News — DIY Boat maintenance

4 Tips for Restoring Your Pontoon Boat | Pontoon-Depot

By: Ejectomat

It may be more affordable for you to restore your old pontoon boat instead of replacing it with a new one. This article discusses the components that you should pay attention to during that restoration project.

The Deck

The deck is arguably the most essential component of any pontoon boat. Inspect the deck carefully so that you identify any defects that can shorten the service life of the restored pontoon boat. Check for signs of rot, such as sponginess. Use a flashlight to look underneath the deck to identify damaged sections on the lower side of the deck. You can even pull up parts of the carpeting to take a closer look at the areas that seem to be affected by rot. Replace the damaged sections with marine-grade plywood.

The Pontoons

Check each of the pontoons carefully for any signs of leaks or corrosion. Remember that a previous owner may have masked a corroded section of a pontoon by painting over it. You should, therefore, be keen and spot any painted areas that don't look identical to the surrounding areas. Use an appropriate material, such as putty, to fix any holes that you see in the pontoons. Weld any areas that are corroded.

The Furniture

Pontoon boat furniture plays a vital role in the aesthetics and functionality of the boat. You should, therefore, give this feature sufficient attention during the restoration project. Pay special attention to any furniture that has wooden frames since wood rot may have affected them. Check the upholstery for rips and tears. Base on the inspection results to decide whether to replace or conduct repairs to the furniture. Remember that it may be easier and less costly to replace the degraded furniture instead of trying to fix numerous defects in it.

Customisations

The restoration project should be regarded as an opportunity to add the features and adjustments that will make that pontoon boat to be better suited to your needs. For example, you can add ladders, an audio system and extra table space to make the boat more user-friendly. A lot of careful planning and budgeting should be done before the restoration project begins. This will save you from spending more money trying to restore an old boat than what you would have spent if you had opted to buy a new or used pontoon boat.

Consult experienced pontoon boat owners or repair professionals about the suitability of each major decision so that you don't make a mistake during the restoration project.

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Hot Springs Expanding Pontoon Boat Production

Pic By: Xpress Boats

JONES MILL, Ark. (KATV) — There's an abandon plant of highway 270 in the small community of Jones Mill.

But it was announced early Monday, that that's about to change.

"When I moved out here a long time ago, there was all kinds of stuff," Throne said.

Like the General Cable plant, which shut down production a few years ago.

"I was hoping we'd see something go in there," said Throne.

Well, Monday morning, it was announced that Xpress Boat Company will be bringing roughly one hundred new jobs back to this plant and jones mill, to help with production of their Veranda Luxury Pontoon Boats.

"It's an exciting opportunity for our company, it's an exciting opportunity for the community," Rory Herndon, president of Xpress Boat Company, said.

"Any time you have the expansion of a local business, it's a great day," Pat McCabe, mayor of Hot Springs, said.

Mayor McCabe says the Garland County based company will drive more revenue for the area, after investing nearly $10 million in the General Cable Plant.

"We're going to have people coming from Hot Springs, Malvern are going to have people employed," McCabe said.

Something Throne says will put the abandon plant back into good use.

"I think they'll do really good right there," she said.

General Cable had left Jones Mill in 2015.

The plant itself in over 375,000 square feet.

For all your accessories and/or vinyl flooring visit Pontoon Depot's shop site.

BASIC BOAT MAINTENANCE | PONTOON-DEPOT

By: Pontoon Living

When it comes to your pontoon boat or fishing boat, nothing is more important than safety and maintenance. The good condition of your boat is heavily hinged upon the achievements maintained and the grade of its upkeep. All through the year, taking good care of your boat is vital. Discussed below are several techniques to do this.

Leave the Drain Unplugged

When leaving your boat out with the landing you will need to just be sure you pull the drain plug leave it removed. This will be significant since in the event it rains, water is not going to collect and accumulate inside the bilge. This can be dangerous as it could ruin the boats mechanical parts like the starter the risk is compounded through the indisputable fact that the bilge pump only works for a short while and it may not be as helpful in clearing accumulated water.

Outboard Motor Care

An outboard motor, perhaps the most common feature in fishing boats, limits one from leaving it unattended for very long spans of time. For the reason that in the event the fuel-oil mixture stays to take a seat within the carburetor, the fuel evaporates leaving the oil to clog the carburetor causing unwanted and expensive damage. In order to avoid this, it really is advised that one should add stabilizer for the fuel and run the engine for approximately ten mins, this prevents the carburetor in form and prevents an overhaul.

