There are
huge savings in purchasing and
refurbishing a used pontoon boat. Choose your used pontoon
boat wisely and always inspect it in the water if possible. Author
Myra Smith has some tips for refurbishing your used pontoon boat ...
In
these money conscious times, it's difficult for most of us
to justify, much less afford the cost of a new pontoon boat.
There are alternatives that are available to have the boat
you've always wanted and still not break the bank account.
Used pontoon boats, usually older boats, can be purchased
for under $3000.00. Try to find one that is the size you
prefer, usually 20 to 28 feet. A lot of the used boats come
with a trailer and a usable motor. These are two of the most
expensive components of a boat. If these elements are
present and the pontoons are in good shape, with no leaks,
or visible damage, you are well on your way to accomplishing
your dream boat. All the other elements, such as the
seating, railing, and flooring can be purchased and can be
added with a little skill and diligence.
Some of the necessary tools that are indispensable for this
type of work are a cordless drill with several different
drill sizes and bits, clamps, and various assorted hand
tools. You don't need a lot of expensive tools, to do this
refurbishing job, just minimum skills and a little patience.
The first step is to analyze what you want your finished
boat to look like, starting with the flooring. If your floor
underlayment is sturdy with no soft spots or rot, then you
have a major part of the rebuild accomplished. If the
flooring underlayment needs replaced, it can be purchased
and put in place, this will add to the cost of your rebuild,
but is necessary if you have rot or oblivious damage. Marine
plywood is designed to be long lasting, and will not need
replacement for a lot of years. Most pontoon boats use
marine grade plywood as the base, usually with carpet
applied over it. Removing the carpet is hard work, but
definitely doable. You can then glue down new carpet or
vinyl, marine carpeting and vinyl comes in standard widths
to fit most pontoon boats and is sold by the running foot.
Once you have the flooring part of the project completed,
then you can replace the
seating and the console if you so desire. The layout of
the furniture is strictly a matter of personal choice and
the usage you plan for the boat. If you plan to use the boat
for family cruises you would plan for more seating than if
you are planning to use the boat for fishing. The type and
placement of furniture is totally up to you and your budget.
After you have your flooring and furniture plans in place,
you can move forward to the
boat enclosures,
commonly called railing or fencing. This is a must for the
safety of your passengers, and can go a long way toward
making your boat look brand new. When you have all these
elements in place and clean and polish the pontoons, you
have a fantastic looking boat for about half the price of a
new one.
If you are willing to expend the effort and do the research
into purchasing to refurbish a used pontoon boat, you
will be rewarded with years of service and some of the most
enjoyable times in the lives of you and your family.
For more information and
resources on rebuilding a used pontoon boat and other
related boating information. Please visit these sites
http://www.pontoonhouseboatodyssey.com Or our blog at
http://pontoonboatrefurbishing.blogspot.com
