New Pontoon

[jmwsd]

I just bought my first pontoon although I am not new to boating. It is a 1999Crestliner 2085lsi with a 90hp Evenrude. It runs great. I am experiencing water coming through the deck. It seems like it is coming from the screw holes. It is enough to soak most of the carpet after a long ride. It has a gate on the side and it seems to come from under there too. Has anyone experienced this problem? I tried putting some bathroom caulk around some of the screws and where the deck meets the beams. This boat has paneling in the back only, bare wood is showing from about the middle to the front.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: New Pontoon

i think it's time to pull some carpet and see what's under it.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: New Pontoon

Most times it's coming from the joints where the plywood meets. So starting at the back of the boat, measure 4' toward the front and at that crossmember will be a joint, as will another and another at 4' intervals. Silicone caulk applied at the crossmembers at the joints may help, but outside of really getting into the plywood, there's no guarentee it will work. What does work is underskinning the bottom of the deck with aluminum sheeting. Not cheap, but it stops all the water from hitting the bottom of the plywood and makes for a much smoother ride due to the water not slapping the crossmembers. Some have also placed small metal diverters just ahead of the crossmembers where the joints are to deflect the water with some success too...

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: New Pontoon

I tried putting some bathroom caulk around some of the screws and where the deck meets the beams.

Bathroom caulk has a life expectancy of 2 trips on a boat. You should invest in some 3M 4200 or 5200.

I have never had a pontoon, but I have seen some fins that go on the logs that are supposed to provide lift and deflect some of the spray.​

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: New Pontoon

Just a thought,If the plywood is in good shape what about that 3M spray undercoating? it would waterproof it..
I have used it to coat plywood on my trailers carpeted inner fender wells and it holds up great.

 

[jmwsd]

Re: New Pontoon

I may just go ahead and do the aluminum panels all the way through. What is the 3M spray that Gary is talking about?

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: New Pontoon

As moisture will surely get in from the top, the problem with the undercoating spray is that it would tend to trap moisture in the wood and not let it dry out as it should. The wood needs to have air flow all around it...