Inspect the Boat for Leaks Over the Water Line

A leak higher than the conduit just isn’t as lethal together below but this does not mean it’s not at all problematic. To identify these you need to inspect the deck hardware, the windows and portals for almost any leaks or possible cracks. Tighten the bolts and screws or simply tighten them anew just to be sure.

Use Recommended Parts for Replacements

Unfortunately, it is inevitable for boats to age. In addition to possibly losing its exterior luster, some of your boat parts will degrade and need replacement. If you are planning to list your boats for sale, make sure you replace broken down parts. Use parts approved by the manufacturer and steer clear of using cheaper substitutes.

Regular maintenance You ought to make positive changes to oil every now and then, wash the boat after and get rid of the engine after every use. With a nice windy day, open the windows and air the boat to prevent accumulated moisture and corrosion.

For all your accessories and/or vinyl flooring visit Pontoon Depot's shop site.

Tackle Box: Fall Fishing Chores | Pontoon-Depot

By: Pdbmagazine 

Assuming your fishing season is coming to its annual autumnal break, one of the best ways to increase your odds at fishing success next spring starts with what you do to your boat and tackle now.

Take for instance your boat’s motor. Unless you enjoy wetting a line at the dock, you can’t go fishing from your boat if the motor won’t run. And if you live anywhere there’s a threat of sub-freezing air temperatures this winter, you need to make sure there’s no water in the engine’s crank case or lower unit. That means getting your engine vertical (ie: tilted all the way down) and keeping it that way over the storage period. That orientation will allow gravity to draw all the moisture down into the lower unit, through the lubricant (water is heavier than oil), where the water can be drained via the plug placed there for the purpose before it can freeze, expand and do their damage. Top off the lower unit with fresh lube or replace it entirely and you have one less task standing between you and the fishing grounds next spring.

While draining the lower unit, remove the engine’s propeller and check for any sign of fishing line that may have found its way and wound its way around the shaft. Fishing line, especially the new super-braids, left to spin and wear through a seal or score a shaft, creates one of the most common entry points for water to get into the motor in the first place. 

I replaced my pair of six-gallon metal fuel tanks with three-gallon plastic ones last year, primarily to force me to use fresh fuel during the fishing season. I found that, depending on how and when I used it, my 9.9hp Johnson outboard could take a month or more to consume six-gallons of ethanol-“enriched” gasoline that some experts say has a shelf life of nine weeks. I enjoyed flawless engine operation all season and found that when it did come time to refill the tanks, they were much easier to carry to and from the truck and filling station than the larger six gallon containers. Those small tanks pay off now as well, for when I have some left over at the end of the season, there’s a small enough amount that I can easily pour it into the tank of my SUV so that I can start with full tanks of fresh gas next fishing season.

Metal tanks, most advise, may be best left topped off with fuel that has been stabilized and treated to thwart the effects of ethanol.For those pontoon and deck boats with built-in tanks, if they are plastic, condensation isn’t nearly as big a problem as it is with metal fuel tanks. With fluctuating air temperatures, the walls of a partially filled metal tank will condense and weep moisture into the remaining gasoline that will cause problems when it comes time to use it as engine fuel. Many experts now say that it’s better to empty plastic internal tanks for storage over the off-season and fill them with fresh gasoline when it’s time to go boating again. 

If your boat has been docked all season and has a fish-finder, take time to clean the face of the transducer as soon as the boat is removed from the water and before the slime that accumulated on the unit has time to dry and harden. Make sure the transducer is secure to the hull and facing straight down to give the most accurate sonar readings. Check again for that face-down orientation next spring and before every launching. Check the mounting hardware on all rod holders and fish-finders now as well, and get them secure while you’re thinking about it; you don’t want that first good fish of the season ripping a rod holder out of the gunwale to remind you next spring.

Check your rods for lose guides or missing inserts and get them scheduled for repair or replacement over the off season—when tackle shops have more time to offer such services and you don’t have to suffer through any “down time” during the fishing season without your favorite rod or reel. Go through the tackle box and remove any leaking Gulp! containers, discard any rock-hard Powerbaits and tighten any stinky dip bait jars that threaten to permeate the box and foul the air over the winter. Separate rubber worms, grubs and skirts from lures with finishes that might be damaged by the reaction between their respective surfaces.Fishing tackle deserves some love come autumn too. I find that watching football games—at least those that I don’t have an emotional or monetary stake in—provide a great time to remove all the old fishing line from my reels and re-spool with new. Back off the drags on all your reels now as well, to keep the washers from assuming compressed postures full-time, and oil any moving, exterior parts of the reel.

Finally, look at your landing net and check for holes in the webbing. The little ones are supposed to be there; the big one on the side signals it’s time to replace the netting—or give yourself a reason to kick yourself when it comes time to land that first big fish next spring.

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