Air Valve On Pontoon?

[River Rover]

Can anyone tell me the purpose/use of the air valve on each of my pontoons please?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Pressure testing the logs?

 

[MH Hawker]

that would be my thought too

 

[fhhuber]

Possibly pressure testing...

Possibly to allow for air expansion/contraction with temperature so the pontoons don't crumple or burst.

Take an empty 1 gallon metal can similar to the old metal gas cans... close its cap securely. put it in the freezer. After a while you will possibly hear it crushing itself. Check on it in an hour or two if you don't hear anything.

Now to really be impressed... put it in the oven at 150F for 20 min... then back in the freezer for an hour. Repeat 4 times. The can will be FLAT.

 

[HotTommy]

I suspect air VENTS are standard for pontoon logs to account for changes in temperature and pressure. An air VALVE only makes sense to me if it is used, as others have said, for lightly pressure testing the log. Of course you'd have to temporarily seal the vent, be careful with the max pressure, and remember to unseal the vent.

 

[River Rover]

Pressure testing sounds reasonable- but I thought the pontoons had "baffles" to separate like 3 sections in each toon? That would restrict the air to only the rear section- O well. thanks guys-