leaking pontoon

Discussion in 'Powerboats' started by astull, Oct 9, 2011.

  1. astull
    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posts: 15
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: Ford City PA

    astull astull

    Just pulled my 24 ft pontoon out today for the end of season I found out that I have water in my pontoons anyone have any ideas on on how to get the water out and how to find where it is leaking
     
  2. SheetWise
    Joined: Jul 2004
    Posts: 279
    Likes: 54, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 658
    Location: Phoenix

    SheetWise All Beach -- No Water.

    If you can pressurize it, soap and a brush will tell you. Maybe getting the water out and subsequently pressurizing the pontoon can be done using the same through hull -- are there supposed to be compartments in the pontoon?
     
  3. tunnels

    tunnels Previous Member

    What is the pontoon made of ?Glass , ?? look for a place that damaged or has a gdeep gouge or cut or any sort of damage any where . as already suggested soap and water and a brush and pressurize the pontoon . its got to be from water level down so look for the most likely !! :p
     
  4. Saildude
    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posts: 84
    Likes: 9, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 119
    Location: Seattle, Washington, USA

    Saildude Junior Member

    Don't know much about pontoons but I have seen containers that had a lot of water in them because water could build up around inspection plates and such in a puddle and then leaked in around a bad seal due to the heating and cooling of the tanks. Oil drums had this happen often when they had been opened and the bung not screwed back in all the way. So look for potential holes and cracks on the top side also.
     
  5. astull
    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posts: 15
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: Ford City PA

    astull astull

    thanks for most of your responses a guess i should have been more specific obviously I looked for the obvious damage where it could be leaking I need to know how to pressurize the pontoon dont really want to be doing something Im not supposed too
     
  6. Frog4
    Joined: Oct 2011
    Posts: 150
    Likes: 2, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 12
    Location: Arizona desert

    Frog4 Proletariat

    pretty simple, you are not going to pressurize it to the point of rupture, just enough to find the leak(s) ... hit up the auto parts store and find the rubber ended valve stems that are made for tubeless tires ... the drill a hole roughly the same diameter as the stem and the grease/lube up the valve stem and insert it into the hole. next go grab your handy tire inflator/compressor/bicycle pump and get to pumping ... you do have you bucket of soapy water ready to run over the seams (which is more than likely where your leak is) ...
     
  7. astull
    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posts: 15
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: Ford City PA

    astull astull

    where is the best place to drill the hole and are the pontoons sectioned off on the inside this is my first pontoon boat dont know much about them
     
  8. gonzo
    Joined: Aug 2002
    Posts: 16,790
    Likes: 1,714, Points: 123, Legacy Rep: 2031
    Location: Milwaukee, WI

    gonzo Senior Member

    What kind of a pontoon is it? Please specify make, model, etc.
     
  9. astull
    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posts: 15
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: Ford City PA

    astull astull

    24ft god frey aqua patio
     
  10. gonzo
    Joined: Aug 2002
    Posts: 16,790
    Likes: 1,714, Points: 123, Legacy Rep: 2031
    Location: Milwaukee, WI

    gonzo Senior Member

    Do they have a drain plug?
     
  11. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
    Posts: 19,126
    Likes: 498, Points: 93, Legacy Rep: 3967
    Location: Eustis, FL

    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    Most lower end pontoons (round, aluminum) use a plastic plug at the aft end (near the bottom) cap. They can crack, get damaged, break down from UV and generally are a crappy way of saving money at the factory. Pull both plugs (assuming two pontoons) and replace then with well lathered brass pipe plugs, from the local hardware store. Don't be shy about the anti seize on these plugs. Lastly, remove these plugs at the end of each season, let the accumulated condensation vent or run out, re-lather them with anti seize, then reinstall.

    In the old days, we called this sort of thing preventive maintenance and it was part of seasonal tasks aboard every boat. We actually looked for known problems, wear items/areas and changed out consumables, amazingly enough before they turned black or fell off. Ah, the good old days when a chamois gently removed the morning dew, before the sun could burn a spot into the bright work.
     
  12. Saildude
    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posts: 84
    Likes: 9, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 119
    Location: Seattle, Washington, USA

    Saildude Junior Member

    I like to use the thick Teflon Paste on pipe plugs. Seals well and can be taken apart. Also helps to cut down on dissimilar metal corrosion.
     
  13. PAR
    Joined: Nov 2003
    Posts: 19,126
    Likes: 498, Points: 93, Legacy Rep: 3967
    Location: Eustis, FL

    PAR Yacht Designer/Builder

    I've used both and I've seen those plastic (PVC and Teflon) plugs get broken in loading/unloading operations. I replace about a half a dozen of these things a year around here. I'm also animated about yearly R&R with the owners, most of whom are now still freshly scared they almost (or did) sink a pontoon. Teflon is a much better then the PVC ones that come from the factory.
     
  14. astull
    Joined: Jun 2011
    Posts: 15
    Likes: 0, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 10
    Location: Ford City PA

    astull astull

    do not believe there are any plugs on the bottom of the toons but there are 3 plugs along the top of each pontoon is this where in need to add air to check for leaks
     

  15. Frog4
    Joined: Oct 2011
    Posts: 150
    Likes: 2, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 12
    Location: Arizona desert

    Frog4 Proletariat

    double check for those "plugs" ...
     
Loading...
Forum posts represent the experience, opinion, and view of individual users. Boat Design Net does not necessarily endorse nor share the view of each individual post.
When making potentially dangerous or financial decisions, always employ and consult appropriate professionals. Your circumstances or experience may be different.