3rd log with transom

[ozarkglen]

I have an 18' lowes pontoon and am considering adding a third log with transom to gain more speed and floatation. I'm looking for information on where to position the log. Should the nose be forward or aft of the outside logs? How long should it be? I have access to a similar boat with 24' logs so any length would not be a problem. Should the transom be forward or aft of the original position? How should the transom be added to the end of the 3rd log? This project is just in the planning stages and I would really like to get it right the first try. Any info and specs would realy help.

ozarkglen

 

[5150abf]

Re: 3rd log with transom

To qualify my answer, I have been on the weld side of pontoons for 22 years and have personnaly built thousands of center tubes("logs"grow in the forest, "tubes" are built sorry, pet peeve) some capable of holding 300+ hp motors SO....

If you are starting with an outside tube and want to turn it into a center tube the short answer is no.

It could, in theory, be done but the cost of fabricating parts, welding ect would be more than what a new center tube would cost unless you have an extensive shop with TIG and MIG welder, break, shear ect.

I have been involved in the R&D of several center tubes, both round and elliptical, and it is a very complex problem to solve and doing things one off is very time consuming, you say you want to get it right the first time but that simply doesn't happen.

Even with a full time R&D department with the latest CAD software it still takes alot of tinkering to get something to work and I have never seen anything work perfectly on the first prototype.

Even with all my experience I wouldn't try it in my garage.

So, if you personnally have a big enough shop with Tig welder and know how to use it very well and can get 1/4 aluminum flat stock(last check it was $480 for a 4x8 peice) and have the capability to cut and bend it then go ahead and give it a shot.

The moral of this story is you may be able to do this but more than likely you will just spend alot of time and money to find out you can't, I really think it would be cheaper to buy an older boat with a center tube or order one from a company.

 

[ozarkglen]

Re: 3rd log with transom

Thanks for the input. I do have a MIG and a TIG and a brake and a shear and access to material. This may be a long project, but thats OK. My boat is opperational as is and all the work can be completed off the boat until I'm ready to make the final installation. I'm currently running a 60HP Johnson, but have a 80HP Mercury ready. With the added weight and horsepower, I think I need the addiotional floatation. I love to tinker and have the time. Any input on design would be great.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: 3rd log with transom

I understand the "love to tinker" thing! The 80 HP Merc is not going to add weight to the extent you need to add a third log. It will obviously provide additional floatation but I would be inclinded to add lifting strakes rather than messing with a third tube. But -- that's just my thought.

 

[5150abf]

Re: 3rd log with transom

Well there you go, you are way ahead of most people with your shop.

I wasn't trying to say you couldn't do it but having done it I know it is alot of work but that is what you are after.

Alot of guys get on here and want to do some major project like that and you find out thier only experience is the built a car once in boy scouts, you are obviously well beyond the pine wood derby car.

Get to a marina and look at how other people have done it and copy the one you think you can do.

I would actually fit the tube to the boat first to find out where it will sit on the brackets, then you know exactly what you can cut off and still have it fit the boat.

If the back of your deck is square, no motor cut out, you can do an extended transom that sticks out the back and leave your self a little more deck.

Feel free to PM me any questions you have and I will do my best to answer them.

 

[5150abf]

Re: 3rd log with transom

Just thougt of a possible problem, when you cut the end of the tube out you will lose the back baffle and will have to come up with a round plate to weld into the front of the new motor well.

You could probably order a new baffle from Lowes for probably $20-30 and it would for sure fit.

 

[Starfive56]

Re: 3rd log with transom front or rear

Re: 3rd log with transom front or rear

Ok, I also have a 24 ft pontoon and have a 20 toon that I want to add to the center as I want to put a cabin on the boat, my question is, do you put it to the front or to the rear since it is shorter, I also am thinking of take the transom and welding it to the center toon, have seen it done on other forms and it worked for them, but my question is front or rear. Thanks

 

[5150abf]

Re: 3rd log with transom

I would go forward so you can use the motor pan that is on the boat now and not have to build a transom but you will more than likely run into alignment problems with the brackets.

As I told Ozarkglen, it simply isn't that easy to just put a transom on a tube.

As I said I have had something to do with building 75000 to 80000 pontoons and done thousands of transoms, changed hundreds of end caps, I even changed a nose cone once(never again) and it is difficult even with all the equipment right there.

And I know if I can't get it I can have a new tube made.

Just plan way ahead and check all your measurements to be sure it will work before you start cutting and good luck.

 

[5150abf]

Re: 3rd log with transom

And Glen, I have a couple pics but have been really busy between going back to work and the body shop I part time at, they are coming soon.

 

[Starfive56]

Re: 3rd log with transom

I respect your knowledge from expirence, thats why I get on these forums to learn from those that have been there done that, I have got both rear and front suggestions, question, if I can make it line up which I think I can, I will have to cut some of the front pan off for the 20' to fit buts thats not issue.

