New Member - Used Sun Tracker w/ broken drain/vent plugs.

[2old-scuba-dude]

Man I'm glad I found you guys. I just bought a 2000 21ft. Sun Tracker Party Barge. Got it home and heard water sloshing in Port pontoon. Stumbled upon your forum and learned a wealth of info on pontoon construction; leak testing; and probable sources of leaks. I had no idea pontoons had plugs on the top side of the pontoon (in part due to the fact that Sun Tracker went to great lengths to HIDE the things under the deck mounting brackets where no human arm can reach). Thanks to you guys I discovered that mine had two plastic pipe plugs on top of each pontoon. I found the front plug on the affected pontoon was broken off flush w/ the toon. The plastic plug threads were still in the hole, but I could insert a small stick into the hole so I figure water was splashing into the hole. I then attempted to remove the rear top plug using an open end wrench and the square head snapped off from the plug leaving it in the same condition as the front.
Now I have three questions and one assumption. My assumption is that my pontoon is multi-chambered and air tight because when I broke the back plug; it hissed out pressurized air for approximately 3 or 4 seconds (even though the front was open). QUESTION #1. Do you think these red plastic pipe plugs were Sun Tracker equipment. I ask because I saw on your forum that these plugs are supposed to come with pressure relief hole in them. QUESTION #2. Will the absence of relief holes cause enough pressure to explode them (or implode them depending on the direction of temperature change). QUESTION #3. Can somebody please tell me how to get these broken plugs out without drilling a fist size hole in the deck above them?
I'm hoping that the water in the toons came from the open plug. If I can get them out and replaced I can put it in the lake and see if the water returns. Sorry for the long post, but I'd really like to get this thing in the water at least once this summer. Thanks for being here.

 

[lmuss53]

Re: New Member - Used Sun Tracker w/ broken drain/vent plugs.

I think they are probably factory plugs, not all tubes are vented. I don't think replacing them with unvented plastic plugs will hurt anything, but hopefully some of the others will comment on that too.

A few suggestions:

Tap a straight stubby screwdriver down into the hole and see if they will back out.

Try a traditional "e-z out" tapped into the broken plug and backed out real slow. Maybe at the same time, put some heat to the fitting and see if the old plug loosens up. I'd try a heat gun or hi powered hair dryer before any flame. As always use caution with any heat source, a heat gun or a hair dryer can start a fire.

By the way welcome to the iboats forum and the pontoon world.

 

[Mr Crabbs]

Re: New Member - Used Sun Tracker w/ broken drain/vent plugs.

Reading your post my first thought was to get a hole saw on the deck to be able see straight down into the plugs. I'm not sure there is a simpler way (not being able to see your 01 pontoon) to get clearer access. Cut through a bracket and replace it or put in a mending place? Unbolt the port joists and raise the deck (if you can even do that)?

I'm thinking hole saw myself.

 

[Water logged]

Re: New Member - Used Sun Tracker w/ broken drain/vent plugs.

I don't know if you have a wood deck or an aluminum deck, but if it is aluminum I suggest you be very careful if you try to use a holesaw. The aluminum deck on mine is layed in with aluminum planks and if the holesaw were to sever a plank you could have a very lare problem. I would think that it would weaken the area and also could have the ends of the plank moving as water pressure hit it.

Just sayin'

Glenn

 

[2old-scuba-dude]

Re: New Member - Used Sun Tracker w/ broken drain/vent plugs.

I don't know if you have a wood deck or an aluminum deck, but if it is aluminum I suggest you be very careful if you try to use a holesaw. The aluminum deck on mine is layed in with aluminum planks and if the holesaw were to sever a plank you could have a very lare problem. I would think that it would weaken the area and also could have the ends of the plank moving as water pressure hit it.

Just sayin'

Glenn

I have an aluminum deck also. Fortunately, both plugs fall between the aluminum cross-members. I'm going to first attempt to reach the plugs by contorting my arm to the point of dislocating my shoulder. If that doesn't work, then I don't see any easier way than cutting through the deck.

Thanks to everyone for the advice.
Darrell

 

[lmuss53]

Re: New Member - Used Sun Tracker w/ broken drain/vent plugs.

If you can get the water out maybe just seal the plug holes with RTV or Epoxy and wait for them to demand to be fixed. I would try RTV, it will hold up well and can be taken out if necessary. Maybe put a coffee stirrer type straw in first to vent the tube and RTV around that.