Pontoon repair and back purge

[jakedaawg]

When repairing or modifying a pontoon would you need to fill the toon with argon?

I have not started repairing yet but intend to eventually.

Several threads discuss purging but none say when and why.

[DougAustinTX]

I never back purge anything that isn't going to have something important flowing inside it.

[Showdog75]

No need to purge. I've worked on a bunch of them with no problems. Would be expensive to purge, lots of volume.

[xryan]

Only if you're getting paid to waste time and money...

[Willie B]

I presume it's aluminum. Open it to let expansion escape. If installing a patch, put a backer behind the flush patch to trap argon. A patch that overlaps needs no additional backer. Were it stainless, you'd need argon back there to prevent oxidation while it's hot. With aluminum all you need is to avoid turbulence bringing air into your weld. A gas lens helps.

Willie

[Tomkat]

Any reason to be weary of explosive gas build up in damaged pontoons?

[welder99]

I work on pontoon repairs all the time . No need to purge and no there's no gasses. If you pressure the tube to check for leaks use no more the around 5 psi. Air only.

[ferrret3238]

Had these dropped off at the shop this week, needs a few holes and cracks patched back up. They are 45 footers long and 3 foot diameter x2. I spent about 8 hours the other day grinding out cracks and rewelding them up. The XR-A got a workout on these. I would never purge out something so massive. If it was something with that much flammability I would fill it up as far as I could with water and then purge it so I didn't waste so much gas.

[Joker11]

Cool project.
When you finish it, grab your polisher. 5052 shines up real nice with some Meguiars polishing compound! I did mine and it was incredible.

[walker]

Only time you need to worry is when welding on pontoon that look like these

[outdoort]

Want to update this thread with a caution to welding pontoons. I have done one myself and had no problem but i have read a post where some guy said his neighbor or maybe it was a competing weld shop that welded on a pontoon and the thing exploded due to built up gasses and severly injured the guy.

I believe it was prob due to a foam or some substance inside the pontoon. I cant possibly see how a hollow pontoon would do such a thing (even completely sealed up) but just giving a heads up guys cuz no one else said it in this thread. Be careful with what ur welding and make sure there isnt any flamable substance on the backside of those welds guys.

[xryan]

If someone exploded a pontoon, there's many things done wrong... No offense but sounds like a Darwin Award....

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