Leaky pontoons

[Nws024]

I am starting a new pontoon thread because apparently I'm an idiot. I have been reading old threads, but I want to make sure I'm doing right. I have a bad habit of buying project boats. My newest is 24 ft party barge 1990 sun tracker, my first pontoon. Without overly explaining my ineptitude, apparently front of pontoons have water. They hit something and damaged front of both. Boat drivers fine, just sits a little low. Seems like there are 2 sections, 2 threaded plugs on top of each. Water sounds like it is only up front. I will post pics of damage to front in a minute. My questions about the toons, how to properly remove water and treat inside, and how to fix leaks. I have questions about deck also, not sure if that should be separate post. Thanks for all of your help and advice.

 

[ThomW]

If there are threaded plugs on top, take them out and use any sort of pump with a small enough hose to suck out any water in the toon. As far as fixing the damage....hard telling until we see how bad it is! Get some pics up and we can have an idea of what you're working with.

 

[Nws024]

Can't seem to post pics here, file too large. I have a public ideabook with same name. Leaky pontoons, 4 pics of front. ThomW as far as small hose, I will do that, I'm just worried I won't get it all out. Not sure if I should make larger hole on top in order to dry thoroughly

 

[Scott Danforth]

you cant load pics until your 4th post, and they have to be reduced in size to about 400kb

easiest way to get water out of toon logs is take the vent cap out of the top. go to a pet store, pick up 10' of air line for fish tanks. take a 5/16" nut and push over the end of the tube. then drop in the tube from the top. then you can siphon the water out. I normally stick the end of an air nozzle in the hole next to the tube and put a rag over the tank and pressurize a bit. the 2 psi that you add to the toon log will push the water up out of the tube. takes about 5 minutes

while the tube is pressurized, take soap and water and look around all the M brackets welded to the toon logs. most likely you have a cracked weld. then get it welded. most radiator shops weld for cheap. there are also mobile welders that will come to your house to weld. expect to pay about $125/hour for a mobile guy.

most toon logs have 3 or 4 compartments.

 

[Woodonglass]

Keep all your posts concerning this project on this one Thread. Makes it so much easier for all the members to keep track of your progress and questions.

 

[Nws024]

No problem keeping everything on this thread. First, the pontoons. Scott, thanks, I have some hose here I'm going to siphon with. And I know where to start welding. That's why I mentioned the pics in the ideabook, that damage is visible. After that's fixed I'll look for m bracket leaks with pressure. One of my base questions is, don't I need to dry out interior of pontoons completely? And if so, what is best method.

 

[AlabamaNewbie]

And I know where to start welding. .

I don't want to explain something you already know - do you know how to weld aluminum? Its very different than welding steel. And requires a few extra safety steps.

 

[tablerockboater]

If anyone is still interested, I am one who has a leaky toon thread, and who prompted the Leaky Toon article in BoatUS magazine, if anyone saw that. One of our tubes pitted from galvanic corrosion, which we discovered when the pontoon was listed to starboard, the rear of the toon sitting on the bottom of the canal.

I managed to raise it enough with a davit to be able to motor to the nearest ramp and trailer the pontoon.

I managed to get it on blocks high enough to get the toons off the bunks for inspection. When I saw all the little pinholes, that made my mind up, and I "salvaged" the boat.

I have researched and pursued saltwater galvanic corrosion of pontoon log with technical experts, like at BoatUS, and boat manufacturers, and have not convinced myself that it can be prevented, especially if you intend to moor the pontoon in saltwater. So, I have resisted my wife's concerted efforts to get me to buy another one.

 

[GA_Boater]

Why didn't you start a new thread?

Closed.