I Built the Ultimate Cheap Blue Barrel Pontoon Build

[@bradkvanbek7148]

I have built a dock and a couple rafts with 55 gallon plastic drums. I learned some things, the hard way. You want to seal the drums in the middle of your temperature difference. For MN sealing the drums at 30 degrees works good. The first dock sections I sealed the drums at warmer temperatures and in the winter they caved in some, so I drilled a small hole in one cap above the waterline, but somehow they still can fill with water. So seal in cooler temps.
You can't have too much floatation. My first dock / raft had drums has 12sf per barrel, my last has near solid drums at 6.55sf per barrel. There is no such thing as too many drums.

[@SimonDeBelleme1]

That's impressive! I think I will do this too. Mine will be royal barge themed - lots of lighting, polished wood, gilding and rich silk drapes and cushions.

[@tom_sassen]

lol that would be awesome

[@jhon614]

Nice bottle opener. Haha.

[@johnrayson6212]

Easy slow pressurizing trick I invented which gives ample time to epoxy both tightly closed caps
is a small amount of granulated dry ice in each one then seal tight.
Caution advised as a bit generous with first test and it exploded and hour later.
Its about six year ago so forgot perfect amount so start with teaspoon amount unglued caps and check hardness in 3 hours.

[@traveling.down.the.road56]

I’m thinking of using the same plastic barrels, but I’m going to fill them with closed cell floatation foam before sealing them up, to prevent them from collapsing in, or losing buoyancy if they get punctured by anything. I’d like to know more about how you connected them to the barge, to hold them in place.

[@tom_sassen]

I use a mix of gravity, rope and galvanized strapping. I would suggest sealing your barrels at a colder temperature so that they prevent from collapsing. Foam can leak out and I find is not necessary

[@traveling.down.the.road56]

@@tom_sassen That’s an odd reply, since the foam turns into a solid waterproof material after just a few minutes. Once it’s dry and solid, it can’t leak anywhere and the plastic barrel is just a protective layer at that point. We must be thinking of two different materials.

[@emtzv9776]

BEST BOAT EVERR

[@larryjaxn6373]

There's a guy n Florida who built one of these using about 50 barrels but he spread his barrels out about 2 ft between each barrel an it was more stable an more huge and he turned a huge raft into a floating house raft with generator an he's still adding floating footage to accommodate his motorcycle

[@tom_sassen]

That sounds awesome! If I could I would build myself a floating island however, I need to park this thing at home which means I had to limit the size of my barge. My barrels are close to 2 feet apart and I do agree, it makes it much more stable.

[@quidproquo3933]

the go-cart track is cool

[@johnrayson6212]

I pressurised mine after sealing and they are hard as a rock 2 years on like a pressure can and stainless straps are still tight an unmovable.

[@XrMihawck]

Hi Tom, Great video!
Could i ask a couple of questions around that project? I'd like to do something similar?
Like what was the biggest challenge you faced?
How is the barge holding off? Did you have to change parts? did the wood held well?
How did you do the top part? I'd like to do an addictional top floor on mine but stable enough so people could hang on it, sit drink etc.
Cheers !

[@tom_sassen]

Hi! I think the biggest challenges I faced were sourcing the materials cheaply, finding barrels and time constraints. The barge is still holding off well but I would use cedar and hemlock next time instead of balsam fir. The barrels are still great. I used a lot of angle iron and I basically put four posts down to the frame with a regular roof/ deck attached to it. I then added some corner bracing which helps a lot. 6x6 would have been more ideal than 4x4 for stability

[@johnw65]

Love this party barge! Have you given any thought to a bar on the raft? Styrofoam walls with glued on paneling would be cheap and ultra light!

[@tom_sassen]

Thanks! I did think of enclosing part of the barge however I decided to leave it open as not to block the view of the lake from my house cheers

[@johnw65]

@@tom_sassen Actually, I was thinking of pinning a 'foam-walled room' on the ramp of my cargo/camper that would come off when traveling. A temporary room like that under your jump deck would be nice for winter fishing and could store inside deck furniture...

[@tom_sassen]

@@johnw65 I didn't think of that, I thought about using tin in the winter but foam would probably be way better. Much lighter, good suggestion!

[@johnw65]

@@tom_sassen You pointed out wood cost and it occurred to me, Plastic sheet, or even cardboard could be glued onto those 1.5 inch foam sheets and made water proof with paint... There's a liquid foam that will fill areas it's poured in to but thats a mess...

[@tom_sassen]

What do you guys think I should add to the barge?

[@christopherdorman4459]

Swings!!!

[@michaelosmon]

Hammocks. And a diving board.

[@liveandlearnwithmike]

Tom, can you do a detail plan video i sure would like to see one.....thank you

[@tom_sassen]

Do you have any specific questions about it I could answer for you?

[@liveandlearnwithmike]

@@tom_sassen do you have a email address or fb page i sure would like to talk to you

[@danielp1511]

Post the build plans😩

[@johnrayson6212]

Are these barrels in clip pressurised?

[@tom_sassen]

No I didn’t pressurize them but they are still good

[@jayb9335]

How were you able to make that on sketchup?
its super difficult. I just downloaded the software but i'm having trouble with it.

[@tom_sassen]

I just played around with it, watched some video tutorials and took my time. Most of the assets are already pre made such as the barrels, so I just copy pasted those

[@jayb9335]

@@tom_sassen ok thanks bro. I really appreciate it.!.

[@jayb9335]

Id also like the opportunity to reach out to you directly via email if that's possible.

[@ronnietenio8469]

Too much talkin'

[@tom_sassen]

Lol agreed

[@RioThalieb]

We don't need to see your face, just show us the work you did

[@jswaggaestrill4037]

What else can be used besides barrels that are already pressurized