A pontoon boat can create a relaxing family day on nearly any body of water, from a lake, to a pond, or a slow-moving river. However, pontoon boats can be expensive. If you want to experience the fun and relaxation of owning a pontoon boat, never fear! With just a few basic pontoon boat parts, you can build your own pleasure water craft.
The basic design of a pontoon is essentially a raft with cylindrical floats attached to the bottom to keep it afloat. The most important pontoon boat parts, the floats, can be created from any number of simple materials. Pipes, barrels, or fabricated boxes made out of concrete or steel will all work just fine. As long as the floats are sturdy and air tight, they will do the job and keep your pontoon boat afloat.
Other pontoon boat parts include a simple, raft-style platform that can be made out of plywood, plastic or sheet metal. Above the platform, many people like to build a house-style cabin, or place rows of chairs covered with an awning. The materials you use will be largely determined by cost and availability.
While a pontoon boat can simply float along or be paddled, most boaters like to equip their boat with a motor. In this case, a standard outboard motor will usually do the trick. Since pontoon boats aren’t usually intended for speed, a small motor will normally suit your needs, but some boaters have successfully used motors of up to 200hp with no problems.
Whatever style of pontoon boat you decide to use, ready-made or handcrafted, you are sure to get hours upon hours of enjoyment from your investment, and make countless memories in the process.