To own a pontoon boat, one does not necessarily have to spend huge amounts of money. There are small pontoon boat kits available from different manufacturers that enable a person to build their own pontoon boat. These kits give a high degree of customizability to a person allowing them the freedom to add features and components to their liking. These are perfect for do-it- yourself enthusiasts.
What do the kits contain and how to choose the right kit?
These kits contain all the parts that are required for assembling of the pontoon boat. They allow freedom to build a boat as per their requirement and at a substantially lower cost as compared to pre-manufactured boats.
The small pontoon boat kits generally comprise of following parts.
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Pontoons
The kit generally comes with two pontoons. These are made up of an aluminum-magnesium alloy though some manufacturers also sell polyethylene ones. While selecting the size of a pontoon a person must consider the gross weight of the boat including those of the number of persons that the boat will carry and the purpose of the boat.
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Engine
A kit may or may not include an outboard motor engine. There are different companies that manufacture engines with varying horsepower such as Yamaha and Mercury. The boat buyer may choose a motor as per their requirement and compatibility with the kit.
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Steering and Console
Steering wheels and consoles are one of the integral equipment and their quality must be considered while selecting a small pontoon boat kit for assembling pontoon boat. These may be available by the kit manufacturer or other companies.
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Deck Frame and Flooring
Decks are available in different materials like wood and fiberglass. The kit will also contain a frame that will be used to attach the pontoons to the deck and provide structural integrity and strength. Multiple flooring options such as carpets and vinyl are available with different kits.
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Furniture
Another aspect to consider while buying a boat kit is the furniture that a person intends to install on the boat. A boat may be installed with anything from two simple chairs to luxurious vinyl lounges and even special fishing chairs. Selecting the furniture will depend on the number of persons that the boat is required to carry and the purpose.
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Railings
The small pontoon boat kits may come with railings that are used both for safety and aesthetic purposes. The railings come with various graphic decorations with some manufacturers giving options for customizing the design to the buyer.
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Other Accessories
The kits also include bolts, nuts and screws, instruction manuals, mounting brackets and other hardware required for assembly. In addition, the boat buyer may consider additional gadgets and accessories depending on the purpose of the boat.
While choosing a small pontoon boat kit, a few factors must be considered. The boat kits are available in different size and a person may choose one that fits their needs and the intended usage. Kits for fishing pontoon boats will slightly differ from those intended for cruising. For salt waters, the kits will be made of a material that is less prone to corrosion and a person must buy these if they intend to use them in salty water bodies. Some companies manufacture kits that are customized to the requirements of the customer.
Manufacturers of Pontoon Kits
There are a few manufacturers of small pontoon boat kits.
U-Fab Boats: The company has been in the boat business since 1999 and is a manufacturer of pontoon boat kits made of aluminum. They manufacture kits in different sizes and depending on their intended usage.
American Pontoon Co.: Another manufacturer of small pontoon boat kits is American Pontoon based in Manning city of South Carolina. Different kits are fabricated by them that are in accordance with the design and specifications of the boat buyer.
Advantages of Pontoon Boat Kits
Using a boat kits has a number of advantages. The kits are straightforward to assemble and there is no need of welding for building a pontoon boat out of them. It is easy to ship and transport kits as compared to a full pontoon boat saving delivery costs for the boat buyer. It is much cheaper to assemble a pontoon boat from a kit rather than buying a fully fabricated pontoon boat. For someone looking for a pontoon boat at low costs and having a knack for doing things themselves, the small pontoon boat kits are perfect.
