|
|
Post by marshallco on Aug 1, 2023 22:36:38 GMT -5
 Got an old pontoon boat for free from a local CO who had to yank this abandoned thing off a lake. Decided to make a duck blind. |
|
|
|
Post by marshallco on Aug 1, 2023 22:39:35 GMT -5
 Got it in March, just now starting to mess with it. Stripped all the seats, fuel tank and other junk out. Needs some new OSB for the deck. I’ll keep you updated, this is all the further we got for now. |
|
|
|
Post by jman46151 on Aug 3, 2023 12:58:20 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by featherduster on Aug 3, 2023 13:16:37 GMT -5
Got it in March, just now starting to mess with it. Stripped all the seats, fuel tank and other junk out. Needs some new OSB for the deck. I’ll keep you updated, this is all the further we got for now. The most important thing you can do when building this blind is DO NOT USE CHEAP WOOD use MARINE GRADE PLYWOOD. Don't go with heavy wood framing if you can find some cheap aluminum tubing. Balance out your weight. Start looking for same heavy anchors because these things tend to float away in storms. There is nothing worse then coming out in the dark after a big blow and you can't find you blind. |
|
|
|
Post by marshallco on Aug 3, 2023 15:40:32 GMT -5
Looks good jman! Mine is going on a swamp/pond that we have that is about 7-8 acres. Don't have a trailer, so once it goes in, it's staying. hoping to beach it on a peninsula area that juts out in the water. This should give us a pretty good shooting area. Featherduster, I'm sure you are right about the marine grade plywood, but I already purchased some cheap OSB to layer over the existing floor. I also got some paint, and some water sealer. I know, I may regret it later. I'm also using PVC for the rails, and cover the whole thing with some camo netting. I'm trying to stay on the cheap, only should have about $225 in it when I'm done. Fun project all the same.
|
|
|
|
Post by jman46151 on Aug 4, 2023 9:51:10 GMT -5
Looks good jman! Mine is going on a swamp/pond that we have that is about 7-8 acres. Don't have a trailer, so once it goes in, it's staying. hoping to beach it on a peninsula area that juts out in the water. This should give us a pretty good shooting area. Featherduster, I'm sure you are right about the marine grade plywood, but I already purchased some cheap OSB to layer over the existing floor. I also got some paint, and some water sealer. I know, I may regret it later. I'm also using PVC for the rails, and cover the whole thing with some camo netting. I'm trying to stay on the cheap, only should have about $225 in it when I'm done. Fun project all the same. The lake I'm putting mine on is also about 7 acres and the hunting doesn't get real good until the local marshes freeze. I thought about just using camo netting but opted to use some camo tarps from harbor freight with cheap netting and brushing it in. That way I can stay dry if it's raining or since a lot of the hunts will be late season I can run a buddy heater. |
|
|
|
Post by marshallco on Aug 4, 2023 22:52:33 GMT -5
Looks good jman! Mine is going on a swamp/pond that we have that is about 7-8 acres. Don't have a trailer, so once it goes in, it's staying. hoping to beach it on a peninsula area that juts out in the water. This should give us a pretty good shooting area. Featherduster, I'm sure you are right about the marine grade plywood, but I already purchased some cheap OSB to layer over the existing floor. I also got some paint, and some water sealer. I know, I may regret it later. I'm also using PVC for the rails, and cover the whole thing with some camo netting. I'm trying to stay on the cheap, only should have about $225 in it when I'm done. Fun project all the same. The lake I'm putting mine on is also about 7 acres and the hunting doesn't get real good until the local marshes freeze. I thought about just using camo netting but opted to use some camo tarps from harbor freight with cheap netting and brushing it in. That way I can stay dry if it's raining or since a lot of the hunts will be late season I can run a buddy heater. Good plan for late season. My spot will probably be 2-3 decent shoots in the early season, and then most likely done. Unless we get some northern birds, which doesn’t seem to happen much these days. As long as you can shoot some birds, all worth it! We can share stories in 2 or 3 months! Good luck! |
|
|
|
Post by esshup on Aug 6, 2023 21:41:01 GMT -5
Looks good jman! Mine is going on a swamp/pond that we have that is about 7-8 acres. Don't have a trailer, so once it goes in, it's staying. hoping to beach it on a peninsula area that juts out in the water. This should give us a pretty good shooting area. Featherduster, I'm sure you are right about the marine grade plywood, but I already purchased some cheap OSB to layer over the existing floor. I also got some paint, and some water sealer. I know, I may regret it later. I'm also using PVC for the rails, and cover the whole thing with some camo netting. I'm trying to stay on the cheap, only should have about $225 in it when I'm done. Fun project all the same. IF you paint ALL the sides and the edges of the OSB you *may* get 2 years out of it. 1 year if you forget to paint less than 100% of it (that means the edges too) and don't be shy about using the paint. Roll it on thick and leave it dry for a day. Go to Lowes and buy all their "oops" paint. They will add color to it to make it darker for you at minimal price. You may not get exactly the color you want, but it's better than what the color probably is. To get the rails any other color than white, to paint them you really need to rough up the PVC with sandpaper to get the paint to stick. |
|
|
|
Post by marshallco on Aug 9, 2023 17:21:36 GMT -5
 Decking is on, PVC is up, ready for paint then a waterproof sealer. No, I didn’t rough the PVC, and yes it’s cheap flooring. I know some will say I told you so, and you’ll probably be right. Hope to float it it in by next weekend. Still have to order a couple camo nets, that will be the easy part. I get that I may be replacing things in a few years… |
|
|
|
Post by esshup on Aug 11, 2023 20:29:38 GMT -5
Decking is on, PVC is up, ready for paint then a waterproof sealer. No, I didn’t rough the PVC, and yes it’s cheap flooring. I know some will say I told you so, and you’ll probably be right. Hope to float it it in by next weekend. Still have to order a couple camo nets, that will be the easy part. I get that I may be replacing things in a few years… I said what I said because I made sides for a car trailer out of OSB. I remade them 2 years later and that time I painted all sides (including edges) before I attached them to the 2x4's that went in the stake pockets. While I haven't used the trailer in a long time, they are still mostly attached to the 2x4's. I painted them in 1996............. |
|
|
|
Post by marshallco on Aug 13, 2023 18:23:27 GMT -5
 Turd brown. I did put a lot of extra on the edges of the OSB. gonna put one more coat on the whole thing. Then a water sealer on the deck. May not get in as soon as I wanted, kid football and volleyball are starting to take over. |
|
|
|
Post by esshup on Aug 14, 2023 15:06:06 GMT -5
Turd brown. I did put a lot of extra on the edges of the OSB. gonna put one more coat on the whole thing. Then a water sealer on the deck. May not get in as soon as I wanted, kid football and volleyball are starting to take over. Looking good! Just need some stripes of light tan and chocolate turd brown. |
|
|
|
Post by titanium700 on Aug 15, 2023 21:49:33 GMT -5
You’re missing something.
