The pontoon boat is one of the most commonly preferred projects by boatbuilders regardless of their skill level. It’s not surprising given this vessel’s advantages.
It’s effortless to build, one of the safest boats to sail, and most of all, its design is very flexible. With the right marine hardware, you can easily tweak its dimensions and style according to your or your client’s needs and preferences.
Aside from a basic boatbuilding skill, though, there’s another element essential in building a pontoon boat. That is the fundamental knowledge of how a pontoon boat works.
How Does a Pontoon Boat Float?
It’s fascinating to think about how the pontoon boat’s floatation method dates back to the earliest days of sailing. After all, the earliest water vessels were made of logs held together with vines. It was almost 800,000 years ago when our ancestors discovered that fastening a surface atop more buoyant pieces of wood was a favorable way of traveling through freshwater.
The keywords here are “buoyant pieces”. While modern pontoon boats utilize tubular floatation devices called pontoons or tubes, the general idea remains the same. A pontoon boat is a water vessel with a flat surface atop two to three of these tubes to keep it afloat. These tubes also serve to absorb the waves’ impact for a smoother, safer ride.
Thus, each pontoon must support the weight of the entire craft to prevent capsizing should the boat’s weight shift. Achieving maximum buoyancy and the right balance between pontoons are key in building a pontoon boat that will keep people safe for years.
Factors to Consider
Two-Tube vs. Three-Tube Pontoon Boat Handling
The number of pontoons beneath the boat will also affect its physics. Two-tube pontoon boats should be sailed with care, especially during rough waves and quick turns. That is because they are more prone to capsizing, given the vessel’s tendency to lean to the outside when turning.
Three-tube pontoon boats, on the other hand, provide more support and agility. That’s because the third central tube is slightly bigger than the side tubes for more even weight distribution. You must also install spray-deflection devices to improve handling and better utilize the spray’s force coming off the tubes while at sail.
Other Design Features
Aside from the tubes, here are other design features that can impact the way your pontoon boat will work while on the water:
- Motor Placement
A pontoon boat doesn’t really get on plane. It functions more by skimming over the water’s surface, so you don’t have to worry much about the motor trim. Instead, you can place the motor in a level position to allow the prop shaft to be in a horizontal position for better power transfer.
- Railings
One of the main safety features of a pontoon boat is its railings. It makes it a more family-friendly boat since these surrounding barriers make it less likely for passengers, especially small kids, to fall off accidentally.
Keep in mind that the railings’ height can also hinder the pontoon captain’s visibility. These blind spots become even more apparent when docking. One efficient way to remedy this issue is by raising the helm by four to six inches to give the captain better visibility in all directions.
- Seats
Finally, you should carefully consider your seat placement. This plays a crucial role in keeping the vessel’s weight distributed evenly and determining the number of passengers that your pontoon boat can accommodate at a time.
You can always install a fishing seat on the forward deck, especially if the vessel is intended for fishing. However, don’t forget to discourage passengers from occupying it unless the boat’s motor is off.
It is easy for someone to lose their footing while the boat is in motion, fall off the boat, and get sucked into its motor underneath.
If you want more information on how to design and build your pontoon boat, as well as you can learn more here.
The Fascinating Physics of a Pontoon Boat
The pontoon boat’s design has been tried and tested throughout the history of boat building and sailing. The pontoon boat’s unique buoyancy relies on the vessel’s tubular elements underneath that are referred to as pontoons or tubes. These parts keep the boat afloat and work as shock absorbers for added stability and safety during rough waves.
Most pontoon boats have two tubes, but adding a third one can improve its agility, capacity, and ease of handling. Aside from the tubes, there are three more elements that you should consider as a boat builder to maximize the boat’s performance and safety. These are the motor placement, the height of the railings (along with the helm’s elevation), and seat placement.
By considering these factors, you, as a boat builder, will be able to improve the overall performance of your creation and better highlight your craftsmanship. You can also check out these must have pontoon boat accessories.
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