EXTRA WIDE 17' Custom Welded Boat Build - Part 1

I'm back at it with another boat build. This time we're going BIG. This boat will end up 17.5' long with a 100" beam. All welded inside and out. Make sure you subscribe to see when the next parts of this build are uploaded!
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Search Keywords: Fishing Boat, Welded boat, All weld, Aluminum Welding, Welded Fishing Boat, Jon Boat, Custom Boat, Custom River Boat, River Boat, Jet Sled, Skiff Build, Aluminum Skiff, Home Made Boat, Boat Build, Time Lapse, Time Lapse Boat Build, Boat Project, Fishing Boat Project, Tiny Boat Nation, Welding Rookie, Welding Beginner, Titanium Welders, Titanium MIG 170, Titanium TIG 200, Harbor Freight Welders. MIG Welding.
Music By Chris Haugen

[@garycotz563]

Not every day you get to see a nice Aluminum Boat built IN DETAIL and by THE OWNER! Wow y'all ROCKIN IT !!!

[@tomspontoons]

I've been described by friends as a "Boaty" type of guy....so learning to weld has release a whole new world of excitement!

[@runnergirl4309]

Super COOL to watch you build a fishing-boat from scratch. Thanks for taking the time to share the steps with us. Looking forward to your next video.

[@tomspontoons]

Thank so much! It’s moving right along.

[@anarchistangler]

It's really nice. I learned a lot. Good job.

[@tomspontoons]

Great! Thanks for watching. Be sure to check out the other parts of the build!

[@codidraney8956]

Tommy you amaze me! Can’t wait for episode 2! I love these episode vids! May love them so much because I miss you and core too and it’s my way of seeing you guys 😊! Keep up the great work brother!

[@tomspontoons]

Thanks Codi!! Glad you're getting to follow us along. I'm just trying to get this boat ready to take Jeff fishing in on your next visit up here...maybe you can come too!

[@Bennydyk]

Maybe you should marry him!!

[@tomspontoons]

@@Bennydyk I’m super taken!

[@shannonlocklear8116]

Love the videos, would love to build 18’ mod v with 27” side for catfishing here in NC

[@tomspontoons]

Thanks for watching!! I can build you something like that. I hope to be building a handful of boats each year in the future.

[@klewis3530]

looking fantastic

[@tomspontoons]

Thank you! Can’t wait to get it on the water!

[@markusp1012]

As a fitter/welder I should just build a boat like this instead of buying new hot damn good job

[@tomspontoons]

That was my thought. Plus, I couldn’t order this boat set up like this…especially not for under $50k!!! I hope to have $25k max into everything.

[@codywhiteside152]

Love that kind of letting form as you go how cool

[@tomspontoons]

Me too. If you’re forcing shape with tension it’s bound to have weak points and heat warp. I’ve got a 15’ duck boat to build and a big wide 16’ river boat to build too.

[@ibrahimkocaalioglu]

You did amazing work. I love aluminium boats. Your design is awesome. ❤

[@tomspontoons]

Thank you! I'm with you on that, it's hard to beat a sturdy and well-built aluminum hull.

[@vicesparis]

Very naice joob

[@tomspontoons]

Thanks!!

[@BeerBourbonBaits]

How did you get started with this? Are there plans you sized up to what you wanted? Worked with a naval architect (or something less official)? Super cool build!

[@tomspontoons]

Started by dreaming up some designs and drawings on grid paper. Ordered the aluminum to those sizes, and then started welding and cutting. I've learned it's all about the order of operations when it comes to putting hulls together. Weld the wrong thing in at the wrong time and the boat will warp/distort...weld the right things in order and with the right materials it will shape up beautifully. I've got more builds coming up in the future!

[@BeerBourbonBaits]

Appreciate the insights! Looking forward to continue watching future builds! I just wrapped up a bass boat restoration. Now rebuilding a salvage 400hp Verado for a future bay boat project. Not many aluminum bay boat designs out there. Express has ‘em but of course no DIY plans.

[@tomspontoons]

@@BeerBourbonBaits Check out the Timmy Turtle boat build series. He's in Australia. I loved watching the series, especially the first couple parts, to get ideas and to learn about the steps for building boats. The guy who builds him the boat is pretty awesome and fun to watch too.

