"Tim" wrote in message
...
On Apr 3, 8:28 am, "mmc" wrote:
wrote in message

...





On Fri, 2 Apr 2010 19:20:04 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

On Apr 2, 8:35 pm, "D.Duck" wrote:
Tim wrote:
But even if it IS 12 feet wide, isn't that the maximum allowed by
U.S
law?

Federal law is 8'6". Some states are 8" even.

Here's a link for all you need to know.

http://www.towingworld.com/articles/TowingLaws.htm

I just got off the phone with my brother who used to be a professional
truck driver and he also said 8.5, but without going into details, he
also said permits arn't hard to deal with.

You really need to measure that before you start worrying about it too
much. I would get the clearance lights for the front of your truck
(the "one on each side and 3 lights in the middle", deal). That can go
a long way toward convincing the cops you are legal but I have towed
mine for years all over Florida (about 9' with the trailer loading
arms) without them and nobody has said a word to me.
I do have my trailer lights all the way out to the extreme sides of
the trailer so people coming up behind me can see how wide I am.
I also have side lights you can see from the front

I agree. From the pics it doesn't look wider than my 21'. Could be an
optical dillusion.
Yes, Mike. Somethign seems odd about his measurements. I really dont'
know of any commercially sold pontoon, that isn't custom built that
doesn't come within the 8.5.


But I'll find out later this after noon. It's just 45 mi. from me.

-----------
How did it go Tim?

On Apr 6, 4:02*pm, "mmc" wrote:
"Tim" wrote in message

...
On Apr 3, 8:28 am, "mmc" wrote:



wrote in message

.. .

On Fri, 2 Apr 2010 19:20:04 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

On Apr 2, 8:35 pm, "D.Duck" wrote:
Tim wrote:
But even if it IS 12 feet wide, isn't that the maximum allowed by
U.S
law?

Federal law is 8'6". Some states are 8" even.

Here's a link for all you need to know.

http://www.towingworld.com/articles/TowingLaws.htm

I just got off the phone with my brother who used to be a professional
truck driver and he also said 8.5, but without going into details, he
also said permits arn't hard to deal with.

You really need to measure that before you start worrying about it too
much. I would get the clearance lights for the front of your truck
(the "one on each side and 3 lights in the middle", deal). That can go
a long way toward convincing the cops you are legal but I have towed
mine for years all over Florida (about 9' with the trailer loading
arms) without them and nobody has said a word to me.
I do have my trailer lights all the way out to the extreme sides of
the trailer so people coming up behind me can see how wide I am.
I also have side lights you can see from the front

I agree. From the pics it doesn't look wider than my 21'. Could be an
optical dillusion.

Yes, Mike. Somethign seems odd about his measurements. I really dont'
know of any commercially sold pontoon, that isn't custom built that
doesn't come within the 8.5.

But I'll find out later this after noon. It's just 45 mi. from me.

-----------
How did it go Tim?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Actually it's a good width, maybe 10 ft at the most, and at 30' it
really doesn't seem that large when you step it off. I didn't
question where he got his measurements from but shouldn't be a hassle.
I went and looked it it and one of the toons has a hard dent in the
very back like somebody had backed into a brick or concrete light
pole at some state park ramp, but it shouldn't hurt the bouyancy of
the toon. the interior has obviously been replaced in times past and
is more modern than what came with it in 1973. and it isn't all rotted
and sun dried like I've seen on many, but it could use a good
cleaning. The tubes arn't pitted and it looks like a keeper. If
anything else I could probably get as much out if it for scrap
aluminum as I gave for the thing. But anyhow there are some good
aluminum welders around my area that are well versed in tube and
aluminum tank repair, so I'm not concerned much about it. It had been
recently pulled from the lake and I looked under the damage and I
didn't see any seepage from a possible crack. He said the tube didn't
leak and I believe him . For a 1973 it's been enjoyed a lot, I'd say
it's had good maintenance, but does have it's wear.

the seats are a plenty and there is still generous room. The buggy
bimini is old but not tattered and raises and lowers easily. I wish it
was a hard top, but no complaints. It has a 75 hp v-4 johnson which
should push the barge fairly well. It also has power trim. He showed
me how the engine started which I already knew how to work the
controls but I hought I'd let him go through the motions. It did have
that cold 2 stroke stard and die, start and die, then ran on it's own
at idle. We let it sit and idle for about 30 seconds then the throttle
held and worked smoothly without the choke. He said he fouls plugs
easily but he confessed he doesn't run the engine hard, and he mixes
the oil rather thick. and you could tell it because it was puffing
some serious blue smoke. The engine sounded hearty, and even the pee
stream was shooting water rather well. Impressive in fact. He said he
had a new impeller installed last year. The transom is oin good shape
too. Instead of having some big oak plank, it's all sturdy metal.

