I been welding pontoon boats and tuna towers for 22 year's . Started out with a spool gun now I run an ESAB rebel 205 ac tig an run it of my trailblazer . A little trick when you have water running out like that I carry quarter inch aluminum rod and I Only drill a 3/16th hole . That way you can bevel the end of the rod slightly and tap into the hole and weld around the outside edge of it and cut it off. Kind of like a cork in a bottle.
Would pressurising it slightly to like 3-5 psi help with draining? When you only have 1 hole, water egress and air ingress must be constantly fighting and pulling a slight vacuum? Or would that introduce too much new moisture?
@@willhall7777 Hold an air blow gun (preferably rubber tipped) onto the hole, pressurize, remove blow gun? The hole can be used both ways, for pressurising (blow gun) and draining 😉
I bought a spool gun to work on my son's aluminum boat. That's an experience. First, i realize the importance of getting oxidation and paint off first and how important it was compared to steel. Then making sure when you check for leaks it's completely dry before welding back over the leaks i thought were patched with my tacks. Also remember if you use acetone, you don't forget where the rag is left when you start welding. If not the intense heat you feel with your helmet on while welding will quickly remind you. Live and learn.
Another issue with acetone is if enough of it gets inside the pontoon it becomes a bomb. I had a pontoon exploded in my face about 10 years ago from exactly this.
Those sun trackers usually have a half compartment at the very back of both toons that will hold a few gallons of water. I always drill a hole at the bottom at the end cap then a hole on the bottom about 8 or 10 inches from the back of the toon to get all the water out of third compartment. I wouldn't hesitate to drill multiple holes in a compartment with a ton of water just never bigger than 3/16". Taking the plug out of the top of the pontoon will help it drain much faster as well and make it easier to weld up your drain holes too. Awesome video, keep'em coming!
Thanks for the stop and go skill of welding thin material. I had a Trailblazer in 1988 and welded alum. truck frame rails. Went to Legend's for truck road service, for ac at idle and batt. charging. It wore out. So now I have a air pack Bobcat 200. Just purchased a spool gun and having to relearn some old skills. So very timely tutorial on welding thin material. Thanks! Redding Calif.
You fixed an aft platform and outboard motor mount for California Parks. You did a great job. The round tubing at the edge of rear decking is kind of important on a pleasure or fishing boat. Grounding lines, fishing line. , even anchor chains slide over a round tube radius at the edges much easier without damage or breakage. Also, round tubing is easier on hands if you have to tug or lug on the boat. I not critical about your repair, just thought I’d mention considering the tubing for anything you might do in the future.
Just a little tip if you have to do another job like this again where you have to drain the water out of pontoons. The water will drain much faster if you drill another small hole on top of the pontoon chamber you're trying to drain. It's like house plumbing that needs vents to drain properly. No vent, drains very slow because the air pressure isn't stabilized to match the pressure outside the pontoon. Kinda like when you see people poke holes in beer cans, nothing comes out until they open the can of beer, lol.
Nice job. I repair a lot of pontoons myself.. the little trick that I do is if I'm welding a hole on the bottom in the front of the boat I will Jack it up at a steep angle that way all the water will roll to the back if I'm welding on the back I will put the nose of the boat down so the water all drains forward. Anyway just a little trick I use. But anyway good job
Ohhh boy, welding aluminum is a different thing it self. I worked in a foundry in maintenance,we had a portable weld cart set where we could run stick , mig , tig & air arc & plazma.
5 gallon buckets saves from the mud. I took 35 gallons out of the last 1 I did. There were 2 sections had bungs welded in with screw in plugs. I gtaw welded the 1 I did. I had to fix a hole slew of crap someone else put on it and the guy didn’t know it when he bought it the boat was in the water didn’t see it but got curios when he got a call from the lake saying his boat is sinking…. Hmmm. I think I’d rather do good clean aluminum all day compared to some of the steel jobs I get. Carry on good sir ti s a fine job you be doing. Love the rig and plasma cutter I have a 1000 power max but just don’t have the umph I think it should.
I did a job like this yesterday. All my welds were globular balls. Ugly ass welds. I did preheat to 200° and cleaned with a wire brush. I just Couldn’t get my wire into spray mode. Running a 110 multiprocessor miller 200. First time using a 100’ extension cord. Afterwards I think that was my issue. Because I’ve done other aluminum jobs and my welder was able to get into spray mode. 25V 300 IPM .030 dia. However this was my first time over head
Im haveing to do a very similar repair right now.. weld seam cracked about 4 inches from hitting stump.. i drilled hole in bottom to drain. Just curious of machine settings you used? I was running 22/440 but had some issues, mostly near area with water. Gonna use torch tomorrow like you did and see if it does better
I don’t remember my settings but I always bring a thin scrap piece to test/set the welder on. If the pontoon is really dirty inside that will be your biggest problem.
