Drainage of the pontoon

[minj]

Good day!
This year before winterizing, I remove the metal plugs at the bottom of the pontoons. It was draining for a long time!
This spring, when I prepare it to go in the water, what is the best way to put the screw back in? Should I be using teflon tape, liquid teflon, nothing? Or how to know that the screw is tight enough?
Thank you for the tips!

 

[Grub54891]

I simply put the plugs in dry. Never have water coming out in the fall. You must have leaks. Are your plugs the pipe plug style? Or some kind of screw?

 

[minj]

We had it pressure tested couple years ago and it was alright. They are big screw style. They are located at the bottom of the pontoon so in the water.

 

[minj]

Also, both of them had similar amount of water in them so this is why I suspect it is coming directly from those screws. (They might be tapered but I can’t understand why there would be so much water in them and in equal amount)

 

[Scott Danforth]

if it was coming from the drains, you would be sinking. most pontoon logs leak where a weld cracks at the M-bracket

 

[minj]

if it was coming from the drains, you would be sinking. most pontoon logs leak where a weld cracks at the M-bracket

I see - is there a trick where I could connect a small air compressor where the plug is and send some air (put soapy water at those welds) or it has to be a specific pressure sent inside? Then should it be welded back or a kind of epoxy would do it?

 

[Scott Danforth]

use 2-3 psi only. anything more than that and you risk blowing the pontoon log up.

I would get it welded

 

[minj]

use 2-3 psi only. anything more than that and you risk blowing the pontoon log up.

I would get it welded

Thanks for the tip!

 

[flashback]

Its possible that it is from condensation and you may not have a problem at all.

 

[minj]

Its possible that it is from condensation and you may not have a problem at all.

Possible, I will do a pressure test with a regulator and see! Let's hope welding is not necessary!

 

[jlh3rd]

I used my shop vac exhaust with duct taped smaller hose to inject air into my pontoon to find the two leaks I've had in the past few years. I don't think a shop vac can generate enough psi to hurt the toon, plus the vinyl hose was a loose fit in the plug hole. My plugs are on top.
The one leak was at a seam weld about 3 years ago and this last year I found one at a front "M" bracket. I couldn't believe how much water was in that front cone section from a leak on top.
Both were professionally welded.
As much as I like JB weld, theres no way it could hold up to the flexing that a pontoon endures.

My plugs are plastic, but if I had metal ones I'd use teflon tape or similar.
BTW the method I use to check for leaks is simple. I begin to loosen the plug and I listen for air either escaping or being sucked in. Most of the time its warm outside when I do this so the air in the toon is warm so if air escapes , I have no leak in that section.

 

[minj]

I used my shop vac exhaust with duct taped smaller hose to inject air into my pontoon to find the two leaks I've had in the past few years. I don't think a shop vac can generate enough psi to hurt the toon, plus the vinyl hose was a loose fit in the plug hole. My plugs are on top.
The one leak was at a seam weld about 3 years ago and this last year I found one at a front "M" bracket. I couldn't believe how much water was in that front cone section from a leak on top.
Both were professionally welded.
As much as I like JB weld, theres no way it could hold up to the flexing that a pontoon endures.

My plugs are plastic, but if I had metal ones I'd use teflon tape or similar.
BTW the method I use to check for leaks is simple. I begin to loosen the plug and I listen for air either escaping or being sucked in. Most of the time its warm outside when I do this so the air in the toon is warm so if air escapes , I have no leak in that section.

Great idea - I might try the shopvac trick! Just waiting for winter to be over

 

[jlh3rd]

good .
I also meant to say and using a spray bottle mixed with dish soap and water

 

[Crappie Jalopy]

I had equal amounts of water in my (2) pontoons, (50) gal. x (8) lbs.=(400) lbs.
The drain hole plugs were actually self-drilling screws, with neoprene washers.
I changed them to an actual drain plug.
This water in my pontoons was also causing another problem, I think.
My 1500 4wd Dodge Ram, with the big engine, had transmission overheat lights come when towing in hot weather and upgrades.
At the time I didn't know about the water in the pontoons.
I haven't had a chance to get the (22') out yet.
I'm sure (200 lbs.) of water sloshing back and forth in each pontoon as I hauled the boat, was a huge negative force/drag on the transmission.
More information on this will be forth coming.

 

[airshot]

Using a sealing tape on the threads will not hurt a thing, and just might help !!

 

[jlh3rd]

I had equal amounts of water in my (2) pontoons, (50) gal. x (8) lbs.=(400) lbs.
The drain hole plugs were actually self-drilling screws, with neoprene washers.
I changed them to an actual drain plug.
This water in my pontoons was also causing another problem, I think.
My 1500 4wd Dodge Ram, with the big engine, had transmission overheat lights come when towing in hot weather and upgrades.
At the time I didn't know about the water in the pontoons.
I haven't had a chance to get the (22') out yet.
I'm sure (200 lbs.) of water sloshing back and forth in each pontoon as I hauled the boat, was a huge negative force/drag on the transmission.
More information on this will be forth coming.

I've installed a nice big auxillary tranny cooler in my 5.3 l chevy. Even on extreme hot days in july when pulling my 24' pontoon, I rarely see 190.