Pontoon decking leaking???

[scubaclay]

Hey everyone, i have been searching and i cant find an answer for this anywhere. I just bought a 2007 24' Bentley and i have water coming up through the floor when im cruising. It bubbles under the carpet and looks like my boat is slowly peeing itself and spreads over the whole deck. It happens in the center of the boat on the 3rd seam of the decking. I have siliconed the rib underneath and tightened the screws on the rib to the deck but i am still getting a lot of water in. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Should i try and build a splash guard for the ribbing underneath. Has anyone ever had this problem before?

Clay

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Pontoon decking leaking???

IMO the only way water could be getting in would be through the seams between the plywood sheets which make up the deck. The water would be splashing up from the pontoons, which would be normal. Water penetration would not be. You could take up the carpet and deck and reseal all of it, but I would go a different route. There are previous posts (with photos) where other owners have plated in the underside of the deck to streamline the boat somewhat, reducing drag from water splashing against the ribs. This would improve your boat and fix your leaking at the same time, and less work than removing everything from the top.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Pontoon decking leaking???

Generally on pontoons the seems are on top of the crossmembers so I would make sure the screws or bolts haven't worked loose, yo shouldn't be getting water like that.

The deck on a toon is a major structural element, if yours is loose it will wear out alot faster so ccheck to make sure your deck is fastened to the crossmemvers still.

 

[lowell7963]

Re: Pontoon decking leaking???

You must be having excessive splashing under the boat, even if the seams were leaking. Have a qualified other person, drive the boat and look under it to see what the water is doing. I looked under mine and no water was spraying up on the deck under normal conditions.

Are you in hte ocean or where the wind is making large waves?

The other question is are you planed up properly, so that the tubes are level or the front is slightly raised. I am assuming you know that by raising the motor appropriately the front of the pontoon will raise, and reduce some splashing/spray.

 

[scubaclay]

Re: Pontoon decking leaking???

thanks for your replies:

I checked the decking and the structure underneath and had to tighten quite a bit of bolts. I noticed some nuts were missing so i replaced all those. I had an aluminum splash shield fabricated to deflect water from that area. I never take it in salt water and the lakes i use are very calm lakes with relatively small waves. I am going to recaulk / seal the area and install that splash shield and test it out. I will let you guys know how it works out.

Clay

 

[bruuuuce]

Re: Pontoon decking leaking???

Under skin the pontoon, that will solve that.

Also if your Bentley is like mine on the cross members they have splash shields on the braces, one of mine is missing and that is where I get splash up through the carpet, bet yours is the same way.

 

[scubaclay]

Re: Pontoon decking leaking???

thanks for all of your suggestions, took it out this weekend and problem is solved! I tightened all the nuts and bolts on the structure underneath. Some were very loose and some were just plain missing nuts. I used a maringe grade sealant on the rib that was leaking on the front and the back and i had a piece of 18 gauge aluminum bent into a splash shield. mounted that on the rib at the seam. no more leaking!!! Thanks again for all the suggestions!!

 

[rentprop1]

Re: Pontoon decking leaking???

I notice on mine that it will state as a small wet area then get bigger, it just looks like someone spilled water in the size of a quarter on the deck, then get bigger as we run, what I found was one of the T- style nuts has pulled down into the wood decking and thats where the water was entering from.