Whether you’re an avid ‘boatie’ who uses their pontoon to get out on the water every weekend or your pontoon came with your house and is rarely used, either way, the sheer constant thrashing of water will cause significant wear and tear, aging your pontoon and at times, damaging it.
Like everything, pontoons have a limited life span. Sure, regular use may reduce a pontoon’s longevity. However, if not regularly maintained, the life span of a pontoon will significantly reduce. Often to such a point that it is better to be replaced than repaired.
As pontoon experts, we repair damaged pontoons and install new pontoons. We’ve seen more than our fair share of neglected pontoons, and we know what is salvageable and what’s beyond repair. Today, we discuss some of the tell-tail signs to look out for to know if you’re pontoon can be repaired or will need to be replaced.
A pontoon can be repaired if….
Let’s start by looking at repairable pontoon damage.
Surface Damage
Surface damage or cosmetic damage is damage visible to the eye that does not compromise the structure or functionality of a pontoon. In our pontoon maintenance service, surface damage is the most common type of damage we repair.
Surface damage comprises of the following:
- Barnacle buildup: it is common and natural for barnacles to attach themselves to pontoons, usually to underwater components such as fenders and piles. Whilst barnacle buildup on fenders won’t affect a pontoon’s functionality, it can cause significant damage to a docked boat. Barnacle buildup on piles, on the other hand, can result in substantial damage if not regularly removed. They prevent the pile’s rollers from moving up and down the pile along with the changing sea level, resulting in either the dock being stuck below sea level or being hung up in the air on the piles due to becoming bound up. This can break the pile brackets completely off or lead to significant structural damage to the actual pontoon framework.
- Worn marine carpet: carpet, glue, and saltwater are not the ideal pairing. Even marine carpet, which is made to offer longevity in marine environments, has its limits. Over time, the marine carpet will inevitably start to perish under the conditions and needs. Whilst there are ways to extend the longevity of marine carpet (see ‘How to Get Longevity From Marine Carpet’), it’s impossible to maintain a pristine condition, no matter how well maintained it may be. Even with regular cleaning, marine carpet needs to be replaced every 8-10 years. Thankfully, it’s easy to replace marine carpet – see the section ‘Removing mildew and stains from marine carpet’ section of our ‘Pontoon Maintenance Tips and Tricks’ post.
Also read: How to Find Pontoon Dock Replacement Parts
Light Structural Damage
Light structural damage is common in poorly maintained pontoons and is usually a result of wear and tear. It’s damage to the structure itself, but not severe enough to compromise the structure or functionality of a pontoon.
Light structural damage may include the following:
- Worn pile rollers: piled pontoons utilise piles to keep them in place. The pontoon dock is attached to the piles with pile brackets which comprise a series of rollers that roll up and down the pile with the changing tides. This constant movement of the rollers wears on the roller to the point that they need replacing. This is a simple swap out that will ensure your pontoon continues to adjust with the tide level smoothly. This is often something that is forgotten. Call or email Micks Marine Maintenance now to be added to our pile roller maintenance program and we’ll touch base with you annually via phone or email to remind you to take a look at the condition of your rollers to see whether you need to book a service.
- Broken pile brackets: pile brackets can fail over time due to aluminium corrosion, weld cracks or barnacle buildup on the piles. While a broken pile bracket can lead to catastrophic damage if not repaired, if caught early, it alone is easily repairable and should be fixed at first sight of damage. Learn how to replace a broken pile bracket.
- Rotted timber gangway decking: pontoons with timber decking, plywood decking or cement sheeting on their gangway rather than aluminium sheeting or aluminium mesh will eventually suffer from timber rot or degradation. Rot fungi will inevitably form due to the marine environment, which, if left untreated, will cause the decking to rot away, along with your access to your pontoon. Thankfully, it’s easy to replace rotting timber decking or degraded cement sheeting with new decking. There are multiple options available including the most popular, aluminium sheeting covered with marine carpet or aluminium grating or fibreglass reinforced plastic sheeting, any of which will eradicate these issues.
- Minor aluminium corrosion: as with timber rot, aluminium corrosion is inevitable in the marine environment. Corrosion can occur due to contact with dissimilar metals without proper insulation or chemicals dumped into the water to control weeds or clean marine fouling from pontoons. To avoid corrosion, avoid using chemicals and action regularly cleaning to dislodge any buildup that can encourage decay.
