First of all, this is more of a theoretical discussion at this point. It's not like I'm ready to tie one on.
As nice as some of the TC's are these days, if a guy could mount a TC on a flat pontoon platform, it might make a pretty nifty houseboat and you could get more use out of your TC.
I supposed the TC would have to be reversed and the chairs and controls on the boat moved to the front under the overhang with perhaps a (short) door under the overhang allowing access from that end.
Would the TC be too much of a load for the pontoons? Given the amazing capacity of my inflatable, I would suspect that a 20 to 30 foot pontoon (or a new tri toon) boat would have no problems hauling 4K pounds.
Has anyone heard of such a thing? Do one of you have such a thing in his back yard? If this is an original idea, remember you heard it here first and be sure to send me the royalty checks.
formerly avionguy
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It's not a new idea. But I have to ask, how is putting a 15' TC on a 30' pontoon going to allow you to get more use out of it? It may give you the ability to go on the water, but you will lose the ability to explore all of the back roads where the small size of the TC is it's biggest advantage. Besides this issue:
The pontoons would have to be larger than your normal party parge and definitely a tri-toon to carry the load.
What I have seen in the past that provided more use for on/off water was a pontoon with retractable toons. When loaded on a trailer, it was 8'6" wide and you had to walk through the cabin. After putting it in the water, you extended both pontoons about 2' each side giving a nice walkway around the cabin. Above the cabin was a nice viewing deck with a bimini top.
Or you could just go with one of the land yachts that can go into the water and travel about 8 knots. The videos of that thing were cool.
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I have thought about this over the years but I was thinking a noncabover TC like the Capri campers' "model 42" would work better because there is no cabover it is basically just a box. I think it only weighs about 7-800 pounds.
Anything is possible, heck if a bunch of guys can put an old pickup truck cab and engine on a platform of barrels and set sail for mainland with a homemade drivetrain, then you could put a TC on a pontoon boat.
Just be prepared for problems when trying to make fast manuevers due to a very high COG
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Sure - a few years ago, on Shushwap lake in BC we saw a large motor home that was driven onto, and tied down a larger flat top pontoon boat! The marina operator told us that the owner winter in the south somewhere and spent most of the summer on his "house boat" but did take it off occasioally for summer trips.
Such a deal!
Colorado Cruiser
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....I remember seeing a Camel Trophy (or, similar) event where custom-made pontoons were used to propel Land Rovers (and other vehicles) across deep rivers...so, def. possible to have a pontoon boat made to seat a TC on I should think...
The name that comes to mind when wanting a custom inflatable/pontoon application is: Jack's Plastic Welding, in Aztec, New Mexico here-->
I've talked to them (in the past) about rugged custom inflatables for use in Central America. They work with CAD wire-frame designs before production, and they state, "We are looking for customers who have difficult engineering problems that may be solved with the use of products made with coated fabrics. The incredible strength, air and liquid holding capabilities of coated fabrics are often great alternatives to the use of heavier more permanent materials."
Old idea.
Galvanized steel frame, Styrofoam blocks for floatation, lightweight concrete decking, outboard motor and travel trailer in the middle (Axles removed).
Low maintenence, high enjoyment!
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