Need help telling if a pontoon is steel or aluminum from pics. Pics attached! :-)

dls322 · Jul 12, 2012

Hi,
Think i found a nice set of replacement toons for my leaky project. The boat is a 73 Kayot, 24' and comes with a trailer which is a bonus. It's an hour drive but i want to make sure they are aluminum. The lady said she was told they were. I assume you can use the magnet test to find out. Can you guys tell by pics if they are aluminum? Boat doesn't seem to have any rust and is left int he water all summer.

Thanks for all your help! Don't want to drive an hour to find out they are steel.

muskiemike12 · Jul 12, 2012

Re: Need help telling if a pontoon is steel or aluminum from pics. Pics attached! :

Looks like aluminum to me. The trailer is steel.

a1nowell · Jul 12, 2012

Re: Need help telling if a pontoon is steel or aluminum from pics. Pics attached! :

Because I do not see paint, I would say they they are aluminum or stainless. But I have never seen any stainless toons.

My $0.02 worth

Larry

dls322 · Jul 12, 2012

Re: Need help telling if a pontoon is steel or aluminum from pics. Pics attached! :

Yeah i was thinking aluminum because you can see that some of the fasteners above were rusting and nothing else was. And like you guys mentioned i don't see any paint.

I was just worried because i did some internet searches and found some older Kayots that were steel...and other that were aluminum.

Did you have a choice when your ordered the boat back then?
Did the older toons like this have compartments or where they just one big toon?
Thanks for all the info!

Boss Hawg · Jul 12, 2012

Re: Need help telling if a pontoon is steel or aluminum from pics. Pics attached! :

Looks like aluminum but can't be sure by a pic.

MH Hawker · Jul 12, 2012

Re: Need help telling if a pontoon is steel or aluminum from pics. Pics attached! :

I would say alum

dls322 · Jul 12, 2012

Re: Need help telling if a pontoon is steel or aluminum from pics. Pics attached! :

I'm going to head down tonight to look at it. I assume a magnet will not stick to an aluminum toon but would stick to a steel one?

WaterDR · Jul 12, 2012

Re: Need help telling if a pontoon is steel or aluminum from pics. Pics attached! :

Yup....steel is magnetic and aluminum is not. Also, aluminum is very reactive to oxygen. It corrodes fast, but creates a protective laywer of aluminum oxide. This layer can be scraped-off with a knife, so you can check it that way. Steel rusts. Aluminum does not. Steel will always need to be painted or covered in order to protect it from rusting. So, chances are, unless the metal is painted or coated, it won't be steel.

dls322 · Jul 12, 2012

Re: Need help telling if a pontoon is steel or aluminum from pics. Pics attached! :

Thanks for all the suggestions. Has an evinrude 65 that needs work, but goes with it and comes with the the scissor trailer. For $700 bucks i don't think i can go wrong as a donor/parts boat.

Leaving to look at it now, will post my findings tonight/tomorrow.

Thanks

dls322 · Jul 13, 2012

Re: Need help telling if a pontoon is steel or aluminum from pics. Pics attached! :

Ok, bought her! 1973 Kayot

Oldest motorized vehicle i have ever owned....set a new record!! Previous record was my 1978 Bronco.

Neat solid old boat. The playpen area is beefy thick aluminum....very tough built boat.

Thanks for all your help!

Boss Hawg · Jul 13, 2012

Re: Need help telling if a pontoon is steel or aluminum from pics. Pics attached! :

I can't belive you didn't tell us if they were steel or alum. :facepalm:

dls322 · Jul 13, 2012

Re: Need help telling if a pontoon is steel or aluminum from pics. Pics attached! :

And the winner is: Aluminum!

Thanks for all you played...we are all winners!

I do have a question about a metal capped plug at the back. I assume it's a screw off top vent/drain for the toon? i have never seen one like this...it's almost like a pipe fitting....it's on both toons, wonder if all older ones where like this? I attached a pic

Boss Hawg · Jul 14, 2012

Re: Need help telling if a pontoon is steel or aluminum from pics. Pics attached! :

dls322 said:
And the winner is: Aluminum!

Thanks for all you played...we are all winners!

I do have a question about a metal capped plug at the back. I assume it's a screw off top vent/drain for the toon? i have never seen one like this...it's almost like a pipe fitting....it's on both toons, wonder if all older ones where like this? I attached a pic

View attachment 157973 View attachment 157974

Just a vent-that looks added on but doesn't matter. Mine has plastic on both just different locations.

Need help telling if a pontoon is steel or aluminum from pics. Pics attached! :-)

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