pontoon integrity

[hazben]

Considering the purchase of an 03 20' Weers Pontoon boat with a 50hp Yamaha. The boat was at times left in saltwater or at least brackish water for an unknown amount of time. The pontoons are not dented at all but, the paint is lifting off the pontoons. It appears the pontoons were painted with some type of aluminum primer then some type of bottom paint was applied. The primer paint is what is peeling off the aluminum. How concerned should I be about this? Any other suggestions on what else to check on this boat? Thanks for the help!

 

[5150abf]

Re: pontoon integrity

It may be as simple as they didn't use the right primer, it is really hard to get paint to stick to aluminum.

Look at where the paint is coming off and see if it is corroded at all, if it is still smooth metal I think it is fine.

Of coarse have the engine looked at and maybe they could air check the tubes also other than that not much to wrong with a toon.

 

[chaos]

Re: pontoon integrity

What if the metal is rough under the peeling primer? Is that an indication of metal corrosion?

 

[5150abf]

Re: pontoon integrity

Aluminum is like copper, it gets a layer of corrosion on it and that actually stops it from going any further, anodizing is actually forced corrosion, so it won't go completely through like steel does.

There is electrolisis which is different, that will have little tiny "piles" of white chalky stuff and it will go all the way through and is normally caused by having an electric current running through the boat.

Boats are suppose to have closed electrical systems, all the power runs through wires as opposed to a car with a chassis ground.

Pics would help if you can get them up but I really think the paint just let go of the metal which is very common with aluminum, for whatever reason paint won't stick to it without an etching primer underneath the paint.

 

[hazben]

Re: pontoon integrity

Thanks for the information. Will post back and let you know what we decide about the boat. Thanks again.