2013 Bennington 2550RBR Pontoon leaks

[Rocketman356]

Howdy, Looking for information on construction of the pontoons. Are each of the pontoon sections sealed and pressurized separately ? Are there air snifer valves somewhere on each pontoon compartment to pressurize to check for leaks ? And looking for a schematic on how the pontoons are constructed.
We have several leaks and I’m considering welding a bung drain plug in each pontoon compartment so I can drain & pressurize each section to find and repair the leaks
Any & all information will be much appreciated

Scott

 

[Jack M]

Yes sealed chambers .
If you are the original owner, it maybe covered under the lifetime structural warranty . You can contact Bennington, 888 906 2628. Have your Hull ID if you call.

 

[mtudb24]

Howdy, Looking for information on construction of the pontoons. Are each of the pontoon sections sealed and pressurized separately ? Are there air snifer valves somewhere on each pontoon compartment to pressurize to check for leaks ? And looking for a schematic on how the pontoons are constructed.
We have several leaks and I’m considering welding a bung drain plug in each pontoon compartment so I can drain & pressurize each section to find and repair the leaks
Any & all information will be much appreciated

Scott

When I heard sloshing water in my tubes many years ago as I was scrubbing the pontoons on the trailer, I took it to a local shop. There are plugs on the top of the toons (at least on my twin 32 elips for each section). The put some very low PSI in each of those plugs and then went around at all the welds with a soapy water spray bottle. Found it was the last section on both toons at the solid M bracket (rough water package reinforcement) had some pinholes in the welds. Mine was a 2011 and it was probably around 2020ish (memory sucks and I don't have the boat anymore or all the repair / maintenance orders I gave to the new owner).

I also had them install Bungs on the rear of the pontoons but it never leaked again.

I went local cause I was 4+ hours away from closest dealer and I didn't want to miss out on the entire summer.

Keep us posted
Todd

 

[mtudb24]

It seems to be a common issue a few members have had at the M brackets. Here is the old post

Cracked M Bracket on Back of Pontoon and Leaking Water

Hi All! Bought a used 2003 Bennington 207Si earlier this year. Changed the carpet out with woven vinyl, did some work to the 4 stroke 90 HP Yamaha. Took it out for the first time last week, unscrewed the drain plugs from both pontoons and water came out of one (about 1 gallon). Started looking...

club.benningtonmarine.com

 

[Vikingstaff]

For me back in 2019 (?) it was pinhole type leaks that developed along welds on a performance foil. Impacts 2 of the 3 chambers of my portside pontoon. No way to see them with the eye. But, it was drained and welded under warranty locally, so I was only out of the bout for about 3 weeks. A valuable three weeks in August in Michigan, but at least not an entire season.

 

[kaydano]

I can confirm Todd's comments about the factory welded/threaded nipple on top of each section. Mine had a plastic cap with a very tiny pin hole that allows it to breath at atmospheric pressure. I would be very careful pressurizing them, but I think you could do that, if there's space to get a hose threaded onto the factory nipple. There's not much clearance between that and the deck though. If you drilled your own bung to pressurize them, you'd have to seal these factory vents first.

I have a pin hole in one pontoon section that I can't find as well. I drilled a 1/4 inch hole as high up on that section as I could, and once in a while (every couple years) I insert a silicone air hose through that 1/4" hole and siphon the water out. Only a gallon or two comes out. Any more and I'd worry about it freezing in there. I seal the hole with a rubber plug that has a screw in it. When you tighten the screw, the rubber expands and seals the hole. I forget what they are called, but you just need a screwdriver to remove them. I can get by with this because my leak is very slow and I keep the boat on a trailer or lift 99% of the time. If your boat floats in a slip, find the leak and get it welded for sure.