Meet the Boogie Barge (21ft wide X 28ft long) folding pontoon boat

[BoogieBarge]

I was spending some time today reading through forums regarding boats and realized I had never actually joined one. So I thought, why not. Tell me what you think of my project called "the BoogieBarge" that has taken a couple of years to complete.

(Well I am not sure you ever finish working on a boat)

It takes five minutes at the boat ramp to launch but another 55 to take pictures, hold children, and explain what it is...

I have created a website for it @ boogiebarge.com

Enjoy!

 

[jspansel]

Re: Meet the Boogie Barge (21ft wide X 28ft long) folding pontoon boat

Just some pics would be better than sending us to your business website fishing for business...?

 

[BoogieBarge]

Re: Meet the Boogie Barge (21ft wide X 28ft long) folding pontoon boat

some more pictures...

 

[vergil]

Re: Meet the Boogie Barge (21ft wide X 28ft long) folding pontoon boat

If this isnt spam, tell us how you did it? cause it is kinda a cool concept

 

[BoogieBarge]

Re: Meet the Boogie Barge (21ft wide X 28ft long) folding pontoon boat

Well to be honest, I guess it is little hard to believe...

Maybe that's why there is no "welcome to the forum", LOL.

This all started when I had a need for one during an upcoming family reunion. I wanted the biggest they made but also portable. I mean a 12ft X 30ft is nice but it stays where they drop it off. I looked around, even seriously considered a rolling barge from Phil out of Oregon, but in the end; design, fabricated and now enjoy this one instead.

I had 18 months before it was our turn to host the family up at Toledo Bend (lake bordering Louisiana & Texas). So with the little time I hat to starting from scratch, I found a tripletoon CC made by SouthBay's research team. I think one of only 2 or 3 in the US. It had sat on the lot as a demo for awhile because people buy party barges to relax not go 60mph 50 miles offshore. With only a few exceptions it was just what I needed to build my own.

So week one after checking it out on the water, I started cutting it apart. That's where my neighbors like you all, thought i was crazy too. Week two i had a proof of concept. Check out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubLz8QOiJGY&context=C261aeADOEgsToPDskITa7tymhYq55FYtNtGCN1G

Then the rest is history. I forgot to mention that before all this, I had a passion for parasailing. I even thought of a way to pull a sled like structure with a hard connection to my 23ft Chapparral ski boat. But rather included this in the design on the Boogie Barge. It has high speed winch behind the captain seat with a launch platform off the back.

My wife encouraged me to think about a business venture after my little spree, so that is where the Boogie Barge came to life.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Meet the Boogie Barge (21ft wide X 28ft long) folding pontoon boat

Well to be honest, I guess it is little hard to believe...

Maybe that's why there is no "welcome to the forum", LOL.

Nope. That's not why at all. Just takes us tooners a little while to get around to stuff. Unlike our high strung and unenlightened fast boating brethren we understand the value of taking one's time. So, allow me to be the first. Welcome to the forum. I can think of one guy in particular you'll really enjoy on here. He's even in your neck of the woods. He'll be along directly.

 

[BoogieBarge]

Re: Meet the Boogie Barge (21ft wide X 28ft long) folding pontoon boat

Just some pics would be better than sending us to your business website fishing for business...?

My second day on the forum and off to a rough start with this guy. It took awhile to figure out how to compress pictures to fit within the limits to post. Everyone can relax, just thought i'd share my accoplishment.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Meet the Boogie Barge (21ft wide X 28ft long) folding pontoon boat

My second day on the forum and off to a rough start with this guy. It took awhile to figure out how to compress pictures to fit within the limits to post. Everyone can relax, just thought i'd share my accoplishment.

Don't take it personally. We do get a lot of that kind of thing.

 

[Snowfish]

Re: Meet the Boogie Barge (21ft wide X 28ft long) folding pontoon boat

Now that is one of the Best inventions that I've seen in a very long time! Very Nice!

Is the entire deck locked together? I would think the lifting hydraulic ram would lock the back. But is the front secured as well? I didn't see a ram up front. Or do the outriggers float independently of the main barge?

