Advice on adding drain plugs
Posted: Tue Feb 21, 2023 8:56 am
Hello! So heading into my third summer with my 2015 Harris Solstice 220, and the second year of water in my toons. Yes, last year I took it to the dealer I bought it used from only to find out they had not re-registered the manufacturer's warranty as the owner's manual instructed - that's a long story for a different post. So paid to get the toons (yes both outside logs of the tri-toon) drained and supposedly the cracks patched. Did a full summer of boating, with her sitting in a lift in between weekends, and when I took her out in December... water again in the toons. Dealer says they have done all they are going to do for me so any repair will be full price, besides... can't see going back to a place that didn't get the job done right the first time. And not finding anyone who will take on the repair. 
So doing a lot of DIY research and thinking that I need to install drain plugs on each toon (if they have 'em I'm not finding them) to get the water out, then do the usual light air pressure and dish soap technique to find the cracks/water entry points and then use the liquid weld stuff to patch. Then thinking I'll just have to pump her out once a month if still having issues.
I've found multiple Utubes and articles about the finding the leak techniques, but not a lot about how to install a drain hole+plug. Where's the best place to put the hole? Are there any tricks to drilling into aluminum, or a pontoon for that matter? What type of plug is recommended? Do I need to pressurize the toon, add air afterwards? Any trick with that? How well will the liquid weld stuff hold up? Figured I'll have to go through this process at least yearly, so expect will have to "reapply" at some point. So I'm hoping some of the folks may have had to go this route as well, hence my post. Thoughts? Suggestions?
So doing a lot of DIY research and thinking that I need to install drain plugs on each toon (if they have 'em I'm not finding them) to get the water out, then do the usual light air pressure and dish soap technique to find the cracks/water entry points and then use the liquid weld stuff to patch. Then thinking I'll just have to pump her out once a month if still having issues. I've found multiple Utubes and articles about the finding the leak techniques, but not a lot about how to install a drain hole+plug. Where's the best place to put the hole? Are there any tricks to drilling into aluminum, or a pontoon for that matter? What type of plug is recommended? Do I need to pressurize the toon, add air afterwards? Any trick with that? How well will the liquid weld stuff hold up? Figured I'll have to go through this process at least yearly, so expect will have to "reapply" at some point. So I'm hoping some of the folks may have had to go this route as well, hence my post. Thoughts? Suggestions?
