Barge for self-sufficient islander
 

Seems that many of us islanders like to do things ourselves. And having the right barge boat makes it so much easier.

Anyone want to share photos of what they use or what would be their ideal setup? Does anyone ever rent out their barge to other islanders?

My 24 foot pontoon has carried many a load out to the island...kitchen cabinets, appliances, furniture, fireplace stone... what are you thinking about hauling?? You know where I live..

I built my brother in law (also an islander) a pontoon barge from a 24 Sylvan Pontoon. Removed all the furniture and built an enclosed helm. I get to use it whenever I need. Handiest boat ever!!

There are a lot of barge services on the lake from small pontoons to large barges that can move heavy equipment.

There is nothing like having your own when you need it and not have to rely on others.

Dan

This is how we used to do it... Mark Island style. Honorable mention to the 2 craigslist goons that almost died that December day.

At least a 24', and tritoon if you can find one without spending a fortune. Don't be shy on power, if you are loading it up go with a 115hp or bigger. A few years ago we had a 22' Sylvan tritoon with a 140hp Suzuki on it. Chris Collins on Bear bought it and uses it for his island work. I'd love to find another.

In a pinch, Shep Brown's has Marge the Barge for rent. Its a 30' tritoon, just a bench in the back and still has the railing around it. Its huge and holds a lot. We rented it last summer to bring out a 12x16' motorized aluminum pergola kit to Bear. They do half or full day rentals with it.

Nice. I'm currently using my 23' 1972 Penn Yan Avenger with tunnel drive. She very much dislikes what I put her through. I'm thinking a pontoon would be much easier than what I currently do.

Steve - no idea what I'm bringing out. I just know that whatever I come up with will be very big and very heavy. Construction material, appliances, a jeep. Who knows.

Dan - got a photo of the rig you built??

This is my typical day on the mainland. Somehow I forgot to leave room for the dogs on this trip and had to restack a bunch of my crap even higher.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...d93a5a004b.jpg

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everything but the Jeep! :-)

With a quick call to Shep Brown's, I found that Marge can be rented for $270 for a half day or $470 for a full day. Good to know that's available if needed.

If I can't move it myself, I'm not bringing it out. :laugh:

my pontoon rents out cheaper than that.... fuel and a bottle of red! :-)

Pics
 

Sure, here's a few taken while I was building it and not 100% complete but you get the idea...Not shown in the photos, we added side sliding windows to both sides of the helm, a huge light bar on top for unloading when its dark as well as large docking lights on the front deck and a large tool box on the stern...

Dan

One More
 

Just found this pic with the side window and light bar added...

Dan

Boxed red at that!

Wheelhouse
 

Very nice. What sheathing did you use? The roof looks like quarter inch aluminum?

Composite aluminum Alpolic panel was used on the helm. If your not familiar with the product, it's two very thin pieces of aluminum sheathing on each side with an extruded core of thermoplastic polyethylene material. Its extremely durable and can be routed and shaped to most any design...

Dan

Codeman, I think if you tried a little harder you might be able to get more on your boat. :laugh::laugh:

We were still loading...

Sorry Steve!

:laugh::laugh: I bet you were. And could you pile it 3 or 4 stories?

The funny thing is it wasn't his boat he was loading, it was mine! :-) As I recall, it was that weekend that I had the pleasure of chopping ice for three hours to get the pontoon off the iced in Gilford Yacht Club dock....THAT was a good time...

I love you guys! What fun!:laugh:

Have any of you folks running pontoon boats tried installing a hydrofoil kit? For the low investment it kinda seems like a no brainer to me

From what I have read on almost every pontoon forum out there, they are an incredible waste of money and cause more problems than they cure. They are seriously made fun of by most pontoon enthusiast on these forums. I personally have never had the need to try one nor would I….

Dan

Pontoon
 

I'm not familiar with it, but I'm going to look into it. Is it available locally? Thanks.

Unfortunately it’s not…it’s really only sold to commercial fabricators and installers and extremely expensive. Just the shipping and crating cost for one sheet 5’ x 16’ would be well over $1000.00 on top of a square foot cost in excess of $10.00 per sq ft makes it very cost prohibitive for the average consumer.

