pvc sewer pipe for pontoons

[ratherbefishin]

has anyone built a pontoon boat out of large diameter black PVC sewer pipe using standard fittings?Would this be a practical home building project?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: pvc sewer pipe for pontoons

Somebody most likely has, but ABS (the black stuff) and PVC are not that impact resistant, it can seem very tough, but if you hit it just right it will break easily. I don't know the maximum size of ABS, but I haven't seen large diameter ABS pipe anywhere and large diameter PVC pipe and fittings can get pricy.

 

[Modified]

Re: pvc sewer pipe for pontoons

I don't think I've really ever seen a large enough PVC pipe to hold up a frame. I've seen those black jugs under a frame to build a dock before though.

 

[MGA]

Re: pvc sewer pipe for pontoons

In my neck of the woods we have been using plastic culvert pipe for floats for docks and rafts, we get the manufacture to sonice weld caps on and they work great and have reinforcing around them I believe the company name is Solarno

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: pvc sewer pipe for pontoons

these guys make 500mm which is just under 20 inches http://www.rxplastics.co.nz/index.cfm/1,112,html

 

[JB]

Re: pvc sewer pipe for pontoons

Don't even think about PVC designed to be underground. That stuff gets brittle very fast when exposed to UV.

If it has a UV inhibitor or is painted with a UV screening paint I guess it would be okay.

 

[Coors]

Re: pvc sewer pipe for pontoons

I dunno, JB; I have built a lot of water/waste water plants with exposed PVC, and gone back 6 years later , and all was good.
Schedule 80 is almost bullet-proof at 16" and better.
I have standing hose bibbs of PVC outside, that have lasted 25 years, with freezes..
Just an observation.

 

[Coors]

Re: pvc sewer pipe for pontoons

I missed the "sewer" part.
Schedule 80 (high pressure) should work.
Sorry, JB, wasn't paying attention; like my teachers always said in school.

 

[ratherbefishin]

Re: pvc sewer pipe for pontoons

a few years ago there was a company[forget the name] building ''rigid hull inflatables'' out of the heavy black pipe for industrial use-they were pretty indestructable.They of course had the ''welding''equipment ,I was thinking of just using existing fittings.I think they used 20''pipe.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: pvc sewer pipe for pontoons

Most of the black plastic culvert pipes I have worked with (up to 4 feet in diameter) have been made from HDPE. The only fault is that they are corrugated on the outside with a smooth pipe inside. You could make one heck of a dock from them.

 

[Coors]

Re: pvc sewer pipe for pontoons

Yes, the white pressure pipe(the schedule 80 pipe is black in pressure series)
You could even glue on a 45 degree to the front.
But that stuff ain't light, takes h/e to move a 20' piece, but displacement is displacement..
Can't corrode, paintible, the weight may even make it more stable in rough seas..

 

[burroak]

Re: pvc sewer pipe for pontoons

About the only upside to using that stuff would be if it were free.

Downside: weight, sealing out H2O, fastening anything to it, making it hydrodynamic, and how it's going to look.

You Might Be A Redneck If..............................

 

[Coors]

Re: pvc sewer pipe for pontoons

You can fasten to it, just pretend it's aluminum?

 

[burroak]

Re: pvc sewer pipe for pontoons

You can fasten to it, just pretend it's aluminum?

There are stresses introduced into the PVC during the extrusion process that make it unpredictable. Just cut some of that stuff with a chop saw or circular saw. Most of the time it cuts smoothly and then some times chunks fly out of it.

This idea is fraught with so many uncertainties; there are just other alternatives.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: pvc sewer pipe for pontoons

I worked with PVC sch 40 and 80 pipe for 20 years making filtration and irrigation systems, the stuff can be very strong, but if it gets a sharp hit it can shatter instantly. While it could work, I don't think I would trust it.

The PE culvert looks interesting.

 

[Bondo]

Re: pvc sewer pipe for pontoons

has anyone built a pontoon boat out of large diameter black PVC sewer pipe using standard fittings?

Nope,............. But I built a Big 1 out of Propane Tanks,..........

It's probably alittle Bigger than you were Thinking,..............

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: pvc sewer pipe for pontoons

that's a barge. how many passengers is it rated for?

 

[burroak]

Re: pvc sewer pipe for pontoons

Nope,............. But I built a Big 1 out of Propane Tanks,..........

It's probably alittle Bigger than you were Thinking,..............

Sure hope those tanks were purged.

 

[watermellonI]

Re: pvc sewer pipe for pontoons

fill em with pour foam?! cap em off , and git r done

 

[Bondo]

Re: pvc sewer pipe for pontoons

fill em with pour foam?!

Ayuh,........ Right,............

I guess you haven't been around long enough to know how I feel about Foam............
There's Nothing in that bilge but Rigging,+ Air..........

how many passengers is it rated for?

I guess that would depend on How fat the women are,.........
We've had over 13 Tons on, without issue............
But that was Concrete,+ Not women.....
That's an 8 ton Paver,+ 3 ton Roller in the picture,....
We were going over to an Island to install a Tennis Court last year.........