I picked this baby up for $300 today, its a 24' pontoon boat that me and a friend are going to convert into a small floating camp to stay at during duck season and just for a place to run yo-yo's and hangout.

We are going to put about a 16' cabin on it and leave an 8' deck, spud poles on the corners for stability, probly going to wire all the lights up for 12v batteries so we can carry hot batteries for the weekends and not have to listen to a generator run.

More pics to come.

also, it came with a 40hp Mariner that has a bad lower unit. If any of you guys know where one can be had It would be greatly appreciated.

Dam, I wish I could find a deal like that. Me and a buddy wanna do the same. If by some grace of god you see another one let me know.

Lucky dog. I been on the lookout for one myself for awhile to do just that.

I want a set of pontoons to build a duck blind on. Dangit that was an awesome deal!

Good find. The aluminum on that thing is worth more than 300$. We got one we bought a couple yrs ago and stripped it and made it look like a huge island to shoot divers off of. We put a tiller steer on the back with an extender pole. We get alot of looks at the boat ramp, but nothing like having all that room to cook, sleep, drink, and hunt all day lol

X 200!!! You lucky dog!

What are you gonna use for a cabin? U gonna build something on it? Weight is gonna be an issue

We are trying to keep it light and cheap.
Planning on using studs 16" on center just like a house and cover the outside with some tin off an old barn I have, Insulate it with some fiberglass insulation I found, and wall the insides up with plywood my buddy can get a good price on.

Anybody see why it wont work?

If your gonna use tin go look at how a Morgan building is built with bows it will save u a lot of weight in lumber

Should be fine. But if it starts getting a little heavy you can just put some plastic drums under the floor between the pontoons to help with floatation.

Getting ready to get started on it!

If it doesn't have a motor on it it doesn't have to be registered, correct?
It doesn't have papers either, will that be an issue?

Yessir, I've got the HIN numbers and the last registration numbers it had on it.

What should I do?
I'm thinking Email The WLF and letting them run the numbers to see who had the boat registered last and if its stolen.

Andy, I appreciate the offer! Let me know if you have one, I can get you to throw a handfull of MB parts in the box too!

He bought it to restore it and never did, so I don't think he ever registered it.

As for the motor the serial number appears to have been filed off.... JK.
The motor is still at his house so I will get it later this week, I will let you know!

Out for spring break, finally had some time to fool with it.

Pulled all the rails, console, wiring, and finally deck off of the pontoons... basically gutted it.
I found...
1. A rats nest in every corner, shit ton of acorns and other stuff they had hid... couldn't find the rats though.
2. A 4' long snake skin and shit with bones in it (found the rats)
3.Tetnis.
4. The one spot in the rotten plywood that couldn't support my little ass.


I think I have decided against a big cabin on it, instead will be going with a 10x8 just big enough for beds and some storage.

If I had that, I would have that thing loaded with solar panels from my uncle to keep those batteries charged.

If I can find some I will, but then some asshole is bound to steal solar panel and battery.

I can just charge a couple at the house to get me though the weekend.

Just bring you a generator. Good luck with the build and keep us updated with pics. Are you going to put a motor on it or just tow it?

I refuse to run a generator!!!

I don't plan on putting a motor on it, but dad is trying to talk me into putting a 150 on it.

It will have a pretty easy life, It will more than likely stay on the same lake as long as I use it. On the little end of the lake in duck season and when the white perch are on Yo-Yo's, and we will make a day trip party to push it 15 or so miles down to the beach where everybody hangs out in the summer.

man some people have all the luck! i've been wanting to find an old pontoon like that to turn in to a bowfishien rig! good luck on the build!

Screw a bunch of batteries! find a quiet little generator.

Those little hondas are quiet as hell. You hardly know they are running, I got one for working on the back ridge fixing fences and what not.

The way I look at it though, short of an A/C for use in the summer so I can sleep at night I don't need any type of 110 electricity. If you need a light after you have killed the genny to take a piss you are SOL unless you use a flashlight. 12v would be anytime you need it.

I don't go to the camp to sit in the A/C and watch the Telemundo, I go to kill shit and have fun

Have you considered putting a small steal container as your camp. I have been looking into doing pretty much the same thing but with a small barge. My first thought was to built a small camp on it, then a friend of mine who had his camp burned downed by some assholes suggested using a shipping container which you can totally lock up when your not there.

Just a suggestion.. If your leaving it out on your hunting land

That was brought up last night, If I could get one cheaper than how I plan to build it I might do it but this isnt a big money project.

It is going on public land and anything I put on public land I do as cheap as possible, if someone wants to tear it up they will tear it up... might as well not spend alot of money trying to prevent it.