The cheap and easy way to build your own pontoon boat using an old sailboat. This old hobie cat was wrecked in a storm so converted it into and electric pontoon boat for fishing and cruising around the lake.
I am a total sailboat snob. I have owned several sailing catamarans, and well as about 7 other sailboats from 80 to 10,000 pounds and 8 to 33 feet. I f$%^ing love your boat. You got it, brother. Stability. Light weight. Cheap-assed discarded Hobie 14. You are correct. You should try a Hobie 16. (I know, because I have owned the fastest Hobie 16 on the beach here in Southern California.) You should be able to pick one up cheap. Oh, by the way, besides being a sailboat snob, I am also a boat nut. So I really like you making the sailboat work as your electric powered weekend platform. Boats are toys, man, as you seem to know. If you ever find your way to the Alamitos Bay Yacht Club in Long Beach, California, ask for Russ, and I'll buy you a beer. Russ
sweet! I would have thought a sailing snob would have not liked the butchering of a sailboat...hehe. glad you liked it, and maybe someday we will get that beer going.
I'm thinking the weight of the platform is the issue. I actually saw a bloke the other week on something similar. He had aluminium grating instead of wood & steel tubing. Nice job though, I hope you guys have sorted it since, Cheers. :)
The deck added to much weight.....maybe leaving the mesh and using bungee cords to attach would be the way to go? Also, I've seen where you can attach a seat/backrest to the edge of the metal tube frame on top. The things moves decently under electric power...... It is great to see that someone tried to use the platform
Nice build -- you were clipping along there pretty good with that electric - I love electric, hear the sound of nature and the motor! What size motor and battery - what range do you get on a charge. Cheers, Patrick
PATRICK MCKOWENthe motor is a 24v system, and i run it on 2 old 500cca car batteries, range no so great (old batteries) but i also use a 12v motor with an 800ah deep cycle and it lasts5- 6 hours easy
use aluminum hat section and screw two together to make square beam . then fill with spray insulation. make the frame for deck out of these and you will save 200 lb . I cubic feet of pontoon hold up 62 lb. if you want half pontoon showing only put 32 lb per cubic foot of weight on pontoon. I like your video.
Cool creation buddy! The H14 in sailing mode could barely handle the weight of one adult and a child. If you can find H16 hulls they will work better. But well done mate!
Amazing how fast it goes with just the trolling motor. If you want to add extra buoyancy, add something on top of the pontoons so it doesn't slow you down.
Too bad you couldn't get a Hobie 16. The H-14's a sinker even without the added weight of the hard deck. I have a H-16 I might try that with. Nice job!
yeah it makes for a fun ride when its kinda sinking! would be great to see your 16 footer in action. actually the wood deck is fairly light believe it or not
Basically , for that size of a cat , you made the deck too heavy and a touch too big. 1.5" X 2.5" is plenty with 3/4" ply (maybe 5/8" , 1/2" with lots of screws) , Make sure the pontoons are perfectly sealed
I liked your Idea so much I built my own based on your suggestions.... and I love it ! Play'in Hooky " is her name. check out my vid under hobie16 electric pontoon fishing boat. thanks again !
use a net or a mesh instead of wood in the middle, have you seen water world? it will decrease your weight to 90% you accomodate 4 people. at least thats my calculations..
why wouldn't you weather proof the wood? oops. 1/4" plywood seriously? 3/4" marine plywood should be used at the very least with some sort of weather proofing like elastomeric paint or else it will de-laminate and warp up fast. this will probably last you a few years or less before you have to rebuild, so i recommend building it to last next time.
