Pontoon Float or Boat Draft Calculation

This calculator assumes that a pontoon float or boat consists of two or more pontoons tied
together by some form of structure, which is decked over to form a platform for people and gear.

Assumptions:
Dpontoon 27in

Diameter of the pontoon

Lpontoon 48ft

Length of the pontoon

Npontoon 2

Total number of pontoons

pontoon 54.07

lbf

DLstruct 2747lbf
water 62.4

lbf
ft

Unit weight of the pontoon

ft
Weight of platform, hardware, etc.
Unit Weight of water
Fresh: 62.4
Salt: 64

Calculations:
DLvessel pontoon Lpontoon Npontoon DLstruct
DLvessel 7937.72 lbf

Total weight of the pontoon boat (unloaded)

Dpontoon
Vpontoon
Npontoon Lpontoon
2

GLvessel

Vpontoon water DLvessel

2

GLvessel 7940.29 lbf

Calculate the total volume of the pontoons

Calculate the Recommended Maximum Gross Load

per: "Construction Standards for Small Vessels (2010)"
TP 1332 E - Section 4

Recommended Maximum Gross Load - Passengers & Gear

DLvessel

Volume of water
displaced by just the
pontoon boat weight

DLVol 127.21 ft

Volume of water
displaced by pontoon
boat + peaple + gear

GLVol 254.46 ft

DLVol
DLArea
Npontoon Lpontoon

End area of submerged

pontoon, pontoon boat
weight

DLArea 1.33 ft

GLVol
GLArea
Npontoon Lpontoon

End area of submerged

pontoon, pontoon boat
weight + peaple + gear

GLArea 2.65 ft

DLVol

GLVol

water
DLvessel GLvessel
water

In this next section, we need to use calculated values to pick values from a table.
Table is attached at the end of this worksheet.
DLArea

inTableDL

Dpontoon

GLArea

inTableLL

Dpontoon

inTableDL 0.26

Find this number in the table, under the column area/D 2. Pick
the value of d/D from the column to the left of your value, and
enter it below.

inTableLL 0.52

Find this number in the table, under the column area/D 2. Pick
the value of d/D from the column to the left of your value, and
enter it below.

outTableDL 0.37

This is the number you picked off the table, in the d/D column
and from the same row as the value for inTable DL

outTableLL 0.63

This is the number you picked off the table, in the d/D column
and from the same row as the value for inTable LL

d DL outTableDL Dpontoon

d LL outTableLL Dpontoon

Multiply the value found above by the pontoon diameter to

find the submerged depth or draft of the pontoon boat under
just it's own weight.

Multiply the value found above by the pontoon diameter to

find the submerged depth or draft of the pontoon boat under
just it's own weight.

Results:
d DL 9.99 in

Submerged depth or draft of the pontoon boat under just it's own weight.

d LL 17.01 in Submerged depth or draft of the pontoon boat with passengers and gear.