Engineered drawing

Excellent sum-up, thanx WetFeet!! I'd never open up my shop for a similar concept, unless it was backed up and verified by an engineering firm that took full responsibility.

 

One distinction that has not been defined is that the request is for "Engineering Drawings", whereas the technical issue is really to get the engineering task performed. After the design is "Engineered", then the draftsman can make the drawings. Two tasks with far different skill sets and far different costs.

Engineering liability, for such an apparently simple floating bar, is the main issue I would think. A bar implies intoxication, somebody will be injured, or drown, and the lawyers will go after anyone who has $$, even if the grounds for a lawsuit are absurd. As a minimum a Registered Professional Engineer should perform this work, but I would not touch it with a 10 ft. pole.

 

There are NA,s on the forums , reach out to them .

 

Yes I understand that issue. I wouldn’t open my self up to that either. The company that operates this concept does byob, and their craft is on 20 55 gallon barrels. So I wanted to see if I can get one built on aluminum frame on pontoons. With max occupancy of 7.

 

I wish you success with this. It is rarely straightforward with commercial jobs, especially if you innovate, and there are few procedural corners to be cut; not advisable behaviour in aquatic situations generally anyway. When it goes bad, it can become very ugly, very quickly, then the parasites flock; and they wring every last shekel from the liable party, for a two grand job?

 

Another option is to hire an overseas NA to design the boat , incorporate a boat building company , then hire people to build the boat yourself . If there is a lawsuit it will end up involving the company you incorporate that own,s the boat or boats .

 

I guess I’ll ask -why do you want to use pontoons instead of barrels?

From what you have posted, it sounds like the shop already makes these floating bars and that they have a design that is already proven, so why the need to change it?

 

I wanted something sturdier/solid to build my way.

 

Why not get one unit complete from the factory, so it's a proven product, then improve on it. You can strap and glue extra buoyancy around the edges, (not 55 gal drums), say, a surround of semi submerged floating fenders like a picket fence, and add extra bracing and whatever you deem fit, but make sure it all doesn't weigh too much. You want more room, make a raft with table and chairs to drag along. A second raft with a hole in it is the spa / foot pool. How many of these floating bars have turned turtle ? Not withstanding drunken louts.

 

Louisiana Custom Aluminum LLC , Build and design boats . That was the first one that popped up , I am sure there are other small aluminum boat builders from La to Texas that can do the design work as well as the build

 

Design and build it yourself then.
Nothing but fear holding you back.

 

Have you talked to the Coast Guard Marine Safety people in USCG Sector Houston-Galveston? What you are planning is essentially a boat carrying passengers and you may have to have it inspected. (depends on how many passengers) That also means you have to have engineering drawings to submit to them.
U.S. Coast Guard Sector Houston-Galveston, 13411 Hillard St.
Houston, TX 77034
(281) 464-4800
Hire someone to draw up plans. Any first year engineering student should be able to whip up some plans if you give them enough information on what you have in mind.

 

I'm sorry to disagree on this topic but I think that making some drawings of what Jesse has in mind is not enough. In my opinion, it would be necessary to ensure that "that" he has in mind floats correctly, serves its intended purpose and is safe for its passengers. Once all this has been verified, the construction plans that Jesse needs will have to be made.
Drawing anything or copying something existing is dangerous. Someone with solid knowledge of all the factors involved in the final construction of something that is intended to be a boat should work.
This is my point of view.

 

https://www.boattrader.com/boat/2024-sun-tracker-bass-buggy-16-xl-select-9123146/

A quick check on google reveals a multitude of boats in Galveston that would be the base for your project
This one is $24,000, new, with motor, Hull Identification number (easier to insure) controls etc
There are also lots of used ones that would form the basis of your project.
Instead of having the bar in the middle, it should be easy to have the drinking area in a u-shape and the drink mixing area offset and include the control and instrumentation section
The engineering will have been done, the design proven. If you find a boat that is much to long you could easily shorten it to suit.
I doubt that you can build one better as a one off using a fabricating shop to custom build for the money

Buy it, take off the items that you do not want, maybe leaving some seating so your clients can relax and stay around a bit longer in lounge sofas, and buy more drinks