Trackers....avoid like the plague, they go cheap on the pontoon thickness. Even older pontoons I've seen scuffs, dents and scratches and still hold water better than these new Trackers. Good welding!
Takes some skill to weld that shit with a spool gun. I just finished a similar repair yesterday that someone else "tried to fix" which is always fun. if you need them to drain quick a lot of them will have plugs on the top that are hand tight pop that out when you drain and weld it will help drain and help with blow back. You may still get water permeation on that first toon if the tear continued past the 90 Degree bend but for off the back of the truck great work.
Actually just had my first aluminum experience welding on a real u jacked up aluminum boat trailer, what a pain in the ass! Lol I eventually got it and realized the importance of cleaning the material, it was a learning experience though, I’ll know for next time.
I know ya gotta do what ya gotta do. I did much the same kind of "brute force" body work and now I have two artificial shoulders at 75. Doc said I just wore em out.... Ah the young, LOL.
Another option would have been to use a ball been hammer and dimple the hole up into the pontoon to stop the drip then fill the dimple. What ever works int the field. What are you running your spool gun off of from your engine driven machine?
considering the beating those things take and the ease which aluminium cracks, I cant believe they dont have drain plugs in those pontoons. Hole in top would have helped them drain a lot quicker.
The bulkheads inside the last pontoon I replaced the nose on weren't welded fully and had holes in them to allow water to flow between compartments. There was a drain plug at the back so all I had to do was lift the front up high enough to drain it all.
🤣 The fin was completely separated from the pontoon - front, sides, and rear. A large open hole in the pontoon. How did you seal up the rear of that hole, under the fin? The welding material you applied was certainly not runny enough to get under that fin.
#1. Pressure test both drain holes all brackets and keel...soap and water like a tire no more then 3# separate chambers separate leaks #2 the Crack on the fin often gose behind the weld ask me how I know... #3 get a dynasty 210 #4 welding on rental pontoons is a huge liability! Families lives at risk.. hope you have good insurance.. Hope this helps...I remember my first time
@@runvs7470sounds like they should have just called you. Don’t need a dynasty. I could have tig welded it if chose to. And I did everything on your check list, it’s not my first rodeo. Just because it’s not in the video doesn’t mean it didn’t happen!
I been welding pontoon boats and tuna towers for 22 year's . Started out with a spool gun now I run an ESAB rebel 205 ac tig an run it of my trailblazer . A little trick when you have water running out like that I carry quarter inch aluminum rod and I Only drill a 3/16th hole . That way you can bevel the end of the rod slightly and tap into the hole and weld around the outside edge of it and cut it off. Kind of like a cork in a bottle.
Very good idea
Would pressurising it slightly to like 3-5 psi help with draining? When you only have 1 hole, water egress and air ingress must be constantly fighting and pulling a slight vacuum? Or would that introduce too much new moisture?
That’s incredibly smart. Going to use that this spring.
@@vewo234 no pressure in it. it already has a hole.
@@willhall7777 Hold an air blow gun (preferably rubber tipped) onto the hole, pressurize, remove blow gun?
The hole can be used both ways, for pressurising (blow gun) and draining 😉
I bought a spool gun to work on my son's aluminum boat. That's an experience. First, i realize the importance of getting oxidation and paint off first and how important it was compared to steel. Then making sure when you check for leaks it's completely dry before welding back over the leaks i thought were patched with my tacks. Also remember if you use acetone, you don't forget where the rag is left when you start welding. If not the intense heat you feel with your helmet on while welding will quickly remind you. Live and learn.
Another issue with acetone is if enough of it gets inside the pontoon it becomes a bomb. I had a pontoon exploded in my face about 10 years ago from exactly this.
Those sun trackers usually have a half compartment at the very back of both toons that will hold a few gallons of water. I always drill a hole at the bottom at the end cap then a hole on the bottom about 8 or 10 inches from the back of the toon to get all the water out of third compartment. I wouldn't hesitate to drill multiple holes in a compartment with a ton of water just never bigger than 3/16". Taking the plug out of the top of the pontoon will help it drain much faster as well and make it easier to weld up your drain holes too. Awesome video, keep'em coming!
Thanks for the stop and go skill of welding thin material. I had a Trailblazer in 1988 and welded alum. truck frame rails. Went to Legend's for truck road service, for ac at idle and batt. charging. It wore out. So now I have a air pack Bobcat 200. Just purchased a spool gun and having to relearn some old skills. So very timely tutorial on welding thin material.
