Extremly non-tradational (in the USA) water camper

[Steve_Cox]

May I suggest a great book: Shantyboat by Harlan Hubbard. It's a biography of a man and his wife floating down the Ohio River onto the Mississippi to New Orleans. When you finish reading this, try his related book Payne Hollow. A true story of off the grid living from the early fifties to mid eighties.

That is a good book

My step-mom spent a few of her childhood years during the depression on a shanty-boat living on some of Western Florida's rivers. The sound of it has always appealed to me.

I have an older friend that, with his young sons took his Chinese junk from Ohio to Key West in the 60's.

[Alfred]

These folks on Craigslist Asheville have 55-Gal barrels (both plastic and metal) for $17/each.

http://asheville.craigslist.org/for/1272611868.html

I am wondering how many barrels one could fill with floatation foam then strap a platform to them, like a home-made pontoon boat, then put some sort of structure on top?

AL in Asheville

[Alfred]

These folks on Craigslist Asheville have 55-Gal barrels (both plastic and metal) for $17/each.

http://asheville.craigslist.org/for/1272611868.html

I am wondering how many barrels one could fill with floatation foam then strap a platform to them, like a home-made pontoon boat, then put some sort of structure on top?

AL in Asheville

Response from the person selling them, when I asked if they could be used to make pontoons:

"Yes, I sold 25 of them to a man that made a dock out of them a few weeks ago".

Al in Asheville

[bobhenry]

Went looking for the flotation value of a 55 gallon drum guess what I found out.


473 lbs +/-

[Steve_Cox]

Al,

You can make plastic drum furniture too, but that doesn't mean you should

These folks on Craigslist Asheville have 55-Gal barrels (both plastic and metal) for $17/each.

http://asheville.craigslist.org/for/1272611868.html

I am wondering how many barrels one could fill with floatation foam then strap a platform to them, like a home-made pontoon boat, then put some sort of structure on top?

AL in Asheville

Response from the person selling them, when I asked if they could be used to make pontoons:

"Yes, I sold 25 of them to a man that made a dock out of them a few weeks ago".

Al in Asheville

[Alfred]

Al,

You can make plastic drum furniture too, but that doesn't mean you should

OK, That's pretty funny! (Grin)

AL.

[shopfabricator]

Hey Steve, Found a blog I thought you would like.
http://aquanarrowboathire.blogspot.com/
Pretty neat stuff.
BTW.... Any news to report on the carolina skiff hull?

[ai4kk]

You know, you have me looking at that little 12' jonboat out back in a whole new light. Don't even need a bed or a tent, just a couple of poles to sling my hammock from LOL

I'm going to have to swing by, say hi, and take a peek at your trailers the next time I head East out of Tallahassee.

Gene

[Steve_Cox]

You know, you have me looking at that little 12' jonboat out back in a whole new light. Don't even need a bed or a tent, just a couple of poles to sling my hammock from LOL

I'm going to have to swing by, say hi, and take a peek at your trailers the next time I head East out of Tallahassee.

Gene

Sounds like a plan Gene

[Shadow Catcher]

I have looked at available pontoons and it would be no trick at all to add them to a teardrop of what ever size. One I find particularly intriguing is a modular plastic design http://www.plasticpontoon.com/web/24.html these could easily be taken apart and transported on top of the TV or tear.
What you do with the superstructure is limited only by your imagination (not lacking with this group)

[Ageless]

Reminds me of a design I toyed with 20 years back. Used 3 pontoon; center being shorter and housing a 4=cyl engine . . . .gawd . . . .like I need another project

[planzman]

http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/jim/dockbox/index.htm

[Sparksalot]

http://www.duckworksbbs.com/plans/jim/dockbox/index.htm

I like that. Very compact, and store-able.

[schaney]

, I like the compact nature of the design, not so sure about the performance of a floating Box

[planzman]

I like the use of small wheel barrow tires as bumpers. Makes it look classy. 8)