my pontoon tried to sink..???

[sptjet90Reflexx]

So first time I had the whole family out, dad, mom, grandma, son, Wife and myself (as well as 2 dogs) on the 28' Party Hut.

Dad was driving and we pulled into a cove and slowed to a stop.. then something crazy happened. The bow went UNDER WATER! And Kept going!?!? I moved everyone to the back of the boat and it slowly came up. Once everyone was in the back I went to WOT once I was sure it wasn't going under and it was fine the rest of the trip.. I didnt think it was possible to over weight the front of this boat..? My Mom and grandma were in the 2 front couches and myself with my 2yr old son 1 dog on the bow sitting.

My Wife was in the back.

ThoughtS?? Its currently back at the dock sitting where it should be as far as water level goes... Needless to say it scared the crap out of the family. Cept for my Dad and myself we were to busy being men and trying to figure out what was going on.

 

[crb478]

If the bow went under it had to be too much weight up front or hitting a wave and submarining the boat. It is possible that if there is water in to pontoons it could go forward if it is sitting lower than the stern. It really does not sound like enough people to submerge a pontoon. How is it sitting in the water now? Did the front just go down or did water actually cover the deck? It could just be a freak event.

 

[sptjet90Reflexx]

around 2 ft of the bow/deck was under water about 2 inches for a split second. Took a good minute or so to lift itself back up. Currently it is sitting right where it should be.

 

[ahicks]

Sounds like you've learned a valuable lesson regarding loading your boat, apparently without harm! That's a good thing! You sure can sink that front end. Assuming there's no water in the pontoons, thinking we must be talking about a boat with smaller pontoons, and/or some pretty good size people on board?

I can remember a really warm summer night about a hundred years ago. Several of the neighborhood residents were out swimming at our favorite swimming hole, cooling off after one of those really sticky days. A few of us started horsing around on the front of the boat, and through it all I remember seeing the boat's running lights, that were fastened to the forward deck, maybe 2' under water?

Add some forward momentum, and that deck acts like a big dive plane. It'll keep going down until the boat slows/stops. Been there, but we were WAY overloaded and we knew it (that was about a hundred years ago too!)

There's no way you'd ever sink it completely. It's kinda like a big beach toy in that manner. Grossly overload one end, or one side and it's going to go under (been there too). Shift or relieve the load, and it'll pop right back up!

 

[sptjet90Reflexx]

thinking we must be talking about a boat with smaller pontoons, and/or some pretty good size people on board?

Its a 28' Sun Tracker Party hut with a 3/4 length center toon and upper deck. Shes pretty big.

 

[bruceb58]

Sounds like water in the pontoons. I have a 24' suntracker and you can have 5 or 6 people sitting in the front and it won't go under like that.

 

[ahicks]

Doesn't sound right to me either. I'd be arranging to have the boat hauled and inspected for water. It's the only way you're going to know for sure. Does the height of the "waterline" on the pontoons appear to be normal - as compared to other boats?

 

[H20Rat]

Unless everyone is 400+ lb's, there is NO way that pontoon should take on water with that few number of people. I"ve seen 20 footers do it with 5 people under the right conditions. My bet is water in the tubes. The tubes are segmented, so the water is going to be contained in a compartment. If you have it out of the water on a trailer, look for damage.

 

[sptjet90Reflexx]

does anyone know for sure if my 28' party hut has chambered pontoons? I know I have a screw on the bottom rear of each 'toon for what I assume is draining water.. I will have to find a trailer to pull her out of the water with.

 

[ahicks]

Know anyone with a lift you can borrow long enough to check your boat out?

 

[Silver Eagle]

If you can get a trailer to use take it to scale house and get it weighed .See if you have water in the toons.

 

[ahicks]

Keep thinking about this. Seems to me it would be pretty unusual to have more than one pontoon leaking, and if it were one of the outside 'toons, it wouldn't be real hard to see it leaning towards the leaking one? Yet we've been told it's sitting "normally". That leaves just one strong possibility, some kind of issue with the center 'toon....

Assuming only that it is sitting level, the center 'toon would draw my attention first. That's me though, FWIW. -Al

 

[sptjet90Reflexx]

as ahicks said it is strange for the front to evenly submarine if water was only in 1 toon. And have both outside toons have water damage equally would be even more strange i would think. The center toon is not a full length toon so not sure how water in that one could effect the front?

 

[HarborRat]

Did the anchor fall off the bow and hang up? Check to see if you are missing the anchor . What you describe sounds impossible ("Took a good minute or so to lift itself back up") with everyone in the stern, unless there is a LOT of water in the toons or you are exaggerating? Lochness monster?

 

[Silver Eagle]

A few years ago while out in the bay we came across a rogue wave. I hit it dead on, The front of the boat cut through it.,but then the swell took the bow into the water,itt happened so quick.We took water over the deck but it didn't go under.I just sat there for a couple for minutes until all the water drained off of the deck..Now when I'm out in the deep water I run with front door open.

 

[BigDfromTN]

We had water come over the front of ours the other weekend. We were crossing the really large wake of a plowing Cabin Cruiser! Only time it has happened to us so far.

 

[stevetedder]

We had water come over the front of ours the other weekend. We were crossing the really large wake of a plowing Cabin Cruiser! Only time it has happened to us so far.

Had the same thing happen to me.Seen the cruiser coming and had plenty of time to line up at a 45 to cross the wake. Front door was open and it was enough water it washed my wifes purse to the back of the boat. Never had any other issues like that before.

I think the OP def. has water in the tubes, soaked foam, or both

 

[redneck joe]

Foam in a pontoon? Where?

if you had a few people up frront and came off plane just right/quickly the swell from the rear could have pushed the bow under. The front splash rakes on the toons catch the water and dive you down, the front deck catches water adding to the dive.

If sitting level and high at the dock I would say a one off. Come off plane more slowly.

 

[stevetedder]

My 24 ft sundancer has styrofoam that is easily visible through the drain port on both sides

 

[sptjet90Reflexx]

My tubes were dry as a bone. I pulled the pontoon out of the lake a few weeks ago and checked. Havent had any issues since.