Water in Pontoons!

[Snake334]

I have a question about water in my tubes. My pontoon is an older boat that was completely refurbished last year. The tubes were gone over and no holes were found. The only problem was the drains on the back of the tubes (U shaped pontoons) looked worn. I replaced the drains and inserts with new brass plugs sealed with 3M 5200. The tops of the tubes are sealed with no plugs or holes. These were also checked last summer when the boat was stripped down to the crossmembers. When we take the boat out on the lake, sometimes the tubes get water in them, and sometimes they don't. It doesn't seem to matter how many people I have on the boat. I can't figure out why it gets water in them on one day, but stays dry the next. It does this on both sides. You might get water out of one tube or the other, both, or neither. I have got underneath while its in the water and checked each tube from front to back to see if there is something being hidden by the trailer bunks, but still have found nothing. Is there something else I need to be looking at, or checking out? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[DavenLC]

Re: Water in Pontoons!

We had leaks on the one of my toon's and we searched and searched. Used soapy-water solution and pressurized the toon. No leaks found around the seams. Finally one day, I decided to raise the toon off the trailer with a floor jack and a block of wood. there it was! a hole the size of a pencil lead right where the bolt that attaches the bunk to the trailer. The previous owner used regular steel bolts and caused the corrosion effect.

We re-worked the bunks with new carpet and stainless steel bolts sunk into the wood deeper and called in a welder to patch the holes.

HTH

 

[BatDaddy1887]

Re: Water in Pontoons!

...squirt some fix-a-flat in the tubes...............just kidding!

DavenLC's method of pressure and soapy water seem to be the best way to detect leaks, just use about 4lbs of pressure or you risk the chance of a seam popping or even a grand explosion (see sticky: YIKES). Good luck.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Water in Pontoons!

Most U shaped pontoons are foam filled. It is very important to get ALL the water out. If the foam becomes waterlogged you then have a very BIG problem.

 

[Snake334]

Re: Water in Pontoons!

I always keep the drain plugs out when its trailered. I only install the plugs when its in the water. Its not kept on the water. I also park it on a small incline so any water that is in there can drain. I don't think the foam is water logged, I can put a piece of wire thru the drain and move the foam block thats inside. It doesn't take up the entire space. What I'm thinking about doing is just pulling each tube, put it on a couple of saw horses and polish it up and do an inspection that way. I don't know what else to try.

 

[VaGent]

Re: Water in Pontoons!

Since you are going to strip the pontoon down & polish the logs, it would be a great time to pressure test them. you can get all the fittings PLUS a 3 PSI gauge for around $30.00 & do it yourself if you have an air compressor. I just found out I had a leak on the starboard log just below the drain plug when I had a welder install a transducer bracket for me. When I installed the pressure gauge & applied 1-1/2 lbs of air I found very fast. I could hear it leaking but I applied some soap bubbles just to make sure & that is exactly where it was. Am getting it repaired this week. You can get the gauge from WW GRAINGER CO for $24.00 & the galvanized fittings can all be bought at any big box store or hardware store. I used TEFLON tape to seal all the threads before I installed them. Here is the setup I used on mine. Just be sure to not put more then 3 lbs of pressure in the logs when testing them to be on the SAFE side. I forgot to mention my logs are "U" shaped too but i do NOT have any foam in mine.

My plugs are 1/2" NPT (national pipe thread) so I reduced them down to 1/4" NPT & used all galvanized 1/4" pipe & fittings. The scharder valve (air valve) can be bought the same as the other fittings. I got everything I needed at ACE hardware & ordered the gauge from online. The part number for the gauge is 2RHF7 which is GRAINGER's part number.