I may have gone crazy

[colofiremedic]

Hello everyone! I am in the process of transforming my 1992 Playcraft 24' pontoon boat into one that will turn heads on the lake. I have owned this boat for the past 10 years and completely restored it from the toons up about 6 years ago.

Here is what I am planning. I am going to add a 3rd pontoon that is 26' in length and has an engine well at the rear. I am going to install a chevy 350 with a bravo 3 outdrive. I have done a fair amout of research on this subject and know that in order to make this work, I am going to have to beef the cross members up a bit. Finishing the boat out does not concern me in the slightest, but I do have a few unanswered questions. I'm hoping that there is someone out there who has some techincal experience or practical knowledge in this area.

Do lifting strakes on the pontoons make enough difference to install them on the old pontoons?

Has anyone had their pontoons powdercoated? Did it work? Does it last?

finally, has anyone tried something this outrageous? (other than the boat manufacturers who are currently doing it)

Anyone who has actual hands on experience in this arena, I would truly appriciate any help I can get.

I look forward to any input, (however harsh it may be) I'll keep you posted as I begin the transformation. And, if anyone is interested in what I am building, I will attach a link to a video that shows the basic premise for my idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdkYyQ3_qA4

Thanks,
Colofiremedic

 

[imported_John o]

Re: I may have gone crazy

If you have enough power then strakes make a difference. You will want them on the center tube


Your hull geometry determines where you want them on the outer tubes. I have a senter tube that is lower than the side tubes and I have strakes on all six sides. They work well for me even in turns. Others (with a different hull geometry) find that the strakes on the outside of the outer tubes have a negative effect on turning.

 

[DJ]

Re: I may have gone crazy

You don't say what diameter your tubes are?? Anything less than 22"?

You can bolt a 350 Chev. to a washtub but it's still a washtub. Kapeesh?

 

[5150abf]

Re: I may have gone crazy

Hopefully you are using a center tube from an I/O if not you had better be one heck of an engineer, there si alot of stuff going on there and trial and error is a boig part of building a boat.

I am at Bennington, no I can't get you pictures of anything, and as good as our R&D guys are they rarely get something right the first time, there is almost always some tinkering that needs to done get it just right.

I am sure you can do what you want but you won't know if it will work until you hit the water with it the first time.

 

[colofiremedic]

Re: I may have gone crazy

Thank you all for the input. I am on a fact finding mission, and appriciate the input so far. The tubes on the boat are actually u shaped, they measure out and are about the equivilant of a 26" dia pontoon. My plan is to order a toon with an I/O compartment built onto it. As for the trial and error, it scares me. I don't want to spend the money, tear my boat apart and find that it doesn't work. I am really looking for information right now. The idea that lifting strakes on the outer toons could potentially cause increased resistance and more difficult turning, is not something I had considered. Would it be effective to have strakes on the center pontoon only, or is that a waste of money?? Seems like a valid concern to me. I appriciate the input so far, and welcome ANY comments. Don't worry, I am not going to be offended if someone suggests that I am nuts for even thinking about this. ( I know this is kind of out there) It does'nt cost anything to ask questions and do research. If I find it is not feasable, I won't do it. Thanks in advance for the comments and help!

Colofiremedic