[@billforest6666]

I spotted this guy and thought; Ok , I should know that face. Well took me a couple days but I think he favors Chris O’Donnell from NCIS Los Angeles.

[@tomspontoons]

That’s a first, but I won’t complain having Chris O’Donnell as my look alike!

[@aterksyuh]

Amazing sharing

[@tomspontoons]

Thank you!

[@foghole9449]

Curious on the bow but looks nice....looking forward to more.

[@tomspontoons]

What are you wondering on the bow? It’s coming together nicely. Stay tuned for the next parts!

[@fishenbyfaithoutdoors2589]

Do you have a set of plans to build that boat.

[@tomspontoons]

I do not. It was drawn up and then built piece by piece. Definitely didn’t end up exactly how it was drawn as each piece was cut to go with the shape the boat took. I don’t think I could build the exact same boat again if I had to…it would be close, but not necessarily exact. I’m building a 1660 currently, that video will come out in a few months.

[@meetoo50]

GO BLUE!!!

[@tomspontoons]

Not exactly the team that I root for, but gotta say they had a heck of a season!

[@jasongrinnell1986]

Super glad I ran across your channel. Awesome video. Yes I subscribed.

[@tomspontoons]

Awesome!! Thanks for watching and subscribing!

[@jasongrinnell1986]

@@tomspontoons I want build my own boat. Kinda like a Timmy turtle boat. That is a series worth watching.

[@tomspontoons]

​@@jasongrinnell1986 Awesome!! I definitely took some of the ideas and concepts from that series. Since this is primarily a river boat I'm trying to keep it a lot lighter than the plate boats, but the concepts are still similar. I'm down to just weekends and ends of days welding on this one as I've got customers' pontoon boats to work on. I'll get the next part out in the coming weeks...then probably the third part will wrap things up.

[@awakenedtotruth8419]

I smell a contest to naming her on the horizon.

[@tomspontoons]

I like that idea!! Right now it’s just “I’m going to do some welding on ‘the big boat’ “ …so it needs help!!!

[@awakenedtotruth8419]

@tomspontoons 🤣😂🤣😂 The model number will be easy, but the "name" needs a specialty 😎

[@tomspontoons]

Still just referred to as the "big jet boat"

[@ArcOfTheCovenant]

Also making the transome, you should make that part very "beefy" i would definitely put a support that connect the middle of the transome to the hull. What you gonna use for the gunnel? Or rub rails as you call them.

[@tomspontoons]

The transom was the number one thing I wanted to overbuild on this boat. 3/16" sheet and 1/4" thick walled 2"x4" tube is what it's built out of. Corner gussets on the upper corners, tackle trays tie in, and there are two big 1/4" thick sheet braces from the floor to the transom in the center.

[@ArcOfTheCovenant]

@@tomspontoons nice.

[@chadwalters3823]

I heard you say you’re in Michigan can you give the place you got your large aluminum 5052 sheets from please?

[@tomspontoons]

I got them locally, but was only able to do so because of my existing business. It was not easy to find a source for the length of sheets I needed! Everyone else I've talked to who's building in their barn or garage has mentioned Ryerson. Shoot me an email [e-mail] letting me know where abouts you're located and what you need, and I'll see if I can help you out.

[@KennethThibodeaux-r3n]

5086 would be better then 5052 for hual.

[@tomspontoons]

I know some folks like it for the bottoms. It’s really hard to source locally and after doing research 5052 is a great alloy for the type of rivers we run here in Michigan.

[@ToledoFlatheads]

How do you like the Tig 200

[@tomspontoons]

I honestly love it. Super simple and lays in some really nice welds. If welding on thicker material you’ll melt the torch. I’m using a Vulcan torch now on it and it’s been great.

[@adam-oz1jo]

are plans available for this build?

[@tomspontoons]

I didn’t have specific plans. Drew it up on grid paper to get basics, then build it piece by piece. Lots changed from start to finish, and definitely overbuilt it. I’ve got a 16x60 in the works now. That’ll be another video coming up

[@adam-oz1jo]

@@tomspontoons truly an awesome build and video series, looking forward to the next one!

[@jamespetty9545]

First. Very interesting

[@tomspontoons]

Gonna get more interesting before it’s done!! Thanks for watching!

[@jackdavis9828]

where do you find 20’ sheets?

