Vent tubes? Pontoon questions.

Message

pkwatch · #1 Post by **pkwatch** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 10:19 am

Hello, all.

I am a new member here, and I have some questions please.

Just purchased my first pontoon, 1991 18ft. Landau.

Aluminum pontoons do not appear to be in sealed sections. Water is in right pontoon. When I lift the trailor tongue, the water rushes ALL the way to the back of the pontoon.

There are no drain plugs.

On the TOP of each pontoon, about 2 ft back from the front, is a tube welded onto the top of the pontoon. It sticks upward about 3 inches. It is welded onto the pontoon.
Appears to be made of copper or brass. Very difficult to see, and even harder to get to.
It sticks up to within about 1 inch of the bottom of the wood deck.
The top of this tube is squeezed/pinched nearly shut.

When I lift to boat to cause the water to rush to the rear of the pontoon, air escapes from this tube.

The only way I can see to access this tube is to either remove the front piece of floor decking, or to cut an access hole in the wood floor decking.

What is the purpose of this tube?
Is it just a vent of some kind?
Is there an easier way to access it?
Is this tube supposed to be airtight, or slightly vented?
Should I add drain holes and plugs to the pontoons.

Thanks in advance for any guidance and assistance.
Your suggestions and comments are both welcome and appreciated.

Fred

Lindsay90 · #2 Post by **Lindsay90** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 12:24 pm

Welcome to the site! I know nothing about the boat you have but water is bad when it is in the tubes. It does sound like you have a hole in your pontoon may be around your welds? Anyways just wanted to say welcome.

#3 Post by **HandymanHerb** » Fri Jul 20, 2007 4:51 pm

It a vent , cut a hole above and remove it and you can drop and hose in the toon and suck on the hose to get the water flowing or since you going to be going to a welder to fix you leak, you can have him install plugs in your toon

pkwatch · #4 Post by **pkwatch** » Mon Jul 23, 2007 9:04 am

Thanks to all for the welcome and the replies.
Cannot believe how dumb I am on some of these things.

Found out the pontoons are u-shaped, flat on the top.

Found the drain plugs. I was looking for plugs extending out, these were flush mount, with allen key holes.

Got the water drained. About 1 or 2 quarts from right pontoon, about 30-40 GALLONs from left.

Got the boat stripped down to the deck. Going to remove deck next, clean up the pontoons, then hopefully find the leaks.

Fred