But even so, in the future I may swap the engine out for my 115
Evinrude v-4 for the fact of better power and it actually might
provide for better economy when you consider you do't have to push the
115 like you would the 75 to achieve the same results. But I'm not
going to race with it anyhow.

Mike, all in all, I'd say it was a fair value because around here 24'
floats are the most desireable but you do't find them for less than
$4000.00 with or without a trailer. I did miss one locally by a couple
hours locally that was a 24' w trailer and a 50 hp mercury for
$2100.00, and the second I saw the ad I kenw it would be gone, but
called about it anyhow.

Oh well.

But between my two brothers and their kids , my wife daughter and
myself, there's 13 people not counting taking my wifes niece an her
towo sons. all in all and this will handle the load easily. And you
can put a grill on it and a cooler the size of a casket if desired.

t's bought and paid for, but I won't be bringing it home until the
wind dies down some. here today it's been extremely gusty, and this is
on a "hoosier" or "service" trailer, and they are beknownst to sway a
lot and with the hard winds we've had I don't want to take the chance
at flipping something or scraping a tube into pavment.

Anyhow, they guy understood about the wind and weather, and said it
wasn't in his way at all and I could leave it parked there for a
reasonable time. He knows what it's like to move it on a windy day,
and didn't feel I needed to take the risk .

I think this will be a good project if anything else. I mean, it's
usable now, but I'll be dolling it up.

Concerning the river cruise, I think it's still a bit better for the
wife and I to take the 23ft. v- hull Marquis, becaue I feel that the
evinrude on the pontoon is going to be a bit thursty, and the
outboards of that era had almost no charging system. I think about 15
amps at the most and that's all you're going to get. But one thing
abotu the pontoon boat, is you can camp out in it easily.

But this will be fun for big family stuff. The kids can be skiing and
tubing on my brother's boats and stop in for a grilled burger, etc.

Yep, it's the "mother ship" And besides. Like Richard said. 30 by 8
feet? If anything else my band could have a portable stage for that
matter.

Thanks for asking.
?;^ )

On Tue, 6 Apr 2010 15:37:06 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote:


Yep, it's the "mother ship" And besides. Like Richard said. 30 by 8
feet? If anything else my band could have a portable stage for that
matter.

Thanks for asking.
?;^ )

OK. That's all well and good. But, I still don't see the rod holders!
--
John H

For a great time, go here first... http://tinyurl.com/ygqxs5v

On Apr 6, 5:43*pm, John H wrote:


OK. That's all well and good. But, I still don't see the rod holders!
--
John H

For a great time, go here first...http://tinyurl.com/ygqxs5v


....Yet!

"Tim" wrote in message
...
On Apr 6, 4:02 pm, "mmc" wrote:
"Tim" wrote in message

...
On Apr 3, 8:28 am, "mmc" wrote:



wrote in message

.. .

On Fri, 2 Apr 2010 19:20:04 -0700 (PDT), Tim
wrote:

On Apr 2, 8:35 pm, "D.Duck" wrote:
Tim wrote:
But even if it IS 12 feet wide, isn't that the maximum allowed by
U.S
law?

Federal law is 8'6". Some states are 8" even.

Here's a link for all you need to know.

http://www.towingworld.com/articles/TowingLaws.htm

I just got off the phone with my brother who used to be a professional
truck driver and he also said 8.5, but without going into details, he
also said permits arn't hard to deal with.

You really need to measure that before you start worrying about it too
much. I would get the clearance lights for the front of your truck
(the "one on each side and 3 lights in the middle", deal). That can go
a long way toward convincing the cops you are legal but I have towed
mine for years all over Florida (about 9' with the trailer loading
arms) without them and nobody has said a word to me.
I do have my trailer lights all the way out to the extreme sides of
the trailer so people coming up behind me can see how wide I am.
I also have side lights you can see from the front

I agree. From the pics it doesn't look wider than my 21'. Could be an
optical dillusion.

Yes, Mike. Somethign seems odd about his measurements. I really dont'
know of any commercially sold pontoon, that isn't custom built that
doesn't come within the 8.5.

But I'll find out later this after noon. It's just 45 mi. from me.

