Just picked up my first project

[Cuda K5]

last week I drug home a 1975 24' Kayot pontoon project........

It is basically just the logs, crossmembers, trailer, and railing

The boat is going to be designed for catfishing here in AZ. I fish all year round from 20 to 120 degree weather so comfort is pretty important to me. The plan is to build an 8'x8'x6' cabin with 2 6ft dorm mattresses and the helm inside, propane heat, and a small 12V roof mounted swamp cooler. Here are a couple simple drawings I have:

My goal is to keep the cabin, helm, beds and frames weight between 400-500lbs. I believe it should be fairly easy to accomplish. I would really like to avoid adding a center log if at all possible.

Does anybody have any advice or suggestions? I will probably have tons of questions once I actually start building it.

Thanks
Jake

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Just picked up my first project

Other than the live well in the front center of the deck it looks fine, unless its going to be recessed and thats very hard to do it will be in the way.

 

[Cuda K5]

Re: Just picked up my first project

I do think it isn't a very good place to put it, but I cant really think of a better place to have it that would keep the weight even. The only other spot I could think of would be the very front center

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Just picked up my first project

Welcome aboard Cuda.

For the beds, take a look at other toons to see how they are laid out, pick up ideas from pictures online. Having the beds convertible into seating is an idea. Conventional mattresses (dorm) might not be best in a boat due to water and fish goo getting in the fabric. Sportboats out of So Cal use 3-4" foam pads covered in vinyl. I've slept on them, they are pretty comfortable. Vinyl is easy to clean, but they could be "sticky" in the summer, like an ol' vinyl car seat in summer...

Are those tubes foam filled, if so have you checked their integrity and for water saturated foam? (I'd hate to get into a project like this, only to find out there are problems with the tubes.)

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

Re: Just picked up my first project

Looks good I like where the live well is you have full access to every side and it's not blocking the fence on either side that u will be fishing from and you also have the weight in the center. You haven't said what size the live well is going to be might be careful with adding to much weight to the front. What size of motor you going to put on it ? How rough is your lake?
overall you have a plan and you know what you want to accomplish and what works for you after all your building it for you not any one else.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Just picked up my first project

I layed mine out like this. Thats the nice thing about planning it out first, its a lot easier to change on paper. I would suggest combining the sink and grill storage into one area and put the live well on the other side and put the live well in front of the driver console due to the fact some one will be at the sink doing things while your moving down the lake. and it will block your vision. It will free up deck space.

 

[Cuda K5]

Re: Just picked up my first project

Welcome aboard Cuda.

For the beds, take a look at other toons to see how they are laid out, pick up ideas from pictures online. Having the beds convertible into seating is an idea. Conventional mattresses (dorm) might not be best in a boat due to water and fish goo getting in the fabric. Sportboats out of So Cal use 3-4" foam pads covered in vinyl. I've slept on them, they are pretty comfortable. Vinyl is easy to clean, but they could be "sticky" in the summer, like an ol' vinyl car seat in summer...

Are those tubes foam filled, if so have you checked their integrity and for water saturated foam? (I'd hate to get into a project like this, only to find out there are problems with the tubes.)

That is basically what i have been looking at. Poly-foam with a vinyl cover. I have no idea if the tubes are foam filled or not. In the next few weeks when i start taking everything apart i need to look at that.

Looks good I like where the live well is you have full access to every side and it's not blocking the fence on either side that u will be fishing from and you also have the weight in the center. You haven't said what size the live well is going to be might be careful with adding to much weight to the front. What size of motor you going to put on it ? How rough is your lake?
overall you have a plan and you know what you want to accomplish and what works for you after all your building it for you not any one else.

The livewell needs to be AT LEAST 4ft long. My little sketch is drawn to scale so that is what it would look like. I will probably build something that seperates seperates the tank into 2 2ft section so when I only have bait in there, i can just fill half the well.

Motorwise I am looking for anything from 50-125hp. I would prefer to be around 100 but i will end up buying whatever i find for a good deal. The only time our lakes get really choppy, is monsoon season.

I layed mine out like this. Thats the nice thing about planning it out first, its a lot easier to change on paper. I would suggest combining the sink and grill storage into one area and put the live well on the other side and put the live well in front of the driver console due to the fact some one will be at the sink doing things while your moving down the lake. and it will block your vision. It will free up deck space.

