Pontoon boat HO-Update 17 February 2012

Wish I could help, but I don't know anything about that subject.   Sounds like a neat project though, a bit different than the typical stuff.   Best of luck.

James, be sure to keep all modeling items away from your mother. It would be easier to critique your efforts if we had an idea of what you were trying to accomplish. Perhaps scanning a picture of your prototype would suffice. Until then...

I think you should scratch build a cage for your mother!     This looks good so far, just keep at it, and wait for mommy to be asleep when you're working. 

                                                                                ~ Cobra Chris

Thanks guys for your compliments

I worked on a replacement trailer last night, but it turned out pretty bad

here are some pics:

you can see its kinda bent and I made it narrower than the plans-my next one will not be so bad

in progress

redone bunk

thats my broken C310 and Hummer in the background

thanks,

James

Why did your Mom make you destroy your work? I`d be happy if my son were modeling! I guess she had her reasons. Good luck with your project.

Ya. My mom hates my hobby with a passion

I don't know why.

Anyway, my Dad is taking me to the local RR and RC stores to get supplies this weekend.

So far I have started a new trailer but I have not glued it yet.

More pictures will come tomorrow.

james

Okay,

I got the deck painted yesterday w/o mom finding out

Brush-painting does not work too well for that

Will post pictures as soon as I can find my camera

james

You are on the right track , BUT , lets see the boat prototype or photos you are working from . The trailer could be okay , but , you need to remember 18 to 28 foot pontoon boats had the trailer inside the hulls . so , to narrow isn,t really a problem . The runners you build to hold the boat will cover that . Do you plan on your boat being what is called a deckboat , combi FISH and CAMP or just large party boat . If you like ,send me what you have drawn or sketched I will help you get it straight . I used to work for SUNCHASER,S manufacturer and that,s their bread and butter. Looking forward to hearing from you gjgeracci@satx.rr.com.   good luck        tankerbuilder

THANK YOU TANKERBUILDER!!!

sent you an Email

If you could post some 3-views that are not infernal top images, that would be AWESOME

I am working from memory from what I saw at the TIBS Jan.

There I picked up Princecraft and legend flyers and I am kinda working off of those and these

They are from rcgroups.com

Princecraft offers bunk trailers not scissorlift for their 30' boats but here is one other reference

Anyways, got the pontoons and the deck mated today-- Now I actually have something to show at the club meeting!

*Edited March 21 at 3 pm* Found camera today so will post pics of trailer tomorrow.

james

FOUND MY CAMERA!!!

The boarding ladder WIP

Drying

More to come

James

JAMES , I apologise . I had completely forgotten about the trailers that let the boat sit on the bunks on the pontoons . This was, way back when, a no-no . The reason ? vibration would break welds between the pontoon mounts and the deck .You have a very good set of drawings there . I would suggest you hang in there with them. I have to ask, being as how I dealt with the same thing as a teen . Which would your mom prefer , you a delinquent ! Or you at home, homework done working on models? I wonder . the pictures are okay .I do hope she will come around , my grandmother did . good luck,      tankerbuilder

Thanks.

The trailer is just over 9 scale feet wide.

maybe you could help with the tie-down placement.

will post more pics when I can get some.  Working on the diorama aspect now.

And my mom would hate both options!. My Grandmother is highly impressed with my work--she loves it!

James

More progress.

Been meaning to post this here for a while, but I got tied up with life but here is some progress.

This is hand carved and awaiting paint.

Picked the RPS F350 up @ my LHS a while back but failed to post it, here it is.

Any comments would be appreciated.

James

Looking good.  Just an FYI, most seats have a cup holder in them.  The tables also have at least 4 cupholders.  I have a 97 Sylvan that has cupholders everywhere.  4 in the table, 1 by the controls, 2 in the console, and 1 at each end of the front curved seats. 

The tie-downs I use to haul go on the rear and the front eyelets on the tubes.   I cross them to keep shifting down.  I don't have a bunk style trailer.  Make sure you raise the motor and support that with a bar from the motor (just below the fins) to the center of the trailer.  That helps the motor from bouncing during transit.

Good luck with it, like the dualie for a hauler. 

Thanks Phoneguy,  this is actually going to be a Christmas gift for my Grandpa who used to work on a merchant ship and therefore has a love for ships.

The cupholders I will try to do but in such a small scale that would be difficult.

Do you have a picture of the tie downs?

james

I just used the rachet style and crisscrossed them from the mooring/tiedown brackets mounted on the front and rear of the tubes.

Grandpa should love it!!  Nice touch!!

Just ran across this, very nice work on an interesting subject. Many of the techniques you are using are the same I have used on early aircraft builds. Hang in there my friend, I'm sorry to say, your mom doesn't know what she's doing. MANY worse things you could be doing.

Hey , modelfreak , I know it,s been a while . Listen , you got some good advice from the last post you got . Most of my customers did it the way he does . And don,t forget the brace for the lower end of the motor .     tankerbuilder    P.S. a little constructive thought ,can you possobly make the seat coushions a little smoother ? Don,t forget , I need somewhere ,well lots of them  , those ubiquitious drink holders .I don,t like to set my beer on the deck .

Thanks Hawkeye and Tankerbuilder.

I have been busy with schoolwork recently and have just started to carve more seats but I have no pictures as of yet.

I will post them as they become available.

Thanks for all your encouraging words guys!

James

some pics of the seat almost done

And the hauler on the new base board

The hauler looks GREAT!!  I'm sure the boat will look as good.  If you can, use a small drill bit to make the cupholders.  You may have to do a little math to figure out what size of bit to use.  Also use finer grades of sandpaper to get that smooth finish.  Most seat cushions have a ribbed seam around the edges and the tops generally come off/tilt.  you can simulate that with some small wire in the edges.   My boat is in storage, otherwise I would take some pics to help you out.

Keep it up, good job so far.

Finally I gave it a real push and got something done. The seats are half balsa and half basswood. Cup holders to come.

Please comment

Nobody?

Are you using reference photo`s? I live on a lagoon in NJ and see tons of pontoon boats every summer. The layout of the seats looks pretty good but look really thick and on the rough side to my eyes. Have you considered using sheet styrene or card stock instead of wood? Maybe if you work on sanding the seats some more to get them looking smoother they may work...just my opinion and remember, you asked for it...

Len

The references are from two pontoon boat catalogs I got at the Boat Show last year. As for the seats, they are as smooth as I can get them,and workhas stopped on it to make way for my RC builds. It'll probably resume in June. Thanks for your comment. Anyone else?

Anyone Else?