Family-Sized Planing Pontooner: A Free Plywood Pontoon Plan
An 11 ft 7 in planing pontoon boat rated for 800 lb, tested with 1,500 lb, that planes at 14 mph on 18 hp.
Pontoon boats are usually slow and steady; this one planes. The Family-Sized Planing Pontooner is 11 ft 7 in (3.5 m) long with a trailerable 7 ft 11 in (2.4 m) beam. Its pontoons have a 'pyramid' cross-section in 1/4 in. plywood over lumber framing, under a 3/4 in. plywood platform. Rated for 800 lb and tested with 1,500 lb, it planes at 14 mph on an 18 hp outboard.
Family-Sized Planing Pontooner at a glance
| Detail | Family-Sized Planing Pontooner |
|---|---|
| Type | Pontoon boat |
| Length | 11 ft 7 in (3.53 m) |
| Beam | 7 ft 11 in (trailerable) (2.41 m) |
| Capacity | 800 lb (tested with 1,500 lb) |
| Construction | 'Pyramid' cross-section pontoons of 1/4 in. plywood over lumber framing; 3/4 in. plywood platform |
| Power | 3–18 hp outboard; planes at 14 mph with 18 hp |
| First published | Boat Builder, p. 88 |
| Craft Print | No. 312 |
| Plan sheets | 8 |
Why it can plane
The pyramid-shaped pontoons are the key: their angled sides help the boat lift onto the surface instead of pushing water like flat-sided floats. That is how a pontoon platform reaches planing speed. It is an inventive twist on a familiar type of boat. It is a clever idea worth building carefully.
A 3/4 in. plywood deck gives a solid, roomy floor for family outings. The 7 ft 11 in beam keeps it trailerable, and outboards from 3 to 18 hp suit it. It is a lot of family boat for a home-built project. It is a roomy, friendly platform for swimming and picnics.
The original plan sheets
These are the 8 original sheets, scanned from the magazine. For building, use the full-size PDF in the download section below.
Before you build
- Keep everyday loads within the 800 lb rating; the 1,500 lb test figure is not a working limit.
- Seal the plywood pontoons inside and out, since they are the boat's only buoyancy.
- Stay within the 3 to 18 hp range and fit the motor mount to strong framing.
Download the plan
All eight original sheets for the Family-Sized Planing Pontooner in one file, ready to print at full size.
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