Pontoon on boat lift

[ROBDOG1]

I have a 1989 Pontoon Boat and we normally leave it in the water year round (NC).

I have a boat lift that my ski boat stays on in the summer but in the winter i pull it home. My pontoon is a little old and i was thinking of trying to lift it on the lift but people have told me this is not good on the toons(laying on the metal rails).

Here is a picture of a lift like mine any suggestions would be great.

 

[PGFISHER]

Re: Pontoon on boat lift

The only suggestion I have is to build bunks to fit the pontoons. The aluminum used to make pontoons is very thin (usually .080 ) so setting them on those cross braces would certainly dent them.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Pontoon on boat lift

Or if those existing bunks were tall enough, they would support the underside of the deck on the toon. No part of the toons would be touching any part of the lift.

I bet you could fabricate up a structure that looks like a workbench skeleton out of steel or aluminum structurals that came up off the existing crossmembers there.

 

[OldePharte]

Re: Pontoon on boat lift

Why not simply add 2 V-shaped bunks on either side of the existing bunks to hold the tubes? The V's are relatively flat and would cradle the toon when needed and wouldn't be in the way when the lift is used for the ski boat.

 

[12vMan]

Re: Pontoon on boat lift

The V bunks would self-center it also when you brought her in, in windy conditions

 

[Haffiman]

Re: Pontoon on boat lift

You will need a longitudinal support under the pontoons.
The ones shown seems a bit 'wiggely', but in theory if you could put it just on top would be the best.
Just a V-block front and aft of each pontoon will give too high load, and at least they will have to be positioned under the divider between two chambers of each tube. This will demand that each tube has at least 3 chambers.
Most likely a set of 4 x 4 might be the easiest one.

 

[DaNinja]

Re: Pontoon on boat lift

Why not simply add 2 V-shaped bunks on either side of the existing bunks to hold the tubes? The V's are relatively flat and would cradle the toon when needed and wouldn't be in the way when the lift is used for the ski boat.

That's what I was thinking. A set of bunks set off to either side wouldn't even bother a V bowrider and still keep the toon off the rails. An afternoon project with that lift.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Pontoon on boat lift

It depends where the cross bars mee the tubes, you woudl need to have them hit right at a bulk head, remember the tybes are hollow and only .080 thick so they won't support the weight of the boat in the center.

Of hand I would think if you got 2 2x12 boards and attached them to the cross bars that would support the boat really well.

 

[smclear]

Re: Pontoon on boat lift

I've seen many, many pontoons on boat lifts on my lake so I know absolutely that it can be done. Never really looked to see what type of "bunks" they might have on their lift. Sorry I can't help in that area. But it can be done.

 

[Mr Crabbs]

Re: Pontoon on boat lift

The only suggestion I have is to build bunks to fit the pontoons. The aluminum used to make pontoons is very thin (usually .080 ) so setting them on those cross braces would certainly dent them.

x2! A very easy, cheap fix!

Maybe free if you go wander some new homesites, the stuff that gets thrown away is amazing.