-----------
How did it go Tim?- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Actually it's a good width, maybe 10 ft at the most, and at 30' it
really doesn't seem that large when you step it off. I didn't
question where he got his measurements from but shouldn't be a hassle.
I went and looked it it and one of the toons has a hard dent in the
very back like somebody had backed into a brick or concrete light
pole at some state park ramp, but it shouldn't hurt the bouyancy of
the toon. the interior has obviously been replaced in times past and
is more modern than what came with it in 1973. and it isn't all rotted
and sun dried like I've seen on many, but it could use a good
cleaning. The tubes arn't pitted and it looks like a keeper. If
anything else I could probably get as much out if it for scrap
aluminum as I gave for the thing. But anyhow there are some good
aluminum welders around my area that are well versed in tube and
aluminum tank repair, so I'm not concerned much about it. It had been
recently pulled from the lake and I looked under the damage and I
didn't see any seepage from a possible crack. He said the tube didn't
leak and I believe him . For a 1973 it's been enjoyed a lot, I'd say
it's had good maintenance, but does have it's wear.

the seats are a plenty and there is still generous room. The buggy
bimini is old but not tattered and raises and lowers easily. I wish it
was a hard top, but no complaints. It has a 75 hp v-4 johnson which
should push the barge fairly well. It also has power trim. He showed
me how the engine started which I already knew how to work the
controls but I hought I'd let him go through the motions. It did have
that cold 2 stroke stard and die, start and die, then ran on it's own
at idle. We let it sit and idle for about 30 seconds then the throttle
held and worked smoothly without the choke. He said he fouls plugs
easily but he confessed he doesn't run the engine hard, and he mixes
the oil rather thick. and you could tell it because it was puffing
some serious blue smoke. The engine sounded hearty, and even the pee
stream was shooting water rather well. Impressive in fact. He said he
had a new impeller installed last year. The transom is oin good shape
too. Instead of having some big oak plank, it's all sturdy metal.

But even so, in the future I may swap the engine out for my 115
Evinrude v-4 for the fact of better power and it actually might
provide for better economy when you consider you do't have to push the
115 like you would the 75 to achieve the same results. But I'm not
going to race with it anyhow.

Mike, all in all, I'd say it was a fair value because around here 24'
floats are the most desireable but you do't find them for less than
$4000.00 with or without a trailer. I did miss one locally by a couple
hours locally that was a 24' w trailer and a 50 hp mercury for
$2100.00, and the second I saw the ad I kenw it would be gone, but
called about it anyhow.

Oh well.

But between my two brothers and their kids , my wife daughter and
myself, there's 13 people not counting taking my wifes niece an her
towo sons. all in all and this will handle the load easily. And you
can put a grill on it and a cooler the size of a casket if desired.

t's bought and paid for, but I won't be bringing it home until the
wind dies down some. here today it's been extremely gusty, and this is
on a "hoosier" or "service" trailer, and they are beknownst to sway a
lot and with the hard winds we've had I don't want to take the chance
at flipping something or scraping a tube into pavment.

Anyhow, they guy understood about the wind and weather, and said it
wasn't in his way at all and I could leave it parked there for a
reasonable time. He knows what it's like to move it on a windy day,
and didn't feel I needed to take the risk .

I think this will be a good project if anything else. I mean, it's
usable now, but I'll be dolling it up.

Concerning the river cruise, I think it's still a bit better for the
wife and I to take the 23ft. v- hull Marquis, becaue I feel that the
evinrude on the pontoon is going to be a bit thursty, and the
outboards of that era had almost no charging system. I think about 15
amps at the most and that's all you're going to get. But one thing
abotu the pontoon boat, is you can camp out in it easily.

But this will be fun for big family stuff. The kids can be skiing and
tubing on my brother's boats and stop in for a grilled burger, etc.

Yep, it's the "mother ship" And besides. Like Richard said. 30 by 8
feet? If anything else my band could have a portable stage for that
matter.

Thanks for asking.
?;^ )

--------
Wow, sounds great! The carrier off which to launch smaller vessels!
Most I've ever had on my 21' is 10 and there was plenty of room to move
around and for a couple coolers. You'll have no problem.
I've thought about adding a hard top made out of sandwiched (foam/aluminum)
patio roofing and 1 1/2 aluminum angle framing for the top and either square
or tubing for the uprights.
One of the many things on my list. Too many "plans" and not enough time and
$$.
Have fun! Glad to hear it worked out.