News — pontoon boat Refurbishing

DIY Make Your Own Pontoon Boat Cover | Pontoon-Depot

How to Make a Pontoon Boat Cover Video provides step-by-step instructions for sewing a custom cover for your pontoon boat. You can learn how to create your own great fitting cover for trailing, storage or mooring in this comprehensive video.

This video will show you how to determine the amount material needed, pattern right on the boat, create darts, add chafe protection, create boat vents, and install snaps and support poles.
Find all of the materials needed for this project at http://www.sailrite.com.

How to Make a Pontoon Boat Cover Chapter List:
• Measuring & Sewing Fabric Panels -- 0:33 min
• Installing Boat Vents -- 6:22 min
• Patterning with Darts -- 11:43 min
• Creating Slit Openings & Marking Fabric -- 21:05 min
• Patterning Fabric on a Flat Surface -- 27:48 min
• Adding Stern Facing -- 34:53 min
• Sewing Darts, Chafe Patches & Hems -- 39:07 min
• Adding Triangular Panels -- 49:09 min
• Finishing Slit Openings -- 54:40 min
• Installing Snaps -- 59:10 min
• Materials List -- 1:03:00 min

Top 3 Must Have Accessories To Protect Your Pontoon Boat

Dock damage is most common damage that pontoon boats experience while on the water. People tend to move around here the most - getting on and off the boat and settling cargo. Additionally sometimes the waves can be hectic and rock the boat up against the dock or other boats. Lastly it is very common for pontoon boats to have their decks dented at the corners when you are docking if you are unable to get the angle right when driving the boat in.

But don’t stress, some simple and easy preventative measures to avoid damage to your pontoon boat is to purchase rubber bumpers for the corners of your pontoon boat deck. You may also want to invest in fence savers for your railings, these are specifically for protection when rafting with other boats or when you are in a crowded dock situation. And lastly a bumper that protects the space between your pontoons and deck. Three great accessories that will extend the life of your boat and keep it looking sharp.

With that said, here’s our top 3 pontoon boat accessories to keep your boat ding free and you can find all of these bumpers right here at Pontoon-Depot.com. We got you covered.

1. TAYLOR PONTOON FENCE SAVER The fence saver secures to the fence or railing and is designed to prevent contact to the delicate aluminum fencing. The fence saver is especially effective preventing those nasty dings that occur when rafting a pontoon boat to a conventional hull boat.

2. TAYLOR PONTOON 90º CORNER FENDER SAVER Specifically for square shaped corners. The corner bumper mounts over the original factory installed aluminum corner section to provide air-cushion impact protection when docking. Made from special gray PVC formulated to match the aluminum color of the boat and secures with stainless fasteners.

TAYLOR PONTOON RADIUS CORNER FENDER SAVER Specifically for Pontoon Boats with rounded-shape corners. The Taylor Radius Corner Fender Saver is built the same as the 90º Corner Fender Saver the only difference being the shape.

3. TAYLOR PONTOON FENDER These unique fenders offer a level of protection to areas on the Pontoon boat other fenders can't provide. The Pontoon Fender is specifically designed to fit snugly between the pontoon and the deck of the boat, protecting both from rafting boats, docks, or other objects. All pontoon fenders are made from our own marine-grade, U.V. resistant vinyl and have an integrated rubber football style valve for easy inflation.
 

The 3 Basic Shapes of Pontoons Designs - Their Pros & Cons

Pontoon Design: There are three primary types of pontoon designs used on current pontoon boats. One is the foam filled (U) shaped pontoon, another is the round baffled single chambered pontoon, and then there is the single round pontoon with several airtight individual compartments. Each and every dealer will have a reason or explanation why the style on their perspective boats is the best. But a better definition of the best could be a lower cost of production, more efficient to operate, easier to repair if necessary, or maybe even the safest. However all the above designs have their own unique advantages and disadvantages..

