaman and everyone else for the comments. Thought some of you might enjoy this project. I know I am,when I find the time to work on it. Cell phones make it easy to log what you've done. Maybe it'll help to inspire others to recycle another source of aluminum. I've remolded my share of boats over the yrs,but never blinged out a floating picnic table before. Kinda fun, like a big erector set. I've gotta lot more stuff to mount to this rig yet.

Railing (currently working on)
Ski tower over the merc for the kids
underskinning the whole bottom side
Fabbing some rear deflectors
Washdown pump
fuel/water seperator
Front graph
down rigger mounts
fold down ladder
volt gauges
rod holders
And a large T-top (maybe this fall)

Yea your right about what I do,novaman. :wink:

 

[Bmac]

Well I got a good start on the railing this weekend. Hopefully I can find enough time to finish it this week,so I can weld it up next weekend. It's just mocked-up right now. It's a lot of fun,but hard to shape things the way I see it in my head and keeping things matched up from side to side.

I loaded more detailed pics in my album again,but here's the direction I'm going. Still lots to do to the railing yet.

 

[fool4fish1226]

=D> =D> =D> That would make a great gator boat =D> =D> =D> Great job on all the fab work, besure to keep us up to date with lot of pics, I love it!

 

[kcatto]

The railing on this thing really sets it off.... She is really nice..... great job on the fab work.... did you manderal bend or fill the pipe with sand then bend it???

 

[theyyounggun]

Thats sweet! Good jon =D>

 

[samzerelli]

That is awesome!

 

[Bmac]

The railing on this thing really sets it off.... She is really nice..... great job on the fab work.... did you manderal bend or fill the pipe with sand then bend it???

I used a Greenlee hydr. conduit bender,a lot of commercial electrical contractors have them. The dies weren't perfect for tubing,but it works. The cope cuts were made using a tubing notcher.

Here's a video making this bend. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ppHnKofD50

 

[Bmac]

Done a little brainstorming today trying to figure a way to carry a large cooler or tackle locker,without messing up the open layout. I was about to mock-up the ski-tower when it hit me. And yes, I'll probably mount some rod holders on there somewhere. :mrgreen:

 

[bigwave]

This pontoon boat mod could be on ship-shape tv or its own show....you sir are an artist. You have a very thought out plan ......killer job. =D>

 

[bulldog]

There should be a Tinboats hall of fame and this should be the first pontoon to be inducted. Great job!!

 

[Bmac]

Thanks guys, glad you like it.

Well, I'm out of tubing and duct tape,so I guess I'm done mocking this thing up. Out of 168' of tubing I had a 21" piece left. I'll be pulling it to the shop so I can weld this mess up.

 

[Gators5220]

Dude what a sick pontoon! I've always wondered why people don't redo these made up like this, nice job! You takin it offshore or anything like that?

 

[Bmac]

I hear ya, always wondered that myself. These toons make a big canvas. Most like their cushy couches and carpeting. To answer your question no,doubt I ever pull this rig that far. Have before with other boats. If you've ever been on Milford reservoir in KS. on a windy day,you may think your offshore. That's what inspired this build. I like to fish rough water. Just pickup your feet and let the water go by. It's got 9 compartments in these tubes. It will come back to the surface. :mrgreen:

Well I pulled a marathon yesterday. Headed to the shop at 5:30 am Sunday,because I figured it would take a while welding all the railing together. Got home at 5 am this morning,just in time to take a shower and head to work at 6:30. And I'm still not done. Need to unbolt it all,so I can weld those hard to reach spots. Then sand it down and polish it out. I know one thing tho,I'm getting to old for these all nighters.

One thing I noticed was how big the deck feels now with the railing defining it. If the railing looks like it's leaning,it is. I flared the front section out. Don't mind my dirty decking,needs a bath. The large open center sections will get a mesh canvas filler panel.

 

[Gators5220]

Are you stickin with that 150 or plan to go bigger at a later date?

 

[Bmac]

I might splurge next spring for a bigger motor. Couldn't pass up the deal on this low hour merc for $1500. The XR6 is the big block 150 that'll dino out at 165 hp. Guestimating 38-40 mph on these strakes. She's big and stout,but only weighs around 2800 lbs.

Like anything else I guess. How fast do you want to go?

 

[Bmac]

Still rigging and pulling wire in this rediculous heat. Found these cool lil LED's that I'm rigging up for night fishing. Drilled and tapped them into the underside of the top rail aimed at the deck. When spun around they'll light up the fishing rods hanging over the rail. Also mounted them to the four pedistal seats,with their own switches. Aim those with your butt. :mrgreen:

 

[Bmac]

I suppose it's time for an update here. Believe it or not this project still isn't done,but getting close. I suppose I'm having trouble deciding where to stop with this. There must be a line to cross somewhere. :mrgreen:

I've done a lot since my last post. Might take me awhile to catch up. Here is the underskin phase.

I choose to make 24" wide panels for easy access between stringers later,and because the shop is full and I could do this at home. This method would work for the do-it-yourselfer's.

I ordered the air shears from Northern tool for around $70. I have to say it's probably the smoothest shears I've ever used. Cut through this .052 aluminum like butter. The metal bending brake I ordered from Harbor Freight for another $70. Not much of a brake,but worked just fine for this project.

I over lapped each panel 2",working back to front. I bent a 3/4" tab on both sides to stiffen them up preventing "oil-canning" when busting waves. You'll need to dovetail the joints to make them lay right,but that's simple enough. Used rather pricey shelf drilling 1/4" stainless screws for mine. Running them in with a 1/4" impact. However a cheaper self tapping screw can be used with pre-drilling.

 

[Bmac]

Here I was tidying up the livewells,pumps,and plumping. The flip-flop seat behind the console is a 30 gal. livewell,with it's own 500 gph pump and 1-1/2" overflow.

Up front I wanted the option of switching out tanks to match what ever I'm fishing for. A 50 gal. shad tank for stripers and wipers,a tourney size livewell for cats,and for those whatever trips I'll use this filtered coleman cooler which can double as a livewell or shad tank. It has an external filter with a 800 gph pump inside the filter for aeration. There's another 1000 gph pump feeding the front with fresh water,and overflowing through a 1 1/2" hose. The plumbing and electrical have quick connects so tanks can be swapped in seconds,or removed completely.

 

[Bmac]

The two livewell pumps,and the front filter pump are run off of individual timers,with manual override switches. All of which can be turned off with a master livewell's switch on the main panel. I've also added a 45psi washdown pump with a small pressure tank and 20' hose for keeping the deck clean.