Will I be ok and will it not make the front be two high, I know or figure most of my weigh will be to the rear of the boat. Just help me out here, just trying to think of all aspects.
Again, Thanks for your information.

 

[5150abf]

Re: 3rd log with transom

no it shouldn't raise the front at all if if the tube you are adding is the same height, it will just give you more flotation.

I would be very careful cutting down the motor pan as that is what holds the motor on the boat, generally the motor pan is attached to the cross members and you want to spread the load out as much as possible.

Again, th eodds of the brakcets lining up where you want thetube seem pretty remote so the tube will locate itself and you will need to work around that.

Not knowing what you are working with, your skill level, what materials you have ect. it is hard to give you too much advice.

Just don't do anything permanent until you know for sure it will work, measure and test fit first.

 

[boatmor]

Re: 3rd log with transom

I'm in the process of trying to figure out the same thing, that is adding a third tube with the transom on the end of the tube. I had one bought and paid for that was on a 28 foot Partyhut or something like that but before I could get it off he sold the boat to someone else. The tube was about 19 foot long so of course was stuck a way back inside the other tubes. I have no idea as to how well it worked. I was intending to put it on an 18 foot boat and have it even in the front and sticking out the back a little. I was going to fill in where the present motor cutout was so that I would have a straight across back fence and deck. A lot of the newer boats are being made that way by sticking the motor pod way out the back of the boat. I've seen some boats with the front of the center tube behind the outer ones a little but most are even with or on the round front decks they stick out further than the outer logs.

The tube I bought and didn't get didn't look the same on the motor mount as the new factory ones do. I examined the Voyager tubes pretty closely and they are pretty simple. I live near Lebanon, MO which has 7 pontoon manufacturers close by so I get to talk to the owners and shop guys.

Most of the companies will build you what you want if you are willing to spend the money.

Check these out, they are Playcraft brand. The owner of the company has held the pontoon speed record a couple of times. I asked him what they did special for the high horse power boats and he said they are built the same as all the other boats.

http://picasaweb.google.com/shootmor/HotAndColdToons#

Notice how they fastened them on the ends of the tubes.

 

[boatmor]

Re: 3rd log with transom

I found this on the forum

http://www.iboats.com/Playcraft_Boats

 

[boatmor]

Re: 3rd log with transom

I don't think it makes any difference what kind of log you use for the center. They don't have to match or be the same size. Also they can be round or u-shaped. The u-shaped logs will fit in any position as far as mating with the cross members. Some of the companies are using an oval shaped log that is bigger than the outside logs. I asked the guys at Voyager about that and they said it didn't make any difference but that it felt like you were turning faster even though you weren't. My guess is that you would be happier with a same size or slightly larger center log.

 

[5150abf]

Re: 3rd log with transom

Um ya, the guys at Voyager are wrong, it feels like you are turning faster because you are.

That is a Bennington invention called ESP, we have a patten on it and are the only ones to have an elliptical tube, with that tube the boat actually banks into turns, there is no magic involved that makes it "feel" like it's turning faster, it actually is.

At the dealer show we were demonstrating that set up and people were actually coming out of there seats because it turns so hard, I had a 25' top deck I/O banked at 20-25 degrees.

It is really hard to believe until you run one but doing a hard banked turn on toon is really something else.

We also have an option to have the ellipticals as the main tubes, the boat height from the water is still the same as a 25'' tube but the tube is 32'' wide so you have alot of additional flotation, so either way, yes it does make a difference.

Ozarkglen, sorry man, I completely forgot about your pics, they are in my phone I just need to get them on the computer and to you.

You got with me right as we went back to work and I am out at my buddies body shop when I'm not building boats so I have been really busy.

I'm not sure how our round tubes will transfer to your U tube but it should give you a rough idea as to what you need.

Again, double check to make sure your donor tube isn't foam filled, that would complicate things.

 

[Scando5]

I am in need of a 3rd pontoon

I am in need of a 3rd pontoon

This is to help raise the boat up a few inches. Where can I buy a 3rd pontoon???

Hope someone can help me with this question.

Brian
brian@mi5uk.com

 

[5150abf]

Re: 3rd log with transom

you should probably start a new thread, but the first place to check is the original manufaturer of the boat, anything else you do you will have rig something up.

Boats, like cars are almost all different enough that they don't interchange.

 

[boatmor]

Re: 3rd log with transom

The last time I talked to voyager boat co they had 120 logs of every description out back. My advice is to buy one with the motor pod built on from someone like them.

 

[WELDERMAN]

Re: 3rd log with transom

If anyone is in need of pontoon tubes, alum. Parts...ok just about everything for a pontoon...check out bill5500 on ebay classifieds...or call @ (573) 729-4617...prices were good (new and used stock)...it was pontoon heaven...