U shaped foam filled pontoons: The advantage of foam filled logs is primarily the inherent safety of a redundant flotation system that it provides. Foam filled logs also offer manufactures a cost savings in the production of them. For the U shaped pontoons are inherently easier for them to produce and manufacture. Many manufactures also use a thinner gauge material because the foam inserted within reduces or prevents canning that would usually occur with the thin walled U shape. The inserted foam flotation makes it difficult to use baffles in the pontoons so they are not generally used which will also lower costs of manufacturing. Other disadvantages of the U shaped pontoons are the fact that they are generally fairly narrow in width. The width of the pontoon has a direct affect on how it will displace the water and therefore how high above the water it will float. The narrower pontoons along with the additional weight of the foam results in the pontoons that are sitting lower in the water. The additional draft of the pontoons results in more drag and can reduce fuel economy and increased occurrences of hitting underwater obstructions.And should you ever hull the boat and take in water and it remains there over time the foam has a tendency to absorb it and becomes waterlogged. This condition is nearly impossible to repair effectively and poses a serious problem. Though most pontoons have a drain plug on each pontoon to drain accumulated condensation and water intrusion it also means you have to remove the boat from the water. And finally should you ever need to repair a hulled pontoon the most common and best repair, welding is very difficult to achieve because of the inserted insulation and associated heat from the process.

Single Chambered Baffled Round Pontoons: In general round pontoons offer some significant advantages for geometrically a cylinder is the strongest shape that aluminum can be formed into. The symmetrical design means the diameter stays the same regardless where you measure it. The larger the tube is in diameter the more weight it can carry and the more water it can displace. Baffles are usually put in at specific intervals down the length of the pontoon. At the bottom of each baffle there is a void or pass-through purposely left in place which allows them to pressurize equally throughout. Many pontoons of this design also have a drain plug at the back rear bottom to allow drainage of condensation or accumulated water. The repair-ability of this style pontoon is simplified by the fact that once drained it is a relatively simple routine welding repair. The downside of this design however is should you hull a pontoon you'll accumulate water along the entire length of the pontoon. The baffles somewhat limit water accumulation because each section pressurizes individually until it disallows any more water infiltration.

Round Pontoons with Airtight Individual Chambers: These usually feature at least three often more distinct individual chambers per pontoon. They offer all the efficiently and most of the moat repairable of the above baffled style pontoon. The airtight chambers should they be hulled only allow water into the individual chamber that received the damage. The airtight chambers offer outstanding safety due to this compartmentalized design. However this may be the most labor intensive design to produce and manufacture and often reflects accordingly. The only real drawback to this design is should there be water infiltration into the pontoon. The only way to remove or drain it is through a usually small plug at the top of the individual affected chamber usually by siphoning though small hose. It is a slow cumbersome process should a substantial amount of water be involved.

This excerpt is taken from a longer article on http://www.pontoonhouseboatodyssey.com

What Size & Type of Pontoon Boat Will Fit Your Needs?

What size pontoon will fit your needs best? Here are some good suggestions based on your needs.

Most trips out how many people will usually accompany you on your boat?

For 2 to 6 people a 18 to 20ft. pontoon boat should work

For 6 to 10 people a 22 to 24ft. pontoon boat

For 10 or more people only consider 24ft. and larger pontoon boat

What percentage of time will be spent fishing on your pontoon boat?

70 to 100% should consider dedicated fishing model pontoon

10 to 70% a fish and cruise model pontoon

Under 10% probably should consider dedicated cruising pontoon

Will you want to cruise and pull water toys, or wish to pull adult skiers?

Don't consider anything under 90hp. and a bit more motor would be even better yet.

Are you planning any long cruises on your pontoon? Are you going to want camping capability? Are you or any family members sensitive to sunlight or burn readily?

If yes is the answer things such as a changing room with a Porta Potti, double Biminis with side kits, a grill and sink, plus seating that pulls out to make beds may all be important for you to be happy and satisfied with your pontoon boat purchase or renovation.