Thanks! Redding Calif.
You fixed an aft platform and outboard motor mount for California Parks. You did a great job. The round tubing at the edge of rear decking is kind of important on a pleasure or fishing boat. Grounding lines, fishing line. , even anchor chains slide over a round tube radius at the edges much easier without damage or breakage. Also, round tubing is easier on hands if you have to tug or lug on the boat. I not critical about your repair, just thought I’d mention considering the tubing for anything you might do in the future.
Interesting. Skill and knowledge required. Welding is no joke. From Cat 637’s to pontoon boots. Looks like you gotta know your shXt!
Been missing your videos. Glad you are back on line
Just a little tip if you have to do another job like this again where you have to drain the water out of pontoons. The water will drain much faster if you drill another small hole on top of the pontoon chamber you're trying to drain. It's like house plumbing that needs vents to drain properly. No vent, drains very slow because the air pressure isn't stabilized to match the pressure outside the pontoon. Kinda like when you see people poke holes in beer cans, nothing comes out until they open the can of beer, lol.
Nice job. I repair a lot of pontoons myself.. the little trick that I do is if I'm welding a hole on the bottom in the front of the boat I will Jack it up at a steep angle that way all the water will roll to the back if I'm welding on the back I will put the nose of the boat down so the water all drains forward. Anyway just a little trick I use. But anyway good job
Nice fix Greg, I'm looking at a spool gun setup in the near future. Thanks for sharing and keep up the great work 👍.
you will not regret a spool gun purchase.....
Ohhh boy, welding aluminum is a different thing it self.
I worked in a foundry in maintenance,we had a portable weld cart set where we could run stick , mig , tig & air arc & plazma.
Great job, wish we could get a rig tour of that monster truck you got!
just the Medication I need on Tuesday...thank you so much
5 gallon buckets saves from the mud. I took 35 gallons out of the last 1 I did. There were 2 sections had bungs welded in with screw in plugs. I gtaw welded the 1 I did. I had to fix a hole slew of crap someone else put on it and the guy didn’t know it when he bought it the boat was in the water didn’t see it but got curios when he got a call from the lake saying his boat is sinking…. Hmmm. I think I’d rather do good clean aluminum all day compared to some of the steel jobs I get. Carry on good sir ti s a fine job you be doing. Love the rig and plasma cutter I have a 1000 power max but just don’t have the umph I think it should.
Throughly enjoyed this repair. What wire did u use? What parameters also? I’m hoping to get a few jobs here in Michigan.
4043 .035. 100% argon. I don’t remember the voltage settings
I did a job like this yesterday. All my welds were globular balls. Ugly ass welds. I did preheat to 200° and cleaned with a wire brush.
I just Couldn’t get my wire into spray mode. Running a 110 multiprocessor miller 200. First time using a 100’ extension cord. Afterwards I think that was my issue. Because I’ve done other aluminum jobs and my welder was able to get into spray mode. 25V 300 IPM .030 dia. However this was my first time over head
Im haveing to do a very similar repair right now.. weld seam cracked about 4 inches from hitting stump.. i drilled hole in bottom to drain. Just curious of machine settings you used? I was running 22/440 but had some issues, mostly near area with water. Gonna use torch tomorrow like you did and see if it does better
I don’t remember my settings but I always bring a thin scrap piece to test/set the welder on. If the pontoon is really dirty inside that will be your biggest problem.
Trackers....avoid like the plague, they go cheap on the pontoon thickness. Even older pontoons I've seen scuffs, dents and scratches and still hold water better than these new Trackers. Good welding!
Takes some skill to weld that shit with a spool gun.
I just finished a similar repair yesterday that someone else "tried to fix" which is always fun.
if you need them to drain quick a lot of them will have plugs on the top that are hand tight pop that out when you drain and weld it will help drain and help with blow back.
You may still get water permeation on that first toon if the tear continued past the 90 Degree bend but for off the back of the truck great work.
Adjust the trailer jack so the water runs to the holes to drain and away from the holes to weld.
A little R and R on the job never hurt nobody!!!! Bad A.. aluminum welding on those pontoons!
Nice bit of work. Maybe for the one that leaked so much, put a hole on the top side and put a few PSI air pressure in it?
Not a bad idea. Maybe next time I will try that.
With pontoons being so thin, how do you keep from punching thru?
It’s all in the technique. And it’s a real pain in the but sometimes.
cool head gear!
best part is watching you cast from that big ole rock
Supplementary fishing channel?