We use it a lot in my industry and we have to buy extra sheets for the projects we do so this was all extra or scrap pieces I utilized…

Dan

Back in our early construction days, we were renting a slip at Glendale Yacht Club. I would show up with truckloads of stuff I was taking out to the island on the pontoon. Yacht club members would usually be having cocktails on the deck and would laugh and bet me that I couldn't take those loads in one trip...I never lost that bet!

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Come hell or high water?

It's like being dared to jump off a bridge that you might not have on your own...

Should I suggest we set a building aside just for the island community materials?
I think most of you have accounts.
We could get several shipments into one run. ;)

I got to say, you islanders are a hearty bunch! I get aggravated having to put my truck in 4WD during mud season just trying to drive into my house. :emb:

Never underestimate the ability of an islander to move heavy loads (or leap tall buildings at a single bound) without lots of heavy duty equipment. I've seen some amazing ingenuity of the years.

for example...doesn't look like much but here's about 1800 pounds of mortar and stone for our fireplace. The stone company dumped the crate of goods strategically on the 1st dock ( where everybody launches and pulls their boats ) , so I had to rush in, pull everything out of the crate and load it onto the pontoon. Of course, when I got home, I had to unload everything and bring it up to the house. Did I mention it was a 90 degree day??

I think that’s what slot of people miss. Everything you bring requires 2 load/unload. Then, in my case, haul it up the hill to he house. There’s no “just dump it at the back of the drive.”


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Wait, what? Did Mark Island run out of stones?! You're welcome to some of mine the next time you need a load! Would be much closer...

If I could mine stone veneer from Mark I'd quit my day job! I can see it now...Stone Cold Steve-On-Mark!!
We have plenty of boulders...in fact, a lot of them were barged off and donated to the " Breakwaters for Millionaires" foundation!
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We too, built the fireplace/chimney out of stone found on site. Second step was cleaning. You can't just slap mortar on a rock you just dug up.

When clearing the house site I recall people taking a 40-50' tree and attaching it with a shackle to a tree on the shore. The horizontal piece was long enough to swing out over the boat. Then attach a load and swivel it up to the build site, and lower.
The other trees from the build site were used to build a dock crib which was filled with stone, also from the site.

rent your pontoon boat
 

Hey Steve.... We need to move our old stove off Chases Island and take it to Pier 19 Union Wharf . Then bring out the new stove back to Chases Island next Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

Is your pontoon available to rent?
Thanks

Technically, even though I have a commercial license, my pontoon is not a commercial vessel, therefore can't be " rented". [emoji6]

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I've never used them, but last winter J's Barge sent me a refrigerator magnet. Phone 603-524-5100 email: jbargenh@gmail.com

Clarification
 

Clarification: So I can't rent your barge, but I can hire you (or other) as a licensed captain to drive my boat, which is not commercial, as long as the boat is not "for hire"? Is that correct?

Correct...

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You mean you couldn't convince Sears to bring out your new stove with a set up and delivery charge, plus a haul away charge to get rid of the don't wanter? ;)

rent ponton to move stove
 

Yep got it done... Just took a little creative thinking. Old stove gone for $40 and new stove delivered on mainland dock loaded onto boat. Piece of cake.

If only I was an islander with 350' of forested Lake Winnipesaukee rocky frontage, facing to the west, I would get me a 40-year old, 14' vee-hull aluminum boat, used but still very usable and for sale at $300, made by Alumacraft or Starcraft or some other boat builder, and a used Evinrude 15hp two-stroke, tiller handle motor.

These can haul a heck of a lot of rocks, potting soil, concrete mix, lumber, furniture, kitchen appliances, a small hot-tub, a doggy house, whatever ..... out to your happy island .... plus placing some weight up front, will definitely help to balance this motor boat! Plus when it comes to winterizing and storing it, you just flip it over, upside down, and store the motor away, easy. A 14' vee-hull is a hull of a lot bigger boat than a 12' vee-hull!