Pitting On Aluminum Pontoons

[Coast Ranger]

I'm looking at a pontoon boat where the bottom half of the pontoons were painted with black paint. The paint has almost completely worn away. The surface that was painted shows extensive pitting and flaking in the aluminum. It's uniform across all the painted surfaces. The tops of the pontoons were not painted and have no degradation at all. It would appear the flaking doesn't go more than about 1/32". The boat is a 2001 Bently if that might shed some light on the thickness of the aluminum used for the pontoons.

The paint was put on the boat more than 10 years ago. I assume the oxidation was a result of the paint. After so many years would you think the process has played out and is no longer occurring? Would you think the pontoons would be OK if the remaining paint was removed and the bottom of the pontoons sealed? Or am I looking at trouble a few years down the road.

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Thanks,

CR

 

[Bondo]

Re: Pitting On Aluminum Pontoons

Or am I looking at trouble a few years down the road.

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,..... I hate to say it, but I'd think yer lookin' at replacin' the tubes....

Possibly that bottom paint had copper in it, 'n it's eaten the aluminum....

Donno how thick the metal is They use,... tinboats in general run from 'bout .060" on up...

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Pitting On Aluminum Pontoons

^+1 copper and aluminum dont play nice together. the aluminum becomes sacrificial to save the copper.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Pitting On Aluminum Pontoons

Welcome to iboats.

Walk away from this one no matrter how cheap it is, it may not leak now but it will soon and the only fix is a new set of tubes, there is nothing you can do to repair the tubes.

Most tubes are .080 which is less than 1/8'' so if it is pitted to a 32nd it is more than halfway through the tube plus that many holes in it has weakend the tubes so if you should hit something there sin't as much there to stand up to the hit, walk on this one unless it is close to free.

 

[Coast Ranger]

Re: Pitting On Aluminum Pontoons

Thanks for the help guys. I declined the boat. I rationalized that the metal was compromised where the oxidation took place. It would be easy to imagine hitting a stump or the dock, or even just pulling up on the beach and knocking a hole in or collapsing a section of the pontoon.

I'll keep looking and find another deal before long. I've already got my eye on a boat that seems to have some sun fading on the vinyl as the only problem. A bit more than I wanted to pay, but it requires a lot less TLC and is water ready as it sits.

Thanks again,

CR