Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

If my pontoon boat hits something that punctures a pontoon and water begins to fill the pontoon will the boat sink? Or will it just list to one side? Anyone with experience or heard any stories of such a case?

Thankfully I've never done this. But to my knowledge you won't sink. A hole won't compromise both toons and many toons are sectioned so it may not even compromise the whole of the punctured toon. It will create list, and compromise your efficiency through the water but it won't be enough to sink the boat or require you to swim home.

Wiser more experienced people may correct me but that's my understanding.

Thanks for your reply. I didn't think about the pontoons be partitioned. I hope they are.

What boat do you have? Round logs are chambered where U logs usually have foam inside.
I had a leak in my Tracker and was to lazy to have it fixed, I used a SS screw with rubber washer to keep most of the water out. I did this for 3 years till I got it welded.

So you wont sink

Thornback wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 30, 2021 7:28 am

Thanks for your reply. I didn't think about the pontoons be partitioned. I hope they are.

Did you actually hit something and put a hole in it? What’s your situation?

jediger wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 30, 2021 12:55 pm

Thornback wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 30, 2021 7:28 am

Thanks for your reply. I didn't think about the pontoons be partitioned. I hope they are.

Did you actually hit something and put a hole in it? What’s your situation?

I see a 2' x 2' dent in the rear, inside, lower part, of my starboard pontoon. You have to look under the boat to see it and then because of the reflective nature of the pontoons it's still hard to detect. I don't see how I could have made such a dent by running straight down a river. Something had to have made contact on the lower, inside, back, of the pontoon and push against it. I have had the boat for only 3 months and just noticed the dent. It could have been there when I picked the boat up.

yes I hit a rock by ramp

Thornback wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 30, 2021 1:06 pm

jediger wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 30, 2021 12:55 pm

Thornback wrote: ↑

Tue Mar 30, 2021 7:28 am

Thanks for your reply. I didn't think about the pontoons be partitioned. I hope they are.

Did you actually hit something and put a hole in it? What’s your situation?

I see a 2' x 2' dent in the rear, inside, lower part, of my starboard pontoon. You have to look under the boat to see it and then because of the reflective nature of the pontoons it's still hard to detect. I don't see how I could have made such a dent by running straight down a river. Something had to have made contact on the lower, inside, back, of the pontoon and push against it. I have had the boat for only 3 months and just noticed the dent. It could have been there when I picked the boat up.

Do you have your boat stored at a marina where they use a forklift to put in and take out boats?

My boat is stored in my yard on the trailer.

Would it have sunk? Dunno, didn't give it a chance. Thirty plus years ago, we were in the middle of Lake Lanier on my in-laws rag of a pontoon, when it started taking water into one of the logs. We rode lower and lower in the water, until I ask my brother-in-law if he realized we were sinking. Low enough in the water to put the engine cowl in the water. We made it to one of the park boat ramp and where the boat settled to the bottom on the ramp. Hired a guy that night to come out and retrieve the boat to clear the ramp, and later he drained and plugged the hole.

Each of my toons is chambered, so worst that can happen is I drag around an extra few hundred pounds of water. That happened too. Middle toon, front chamber. $1300 to repair. All covered under mfg hull warranty.