Toon leak

[ShortyXL]

I’m new to this forum as well as the pontoon community. I have recently rebuilt a 1979 18’ aqua patio pontoon. My question is can anyone tell me if the toons are chambered or not? Both toons at the bottom rear have drain plugs they also have two rubber type plugs on top of each toon I’m guessing one per chamber if it’s chambered. If it is chambered is it solid or does it have an access for water to move throughout the toon. I’m trying to figure out if I have a leak in one or both toons or if there is too much weight on the boat.

 

[Texasmark]

Responders on here have said that an xyz toon's chambers are sectioned in answering another one's question....which makes a lot of sense to me. However, is yours or not, no idea. I would think that if you are going to chamber a toon, there should be some sort of disruption to the outside of the tube to indicate the attachment points and location and quantity of the sections. I doubt a solely friction fit would suffice the intent.

 

[ESGWheel]

While not a pontoon guy it occurs to me that if you can haul this out on a trailer, you can take some steps to check for water in the toons. Here are some suggestions:

Put the tongue of the trailer uphill and pull the 2 drain plugs and the rubber stoppers at the top. Assuming you have already done that, also try lightly tapping on the toon with a rubber mallet from front to rear and listen to the sound. This will give you an indication of trapped water (and potential chamber walls).

And with the plugs out you can also use a fiberglass fish tape that is used to pull wire. Feed it into the top hole at the front with it angled toward the back and see if you can get the entire length of the toon. Note: a metal fish tape will curl up on you and not follow the bottom of the toon to the stern. This will tell you about the toons construction and it the tape is wet when you pull it out, you got water. You could then tape a paper towel to the end of the rod and thru repeated insertions and pull outs at different lengths (starting small first and inserting to greater lengths until wet) determine where the water is lengthwise in the toon.

Also take it to a scale and compare to the catalog info if you can find it (or to similar boats). If there is a rock query or a commercial truck scale near you, go talk to them first and tell them what you would like to do. Of the number of times I have done this with both boat and a RV trailer (in varied locations), the folks have always been more then generous of their time and advice. I have even weighed one side to another.

 

[jlh3rd]

see the vertical welds on my one toon? My 25' toon has three seperate sections, a nose, middle, and aft toon sections, identified by these two vertical welds. If you have sections I would think you'd have welds like that. Each section has a plastic, screw in plug on top, no drain plug.
I check for leaks by loosening the plugs and actually listening for air either coming out or suctioning in. Hot air expands, cold air contracts, if there's no leaks.......or use my shop vac.
I had a leak two years ago. Water dripping off the trailer after a 2 hour trip from the lake was a sign. I used a shop vac to blow air into the toon and soapy water to find the leak. It was at the bottom of a weld seam.
Also, I've read the toons shouldn't be subjected to more than 3 psi or they could be damaged. So compressed air is out.