removing the top plugs on your toons

[toondog]

Im prob going with the doc on this one....
I like the idea of lowering a fishing line and weight in there to check for water too!
I'll let you all know what happens!

Fishing line will work, but something like kite string would be easier to tell how much water you have.

[WaltF]

Good call!

[toondog]

Update???

[WaltF]

Not Yet!!
Been either too lazy, or too snowy!

Soon though! Certainly within the next couple weeks as its almost time to drop her back into the slip!

Im not too concerned if there is some water in there....
If there is, it's certainly not getting in there quickly. The thing would have sunk by now since it sits in the water for almost half the year at a time, for the last 2 years.

Im thinking, if there is some in there, its only getting in there while underway... ie when im hauling along and water is splashing up and its entering in from the top somewhere, like at an 'M' bracket weld... Its not leaking while just sitting in the slip.

So if i find a bit in there, ill prob just siphon it out, seal it back up, and deal with it after this summer season....

[WaltF]

Update!

Ok, i removed the plugs on the toons, and air wooshed out on all 4 sections. Good sign.
I crimped a little split weight on a string and lowered it into each section and pulled it back out to see if there was any water in there.
Both front sections, dry.
Both rear sections, wet.
hmmm.... just alittle wet.... maybe a 1/4 inch or so... not much.

So, this is what im thinking...
Since each section wooshed out air when opened, if there is a leak, it sure cant be much of one.
Maybe at a weld joint on the M bracket somewhere, that only leaks when at WOT and water is splashing around?
Maybe no leak at all, and all it is is condensation?

Either way, im not gonna sweat it this season!
Its going in the slip in 2 weeks, full steam ahead for a great summer!

Then in the fall when it comes back out for the winter, ill readdress the issue and go from there!

[dockholiday]

sounds like you are in good shape. If there was a small leak you probably could never find it, but if you had pressure build up in all chambers probably don't even have a small one.

doc

[FloterBoter]

i have three nylon plugs on each side. i pull 'em about once a year with no problems.

pressure in all sections means you probably have no leak. a little moisture may be from condensation if those sections were sealed on a humid day.

in the future, just pull the plugs on a cool, dry day and replace them when it's coolest but still dry.

it's very easy to check for leaks--just add a schroeder valve to a plug or jerry rig/tape your air compressor hose into one plug hole with the other plugs in place. pressurize to 1 or 2 psi. use a sponge or squirt bottle to put soapy water all over that section. growing bubbles will show you the leaks immediately. it's really obvious. been there, done that.

make sure you don't overpressurize the tube. if it fails to the side, we may be wondering why you stopped posting here.

edit--btw, you can spread soapy water along the exposed parts of your toons while floating around as the day is getting hotter. do the toon facing the sun. if you use biodegradable detergent, maybe the fine won't be too bad.

[WaltF]

Good Info!
This site ROCKS!

[jimrs]

Walt if I had a 1/4" of water in my toons after 3 years I would sell that POS. Remember the Titanic it went down like a rock when it got water inside.

I think that the water you have is not from leaks but just condensation. I would check it in the summer and see if it still has that much water.

The winter is too long and we get these hairbrained ideas about our boats cause we can't use them. And come up with all sorts of what if's.

[WaltF]

Walt if I had a 1/4" of water in my toons after 3 years I would sell that POS.

I dont care who you are, thats funny right there!

[jhaas]

I own an aluminum weld shop and weld those things for Cabela's. You can take those plugs out anytime you want to, and you don't need teflon tape or pipe dope to put em back in. If you look at em close they are pipe tapered. If you ever hear water in your logs (shake em on the trailer is the easiest) look for cracks at the rear of the logs about 2 feet up where the INNER support stops. It will be along the weld and continue around the corner of the support to the log 9 times out of 10. The logs take the most abuse on the rear when boating, and cracks usually form at that spot and will let water in.

[WaltF]

Good info! Thanks!