- Worn cables: strut arm and cable pontoons rely on steel cables anchored to a shore mooring block to provide stability, but these cables may fray over time, become loose and even break completely. However, even a completely broken cable won’t cause catastrophic damage if attended to in a timely manner. It’s an easy repair that should be fixed at first sight.
A Pontoon will need to be replaced if…
No one wants to face having to replace their pontoon completely, but it happens – often! Let’s look at what will lead to a complete pontoon replacement
Significant Maintenance Requirements
If you’ve never maintained your pontoon or had it serviced by a professional pontoon maintenance team like Micks Marine Maintenance, there’s a good chance it will have multiple problems. When countless maintenance issues need addressing, it can often be quicker and easier to start over.
Obviously, I’m not talking about surface damage, as that can always be fixed. However, there are a few issues that are sometimes beyond repair, including but not limited to;
- Pontoon bag lining that has come away from the pontoon. Unfortunately, pontoons can not be successfully re-wrapped
- Poorly manufactured pontoons where the concrete coverage on the internal steel reinforcing within the deck was not adequate meaning over time the internal steel has been exposed to air/water causing steel cancer which can lead to swelling of the steel causing cracking of the concrete deck of the pontoon
- Pile rollers left to wear so badly that the lugs within the pile bracket are torn off meaning replacement pile brackets
These are just some of the issues that unfortunately can’t be repaired and replacement is usually the only option.
If the pontoon is already aging, it may be a better investment to put the money into a new pontoon, just as you would if it were a car. You’re not going to invest $10,000 on a 10-year-old vehicle; you’re going to put that $10,000 towards a new car. You should look at your pontoon in the same light.
After all, A) it needs to be safe to ensure no one is hurt, and B) a well-maintained pontoon can add significant value and make your home much more attractive to prospective buyers.
Significant Structural Damage
Pontoons are not immune to severe structural damage. Boats can collide with them; they can receive catastrophic damage in extreme weather conditions, and even failure to maintain them can have devastating repercussions.
Significant structural damage may include the following:
- Twisted aluminium components: pontoons and extreme weather conditions aren’t a good combination. Severe storms with high winds can strain a pontoons aluminium components beyond their limit, causing significant non-repairable structural damage. The pontoon dock may be able to withstand such conditions, but mooring block brackets, strut arms and gangways, if damaged, may have to be replaced.
- Severe aluminium corrosion: As mentioned, aluminium corrosion can occur due to contact with dissimilar metals without proper insulation or chemicals dumped into the water to control weeds or clean marine fouling from pontoons. If left untreated, corrosion can have catastrophic repercussions in the marine environment, leading to the destruction of the structural components that make up not only the gangway but the dock too. Once aluminium corrosion gets to this point, there is no saving it. It will result in a complete replacement of your pontoon.
- Cracked/compromised concrete dock foundation: the main component of a pontoon is its deck, which is primarily made from concrete. If the concrete is damaged, whether it be by a boat collision, poor manufacturing, or old age, the structural integrity of the pontoon is compromised. There’s no patching a severely compromised concrete dock. It will need to be replaced entirely with a new one.
- Broken piles: piled pontoons need robust, solid piles to keep them in place and move with the tide. If a pile is damaged, whether from barnacle buildup or a boating collision, the entire pontoon will be unsafe and unusable. Not only will the pile need replacing, but the domino effect of damage caused by the broken pile may result in the entire pontoon needing to be replaced.
A pontoon that meets significant structural damage should be replaced. I will use a car analogy again; If you’ve had a significant accident, the car is written off. It doesn’t get repaired because A) the structural integrity of the car has been compromised, and B) the cost of repair would outweigh the cost of a new vehicle.
Conclusion
Pontoons are a great investment, but only if they’re well-maintained and in good condition. While in most cases, any damage to a pontoon can be repaired; there are times where the damage is so significant that a complete replacement of the pontoon is the only solution.
Whether you’re facing pontoon repair or pontoon replacement, Micks Marine Maintenance is the team to turn to. With 20 years of experience, you can count on us to deliver an affordable quote for your pontoon maintenance or replacement.
If you live in Gold Coast, Brisbane, Bribie Island, Sunshine Coast, Northern NSW or anywhere in between, please get in touch with us.