1988 Party Barge Rebuild

[brumbyvet]

It's looking good, I know you can't wait till it's done. Just a thought but did you ever think about extending the front deck to the ends of the pontoons ? A short deck up there in front of the gate is mighty handy. Good luck with the finish.

[Harley pontoon]

No. I didn't think of extending the front deck. That's a great idea! I will begin gathering info on it.

[tuned]

Looking good! Keep wrenchin', Captain. It's worth it.

[Harley pontoon]

Bar is done, AND I can rotate it and relocate it and pin it in place so it will not roll on the four tri-wheel casters. Seats are set, as is the helm. I had to put in a steering wheel. The old party barge one just wouldnt do. Still need to find pedestals for he captains chair and two reclining chairs and a few bar stools. It's gettin' there... A little at a time. Soon I will have a grill and LED lights on it too...

The deck wilh slide must wait for next year. I am proud of my boat now. Ready for a cruise and to have some fun on it soon!

[tuned]

Of course, being the gearhead that I am....NICE BATTERY BOX!
Enjoy the season while it lasts, Captain

[tuned]

Of course, being the gearhead that I am....NICE BATTERY BOX!
Enjoy the season while it lasts, Captain

[Harley pontoon]

Thanks! The battery box is stout, that's for sure! I just relocated it to the side of the motor so I can use the starboard side as a small swim platform. So now the gas tank and the battery are side-by-side. Hoping I do not have issues with too much weight on the port side. The majority of the bar weight is to the port as well.

[sunedog]

So now the gas tank and the battery are side-by-side. Hoping I do not have issues with too much weight on the port side.

Be really careful every time you connect or disconnect your battery and if you ever have to jump that battery. I would not want to chance a spark being generated when you connect the cables to the battery.

When you jump start a car, the order of attaching the cables is important, although most people probably don't know that. My late dad drilled in me, "Positive to positive, negative to GROUND." Since I don't know any reason not to, I use the same procedure for jumping boats.

1. connect red to positive terminal good battery
2. connect red to positive terminal of dead battery
3. connect black to negative terminal of good battery
4. connect black to a GROUND on the car or boat with the dead battery. The reason is that the final connection produces a small spark if everything else is connected properly. Battery gases are explosive. So you don't want that spark on top of the battery.

[Harley pontoon]

Very good advice. I thought about it long and hard before relocating it... I would have preferred to put the battery in the current location of the 6 GAL gas tank and use a transom mounted tank (and perhaps increase gallon capacity to 12 GAL) but could not find a gas tank that will fit in the transom. I do not want to replace the whole transom. Just slip a gas tank into it.

I will be VERY careful with sparks/arc around the battery and the gas tank, knowing fumes likely will be present. I have been considering relocating the battery to be placed under the bar.

[TSHobbies]

Thats lookin great! same boat we just bought...I didnt see anything about you painting the walls...they look like theyre done by a pro body shop...were they?

[Harley pontoon]

The wall panning was ordered in black from a business that specializes in pontoon railings and panning. I simply removed the old panning, acid cleaned and rattle can primed and painted the rails and installed the panning in the old slots and secured with rivets. I was happy with the outcome.

[Harley pontoon]

More progress

[tadams]

Looking great!