I can see cruising the Gull Lake chain, with that, up here. Some of the channels might get a little snug though.

Nice work!

 

[86 century]

Re: Meet the Boogie Barge (21ft wide X 28ft long) folding pontoon boat

Thats cool
The only thing I have seen around here is a huge quad toon barge a local marina built to rent.

 

[luckyjr]

Re: Meet the Boogie Barge (21ft wide X 28ft long) folding pontoon boat

Love the out of the box thinking. That is why all of us love our toons Lot of Room. I saw a floating golf green made out of styrofoam. Got me thinking how about a floating island. ha ha. Don't let these guys get under your skin.They are all nice guys. They're tooners and set in their ways. I go a different way every hour. ha ha Let me tell you ,that is
one slick design. In fact, I just filed a Provision Patent on something similar dealing with a different part of the boat. Mine has a hydraulic wheel motor for the lift. Good Luck and welcome. From the What if guy

 

[vergil]

Re: Meet the Boogie Barge (21ft wide X 28ft long) folding pontoon boat

I too must apoligize and welcome to the forum, pertty neat barge you got

 

[BoogieBarge]

Re: Meet the Boogie Barge (21ft wide X 28ft long) folding pontoon boat

Well I thought you guys might get a kick out of it. To answer a few of the questions, the deck is rigid once the doors are closed locking the wings in the down position. The "wings" have a slight incline to compensate for digging during high speed turns. I say high speed, the twin Mercs push it close to 40mph per GPS empty. Plenty fast for something with this much kinetic energy on the water.

The action is remote push button hydraulic and as you can see everything folds into place. I have had 19 adult men fishing from this thing with zero problems. My calculations suggest 26 would be the safe but that doesn't account for the tenderness of the vessel.

There are two slots in the back beside each engine where I dock/tow two jet skis around to play on. For the music lovers, I have a pretty good sound system in the front bench seat, total about 2K watts. At night I have LED lights in the floor and hidden throughout the console.

Wish it had a little more cover, but since I installed the misting system it?s not too bad. But now it is completely covered for the winter.

 

[luckyjr]

Re: Meet the Boogie Barge (21ft wide X 28ft long) folding pontoon boat

incoop, he talks and writes like a coon ask . Not from Hill Country.

 

[The Rooster]

Re: Meet the Boogie Barge (21ft wide X 28ft long) folding pontoon boat

Impressive Boogie, real impressive. Which Mercs are you running ?

 

[BoogieBarge]

Re: Meet the Boogie Barge (21ft wide X 28ft long) folding pontoon boat

Well close, I married one. Native Texan but call Prairieville, LA home now. Rooster if I am not mistaken Wendell is the only SouthBay dealer around these parts. To answer your question, I have twin 4stroke 135 Verados that you hardly know are back there.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Meet the Boogie Barge (21ft wide X 28ft long) folding pontoon boat

That's a really ingenious build. Boat looks great ... nice business idea too. Best wishes on it's success.

Welcome aboard!

 

[lncoop]

Re: Meet the Boogie Barge (21ft wide X 28ft long) folding pontoon boat

incoop, he talks and writes like a coon ask . Not from Hill Country.

Well, once a Texan always a Texan. Or, if you prefer, to quote Mr. Lovett, "That's right, you're not from Texas, but Texas wants you anyway." Now, get back to building your barge out of fifty gallon drums.

 

[The Rooster]

Re: Meet the Boogie Barge (21ft wide X 28ft long) folding pontoon boat

Well close, I married one. Native Texan but call Prairieville, LA home now. Rooster if I am not mistaken Wendell is the only SouthBay dealer around these parts. To answer your question, I have twin 4stroke 135 Verados that you hardly know are back there.

Yes, Wendell conned me into selling the Bentley. Those motors are sweet. Hope to see you guys out on the lake.

 

[Blank-N-Ship]

Re: Meet the Boogie Barge (21ft wide X 28ft long) folding pontoon boat

I like it. It's a great concept.