FRAME OPTION B: HYBRID FRAME SYSTEM

Framing option B is our hybrid stainless (or steel) tube backbone and aluminum crossmember frame system. This frame system cuts as much cost as possible out of your barge system while providing a super sturdy vessel. With this system, we provide is the floats, crossmembers, and a shopping list. That is all you are purchasing from us (no charge for the shopping list). You then must purchase lengths of 6"x2", 3/16" wall stainless (or mild steel) rectangular steel tube locally (saves a TON on shipping), order weld-on brackets from SendCutSend.com (we provide the design and set up the direct-from-supplier order), and purchase the list of required hardware direct from McMaster.com. This allows you to build a super stout large barge system for the lowest possible cost, and is typically several thousand dollars less than our all aluminum frame system. This also means that you MUST be or have access to a competent welder to properly weld on the crossmember brackets and they MUST be able to follow our simple welding instructions. Failure to follow the welding procedure WILL cause problems.

This system has a genious design (see what we did there?) that uses 3/16" thick 304 stainless (or 316 SS, mild steel) laser cut and CNC formed brackets that align the 6"x2" stainless frame tubes for your pontoon assemblies. This means that there are no complicated alignment challenges as you build your pontoon assemblies. Just like the system above, we use our HD Hat Channel (or Super-HD Flange Tube for very heavy-use per request) crossmembers and they bolt easily to the pontoon assemblies with 3/8" stainless hardware. Assembly of this system is a very simple fabrication project for any skilled welder/fabricator.

REQUIRED WELD-ON FRAME BRACKETS (SHOWN IN 304 STAINLESS):

This system has its pros, cons, and limitations. Here's a simpe run-down:

PRO: Far less shipping expense than Frame Option A, assembly hardware and required brackets are purchased at our industrial cost, much longer boats can be built than with Frame Option A

CON: MUST be or have access to a skilled welder with appropriate equipment, additional steps involved in ordering required parts and materials, frame system is slightly heavier than all aluminum frame

DIMENSIONAL LIMITATIONS:

Max frame length (Main Beams): 50' (longest tubes we've sourced)
Max frame width (Crossmembers): 20'

With this system, you can build boats with 2, 3, or 4 rows of floats, fully dependant on your needs. As we state at the top of the page, we also offer 30 and 150 HP capacity transoms (details listed at bottom of page). This system can be configured with or without nose cones as well. How you need your barge set up is how we'll configure your kit. We have provided specifications, full CAD files, and current pricing (with full 304 SS/aluminum HD Hat Channel frame) for common configurations of this system below. If you need to shave further cost out of this system, a steel system can eliminate as much as 1/3 from the total cost before rust-proofing frame components.

NOTE:
All customer supplied materials, hardware, and parts pricing shown in our chart is based on quotes obtained from our local steel supplier here in Concord, NH (6"x2", 3/16" wall 304 stainless tube), McMaster-Carr (hardware), and SendCutSend (crossmember brackets and optional delrin isolator bushings for salt water use). Shipping charges are not included in ANY of our projected pricing (other than with Send Cut Send). Pricing from independent suppliers can change at any time, not all local metal suppliers will carry 6"x2", 3/16" stainless rectangular tube, and we are not affilliated with any of the recommended suppliers. Please be aware that the "customer supplied" price portion of our chart is based on "price per inch" for 20' lengths of the stainless tube from our local supplier. Many metal suppliers will not sell less than full lengths of stainless tube, so please take this into consideration. Also, we have found that it is near impossible to source small quantities of longer lengths of stainless tube (MOQ is typically 12-20 pieces for longer lengths). This means that most customers will need to splice tubes for barges over 20' long. You are responsible for sourcing the required 6"x2", 3/16" wall 304 stainless (or alternate material) tube for your barge project and we will not cancel an order due to the inability to source material locally or find out that it is beyond your budget after you place your order with us.

Our pricing table has a note stating current pricing for our recommend round gusset, and our CAD models show these as well. We remind you: this is a pro-level system for experienced fabricators and Tiny Pontoon Boats is not responsible for any welding/fabrication work not completed in our shop.

*Engines shown installed in CAD files are not included.