View attachment 225384

View attachment 225386

The livewell would be a lot more in the way against the cabin and wall. As i said above, the livewell has to be at least 4ft long and I am hoping to have enough room for it to be around 53 or 54".

 

[Cuda K5]

Re: Just picked up my first project

is there any good places to buy aftermarket transoms? I could build one myself, but if they aren't too expensive i'd rather just order one.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Just picked up my first project

Well in most cases its a very simple thing to build. In most cases its 2 pieces of marine grade 3/4 plywood glued and screwed together and cut to fit. How about a picture of whats on the back now.

O and FYI if you click on the small pictures it makes them bigger.

 

[Cuda K5]

Re: Just picked up my first project

Well in most cases its a very simple thing to build. In most cases its 2 pieces of marine grade 3/4 plywood glued and screwed together and cut to fit. How about a picture of whats on the back now.

O and FYI if you click on the small pictures it makes them bigger.

There is nothing lol. i need the whole entire transom

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

Re: Just picked up my first project

Try eBay there is some there . He's out of Missouri he has alot of different things. There is also alot of other places just goggle pontoon transom. Fyi I picked up a third toon for what IV seen some of the transom selling for. The one I got had transom built in. I know you stated you didn't want to add a third toon but this will also better support the weight you will be adding with your cabin,live well,and other accessories. The trailer you have now would not work with adding a third toon .

 

[Cuda K5]

Re: Just picked up my first project

Try eBay there is some there . He's out of Missouri he has alot of different things. There is also alot of other places just goggle pontoon transom. Fyi I picked up a third toon for what IV seen some of the transom selling for. The one I got had transom built in. I know you stated you didn't want to add a third toon but this will also better support the weight you will be adding with your cabin,live well,and other accessories. The trailer you have now would not work with adding a third toon .

Yea that is the main reason why i would like to stay away from a 3rd toon. If i do end up going that route, i think I'll end up converting to an I/O

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

Re: Just picked up my first project

I have a transom it's the factory one from my 83 ercoa with new wood for the transom and the pod is steel.if it would help you I'd sell it cheap shipping would probably cost alot. If you have a fan shop around there wit a break they could bend one out for ya .

 

[Cuda K5]

Re: Just picked up my first project

hmmmmm. how big and heavy is it? I do have access to a 6ft brake. It may be easier to just make one myself

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

Re: Just picked up my first project

I think making your own is the best way. The one I have is about 8' long bolted to three cross members which is better than alot of the older toons that only bolted to two . As far as weight I'd guess around a hundred pounds. Building one yourself should be easy enough to do out of aluminum and you can even make your transom out of aluminum also.
I understand the trailer swaying your decision of not wanting to add a third toon but you will fill alot better about the way it floats after adding all the weight of the cabin and gear.

 

[Cuda K5]

Re: Just picked up my first project

I think making your own is the best way. The one I have is about 8' long bolted to three cross members which is better than alot of the older toons that only bolted to two . As far as weight I'd guess around a hundred pounds. Building one yourself should be easy enough to do out of aluminum and you can even make your transom out of aluminum also.
I understand the trailer swaying your decision of not wanting to add a third toon but you will fill alot better about the way it floats after adding all the weight of the cabin and gear.

how much did you pay for your center log and where did you pick it up from? If you dont mind me asking

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

Re: Just picked up my first project

Four hundred and I found it on Craigslist at a Lowe dealer in Joplin Missouri. I have seen some in Oklahoma city on Craigslist for five not sure if the transom is in them.

 

[Cuda K5]

Re: Just picked up my first project

Four hundred and I found it on Craigslist at a Lowe dealer in Joplin Missouri. I have seen some in Oklahoma city on Craigslist for five not sure if the transom is in them.

yea that is my probablem. no one near AZ makes center logs or any pontoon parts lol

 

[1983 ercoa 21']

Re: Just picked up my first project

Understand that. If you can find another cheap project toon you can use one of the logs and sale the other one. And have someone fan a transom on it for you. Of buy one online and have it shipped. Have you searched online very much there is places that will sale center toons brand new with transom

 

[Cuda K5]

Re: Just picked up my first project

I think i am just going to order this transom: 115HP Motor Mount

If i end up needing a center log (which i dont think i will) then i will cross that bridge when i get there