[@tomspontoons]

These came from a local Metals USA branch, but I had to wait a long while for them to be able to run me such a small order. Ryerson sells a lot of different aluminum in 20' sheets. I think they even have some 25' sheets if I remember right. Not sure how shipping would fall in there tho.

[@wperry2039]

Fantastic build, I love the width and the tall sides in a relatively short boat!! Good editing and production value too. I'm getting ready to rebuild the transom on my Jon boat and 5052 sheet aluminum is everywhere, but not tubing. Is all of the tubing and framing you use 6063? What alloy wire are you running in the spool gun?

[@tomspontoons]

Thank you! We’re enjoying the heck out of it so far and all the features that make it unique like the width and tall sides are working exactly as planned! All structural stuff is 6061 or 6063 (angle, channel, tube). I use all 5356 for filler wire. I like how it lays in for both machines and it’s better suited for impact and strength than 4043.

[@wperry2039]

Hi Tom, Awesome, thanks for the info! You do nice work and you both seem like the kind of people everyone should strive to be! Keep up the good work and happy fishing!! Wes

[@wperry2039]

Just to add to the conversation, it's not the machine, it's the operator!

[@tomspontoons]

@@wperry2039 thank you for those kind words. We have a lot of fun and enjoy the hard work we put in too!

[@SalinA-l6z]

What is this gun name

[@tomspontoons]

Titanium MIG170 Machine with the Titanium 150A spool gun.

[@benromano3300]

I gotta ask. Why do jet sled/outboard jet boats usually have such high sidewalls?

[@tomspontoons]

in Michigan most jet sleds have pretty low sides (20" to 24" is standard) to make it easier to get in and out of the boat. I like higher sides for safety, comfort, and a dryer ride when using the boat on lakes. I imagine the big jet boats out West have high sides for use in bays and reservoirs too.

[@benromano3300]

@@tomspontoons yeah I guess your right even most of the stealth crafts have lo sides. Either way the boat your making looks awesome.

[@tomspontoons]

@@benromano3300 thank you! Working on editing part 2 right now to share this weekend

[@benromano3300]

@@tomspontoons awesome can't wait! You got me wanting to build myself a new hull for my jet 🤣

[@tomspontoons]

@@benromano3300 I just knew I wanted to build something I couldn’t order from a manufacturer….or if I could I wouldn’t be able to afford the price tag!

[@SalinA-l6z]

Will u tell me how many ticknes in this sheet

[@tomspontoons]

The entire boat is built from 0.125" sheet, 5052 H32 Aluminum.

[@SalinA-l6z]

@@tomspontoons sir if u don't maint Sir I am a mig welder my country is kerala I want to do aluminum welding and do good boat building there is no situation in India or kerala for that I want to go to any country other than india and understand this can you tell me a suitable boat building factory for that sir salary is not the important thing for me is to learn the profession

[@SalinA-l6z]

Sir I am a mig welder my country is kerala I want to do aluminum welding and do good boat building there is no situation in India or kerala for that I want to go to any country other than india and understand this can you tell me a suitable boat building factory for that sir salary is not the important thing for me is to learn the profession

[@tomspontoons]

​@@SalinA-l6z I am unfamiliar with boat any building factories. I just taught myself.

[@tomspontoons]

@@SalinA-l6z I am unfamiliar with boat any building factories. I just taught myself.

[@danmefford3966]

So what is the thickness of the bottom hull?

[@tomspontoons]

0.125” bottom and sides. 5052 series aluminum. I talked with other boat builders and they said 0.190” was harder to work with, heavier, and harder to work on if there were ever dents that needed to be worked out.

[@ArcOfTheCovenant]

I bet your knees got sun burned 😂

[@tomspontoons]

They got fried! Live and learn....and never weld in shorts again!

[@brianpolocoser1937]

Where do you get the materials from

[@tomspontoons]

All of the sheet was bought from a local Metals USA location. The issue is to make it affordable I had to buy three boats worth because of how they cut it. Ryerson will do individual sheets custom to order too, but is very expensive. I used a local metal supplier for the extrusions, tube, and other odds and ends pieces. Thanks for watching!

[@ArcOfTheCovenant]

Used to weld at alumacraft until they did away with their all welded boats.

[@tomspontoons]

I remember seeing some of their welded Jon boats on the river around here. I didn’t even realize they did away with them!