"Flat" pontoons

[Singingturkeys]

I bought a "fixer-upper" pontoon boat last February when the snow was two feet thick and I could not see the bottoms of the pontoons. I just brought it in the garage to begin refurbishing it and saw that both pontoons were smashed about 40% flat from what must have been a very hard impact on a bulkhead or other hard object.

The smashed area is just behind the very front of them and runs for close to two feet. Someone I trust who saw the boat in the water, said it floated and drove fine and there are no leaks, just the smashes. I plan on taking the boat fishing in some very remote parts of Ontario where there is little help available. I am mainly concerned about handling, particularly in choppy water. I won't be pulling skiers, just cruising. We are older, so now high speed antics either.

I can buy another old boat with good pontoons and swap them. My question is: if the boat floats fine with the damaged ones, should I replace them or run with them? I am operating on a tight budget here, so new ones are out of the question.

 

[jlh3rd]

I'd want to see a picture.
You can't necessarily tell if a pontoon has a leak just because someone says it looks and floats ok. It needs to be checked.
If its's not leaking, handling is gonna be a wait and see kinda thing. Since I've never driven a pontoon with that kinda damage, your guess is as good as anyone else's.
I'd replace 'em.....you say you're older and tight budget......that's a lotta work....

 

[airshot]

If the dents/ bends are severe, the aluminum may be cracked. The aluminum used in boats and pontoons is tempered for strength. When impacted they may crack and while they may not leak now...they could in the near future. Being in a remote area is not a safe place to test it...

 

[Scott Danforth]

if you crush a beer can, you cant un-crush it.

same goes for toon logs.

without a pic, i say you have scrap.