Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I am looking for different sources for hat channels. You know the stuff that many pontoon manufactures use for cross members these days. I did google search, but it is tough weeding out the companies that do the extrusions for the big manufactures and the ones that will sell to the public. Thanks!

This company has them but there std. size is only available in 8' length, not the 8.5' length I need. There HD size is tougher than I need. I am trying to keep weight down.

http://www.custompontoonboatkitsetc.com/id5.html

I just ordered three cross members from this place http://www.pontoonspecialists.com/ponto ... ss-members
Not sure if they sale the hat channel ones.

I bought some from Fire and Marine , Mr. Jeffrey Collier, Owner ph 937 332 6818

he will cut you any length you need and at the time he had two sizes.

Not cheap but great people and will help you out.

5325 Prosperity Dr.
Springfield, OH 45502

bill might have some...

http://www.billsboatstuff.com/

Well I finally decided on going with the typical plywood floor, so I will be using the heavy duty hat channels from fire and marine. They are also fabricating 3 custom pontoons for me. So I no longer need to find 8.5 ft std duty hat channels.

I was thinking about using the std duty hat channels if I decided to do an aluminum floor. The aluminum floor would require more cross members and therefore the HD channel would be not needed. If I went forward with the aluminum floor, I was planning on doing crossmembers 8" off center since aluminum isn't very stiff. With the plywood floor I will be doing the cross members 24" off center.

Great that worked for you! Check with F & M you might need a little extra strength at the stern for Motor support. An extra cross member or two would be nice.

Don't forget the PICS

I will do what ever they recommend. I am getting everything from them from the floor down. So they will supply how ever many cross members they recommend for a 22 ft pontoon boat.

Sounds good! I really want those guys to build me a 24 foot tritoon, only with twin engines on the outboard logs and a swim platform in the middle. I'm thinking 2 75's

They have built some nice boats there and seem to be good folks.

I researched 2 engine setups. From what I read, 1 engine is better than 2, UNLESS you need more than 300-400 hp or you will be using the boat on the ocean where you need the reliability of 2 engines. If one brakes down you can still get home and not drift about for ever... Apparantly the 2nd engines lower end causes additional drag. That being said others argued that the 2nd counter rotated prop offsets the additonal drag...

Personally I would do it for the cool factor if I could afford it!!!! Totally ignoring the debate on which performs better!!!

I have not ordered it yet, but the plan is to commit in the next couple weeks.

I am building a 22 ft tritoon. My current motor is a 2013 Yamaha 115. It is currently on a stripped down, no strakes, twin toon 24 ft, and I can do 25 mph. I am hoping this engine will take me to 32 mph on the new boat, so I can do proper slalom skiing. The transom they are building me will be rated for 200 hp. So down the road I have upgrade options. For some reason they do not like putting more than 200 hp on a 25" center pontoon.