I want to do the same thing as a duck blind.
I think the pontoon boats are the best for duck blinds.
Lots of room, very stable and can fit a few guys and dekes comfortably.
Oh yeah.
What you’re missing….,
A grill.
That’s what I’m gonna mount on mine when I do it.
|
|
|
|
Post by marshallco on Aug 15, 2023 22:39:36 GMT -5
Camo netting will cover 80-90 percent of it, but I may put a few tan or green stripes on it. Never thought of a grill, not a bad idea….
|
|
|
|
Post by jman46151 on Aug 16, 2023 11:40:06 GMT -5
I noticed a couple of spots on the starboard side that had some old 3M 5200 covering something up so I decided to investigate. By the time I got all of the old stuff off I had a 12" or so gash clear through the hull. I never learn. Luckily I had some fiberglass resin already at the house. The only issue now is time. I've been working on it where I store it on weekends but I think I will need to bring it to the house so I can get it ready before season. But that means redoing the trailer wiring and hoping the bearings can make a 60 mi one way trip.  |
|
|
|
Post by esshup on Aug 16, 2023 12:19:11 GMT -5
Bearings are easy, so is the wiring, all it takes is time and a few tools. You'll need to replace the inner seals when you do the bearings too.
|
|
|
|
Post by jman46151 on Aug 16, 2023 13:55:42 GMT -5
Bearings are easy, so is the wiring, all it takes is time and a few tools. You'll need to replace the inner seals when you do the bearings too. I've heard bearings are messy but easy, but I've never done one. I try to keep mine sealed and greased to avoid issues. It made the 2 hour trip down there last year when I picked it up but one wheel definitely has some wiggle in it. Ordered a wiring harness off Amazon. The frame is mostly channel so I don't even have to feed wires through anything. |
|
|
|
Post by featherduster on Aug 16, 2023 14:42:31 GMT -5
You’re missing something. I want to do the same thing as a duck blind. I think the pontoon boats are the best for duck blinds. Lots of room, very stable and can fit a few guys and dekes comfortably. Oh yeah. What you’re missing…., A grill. That’s what I’m gonna mount on mine when I do it. Before season starts put a couple propane tanks onboard with a splitter so you can use multiple heaters and a propane gas grill. Cooking food can help pass the slow times. Carry a camo painted cooler with your food and cooking stuff. |
|
|
|
Post by marshallco on Aug 16, 2023 15:25:52 GMT -5
Jman - too bad you can't just find another trailer to move it. Funny how these projects can get way too close to actual "work" if you're not careful. Good luck, still have time.
|
|
|
|
Post by esshup on Aug 16, 2023 15:59:32 GMT -5
Bearings are easy, so is the wiring, all it takes is time and a few tools. You'll need to replace the inner seals when you do the bearings too. I've heard bearings are messy but easy, but I've never done one. I try to keep mine sealed and greased to avoid issues. It made the 2 hour trip down there last year when I picked it up but one wheel definitely has some wiggle in it. Ordered a wiring harness off Amazon. The frame is mostly channel so I don't even have to feed wires through anything. You should be able to pop off the cap on the spindle, remove the cotter pin, tighten up the nut 1 flat and see if there is any wiggle in it. If you've never done it, look on youtube to see how to do it. Give me a 5 gal bucket to sit on, a box of paper rags, a hydraulic jack (to get the wheel up off the ground), a dead blow hammer to take the dust cap off, small flat bladed screwdriver and needle nose pliers to straighten/bend the cotter pin and a large pair of slip joint pliers or large crescent wrench to turn the nut. I'd tighten the nut while spinning the wheel. Once it's tight, back off one flat or until you can get the cotter key in there and you should be set. It takes me about 6 minutes to adjust one wheel once I have all the tools in the truck. I put new bearings in the fish hauling trailer and ended up stopping every 200 miles to tighten the wheel bearings. Took them out, put the old ones back in and no more problems. |
|
