8" – 21.75 lbs / foot
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On Thursday, April 5, 2018, Ray Hakit <rayhaki> wrote:
10" – 34 lbs / foot

12" – 49 lbs / foot

15" – 76.5 lbs / foot

Example: With two pontoons, each 10 feet long (total 20 feet of pipe):

8" x 20′ = 435 lbs flotation

10" x 20′ = 680 lbs flotation

12" x 20′ = 979 lbs flotation

15" x 20′ = 1530 lbs flotation

How to Use These Numbers

Formula: Add the weights of your boat, crew and cargo, then double it – that is the flotation you need. Why? Because you must have at least HALF of your total flotation out of the water.

Let’s Try to Calculate Our Flotation and Pipe Length:

Boat Weight (RebelCat 5): approx 250 lbs
Crew Weight (two adults 150 lbs each) = 300 lbs
Cargo (camping gear, food, water) = 50 lbs

Total Weight = 600 lbs

Flotation Required: 1200 lbs (600 lbs x 2)

How do we create 1200 lbs flotation? We select a pipe diameter and length.

10" diameter x 18′ (x 2) = 1224 lbs flotation (34 lbs/ft x 18′ x 2 pontoons)
12" diameter x 13′ (x 2) = 1274 lbs flotation (49 lbs/ft x 13′ x 2 ponto