Good work. Interesting challenge!!
man those are thin.. good job , keep the vids rolling.. enjoyed
Actually just had my first aluminum experience welding on a real u jacked up aluminum boat trailer, what a pain in the ass! Lol I eventually got it and realized the importance of cleaning the material, it was a learning experience though, I’ll know for next time.
I know ya gotta do what ya gotta do. I did much the same kind of "brute force" body work and now I have two artificial shoulders at 75. Doc said I just wore em out.... Ah the young, LOL.
Another option would have been to use a ball been hammer and dimple the hole up into the pontoon to stop the drip then fill the dimple. What ever works int the field. What are you running your spool gun off of from your engine driven machine?
I ran the spool gun off of my 220 AC/DC. The material was very thin and a dimple could have worked but maybe require a little more weld.
Can also jam a blowoff gun in to backfill/pressurize the “tank” to help offset the vacuum from draining. It’ll spit but be a lil faster.
Did you fix all the sources of the water in the different chambers? How thick were these chambers? What wire did you use type and size?
Nice Job.
I checked every chamber. Each pontoon had 3 chambers. The aluminum was very thin. Maybe 12 ga. I used 4043 wire .035 100% argon.
Ya patiently wait while fishing! Lol awesome
Nice repairs! Thanks for sharing! 👍wish you could have caught a fish!! lol!
Nice repair! What are you powering the spool gun with?
Miller 220 AC/DC
😀 👏 👏 from 83441lbs CAT to an aluminium pontoon boat. 👍
You were working and fishing! I just retired. I think I'll just fish.
Nice Job brother.
Greg, where is your business located?
Clovis California
Living the DreaM on the Lake..........
This one with a crooked tip, you didn't show how to do it, I have one of these to fix this weekend, if possible have tips, thank you
I would heat it up a little then tap it into place. It’s likely to crack a little.
considering the beating those things take and the ease which aluminium cracks, I cant believe they dont have drain plugs in those pontoons. Hole in top would have helped them drain a lot quicker.
I thought they usually had drain plugs. It makes sense to put one in there. Manufacturers are getting cheap.
Awsome
Camera also at got soaked. You’ll have to call it wet and wild welding.😆
Hey do you remember the wire and setting for this?
Sorry I don’t.
The bulkheads inside the last pontoon I replaced the nose on weren't welded fully and had holes in them to allow water to flow between compartments. There was a drain plug at the back so all I had to do was lift the front up high enough to drain it all.
I don’t think these were fully welded either. But unfortunately there was no drain plug.
Just wondering why you used a spool gun as opposed to a tig? Great job by the way.✌👍😃
I could have used either one. I thought the spool gun might have given me a slight advantage with the dirty/wet material and the awkward position.
🤣 The fin was completely separated from the pontoon - front, sides, and rear. A large open hole in the pontoon. How did you seal up the rear of that hole, under the fin? The welding material you applied was certainly not runny enough to get under that fin.
There was just enough gap that I was able to weld behind it from the top and bottom.
How many years have you been on your own?
Around 10 years
dude the aspect ratio? u reminiscing on HBO's The Wire? 🤣
Ever think of bringing a peice of gutter with you to divert it from your work area
Nah. Not in this situation
Boop... borked the 69th comment number to an even 70... lol
Wonder if you could use like a small shop vac next time suck the water out of the tanks
I think that would still leave the area around the holes wet.
shaver lake?
Hunington lake.
why didn't you tap it and plug it?
Because the material was super thin and that would not have worked. I did offer to weld on some threaded bungs but he didn’t want to do that.
Shasta?
Huntington lake
Jack up the front
That will still leak from the crack under the fin.
It was welded
That wire wheel on aluminum will eat your lunch…, won’t it 😏!
....and your gloves and jacket as well....😲😆😆
Well darn it if you could of caught a fish it would have been a very successful day.
I'd put $ on it still leaks...
Well you would lose that money.
#1. Pressure test both drain holes all brackets and keel...soap and water like a tire no more then 3# separate chambers separate leaks
#2 the Crack on the fin often gose behind the weld ask me how I know...
#3 get a dynasty 210
#4 welding on rental pontoons is a huge liability! Families lives at risk.. hope you have good insurance..
Hope this helps...I remember my first time
@@runvs7470sounds like they should have just called you. Don’t need a dynasty. I could have tig welded it if chose to. And I did everything on your check list, it’s not my first rodeo. Just because it’s not in the video doesn’t mean it didn’t happen!
PacNorWest. My guess was Texas...oh, you left us on a fishy cliffhanger.
heating its batter using fire torch