Frequently Asked Questions

Unfortunately, no, we do not weld pontoon boats while they are in the water or on a lift for a number of reasons:

1. We need access to the entire boat. Often there are problems/cracks in between pontoons and on the bottom of the pontoons.
   
   
2. The boat moves too much to be able to do a good job welding it, even in calm water.
   
   
3. We use TIG welding aluminum to weld aluminum which requires 220V power. Some TIG welders will run on 110V, but that will not deliver the necessary amperage to make a strong weld on a pontoon boat.
   
   
4. Often we need to fabricate patches, brackets, reinforcements, etc. This is significantly more efficient to do in our shop where we have all of the material and tools we require to do a great job.
   
   
5. Even if the previous reasons did not exist, it is just extremely inefficient to travel to docks welding boats. There is prep time (anticipating and loading what we may need for a job), then travel time. The carry equipment down to the dock, and set up the equipment. Do the welding. Then break down the equipment, carry it to the van, load the equipment, drive back to the shop…by working in the shop we can eliminate the majority of these steps.

1. If you have a trailer you can load the pontoon onto your trailer and bring it to us.
   
   
2. You can drive your boat to the Shawnee Bend Access Ramp and we will pull it out on our trailer. Please call to make an appointment.
   
   
3. We can pick the boat up from your dock. Give us a call and we will take it from there.

Yes, we pressure test all of your pontoons that we work on. Every inspection includes pressure testing and visual inspection.

In order to give accurate pricing on repairing any pontoon boat we must perform an inspection. Inspection includes pressure testing and a visual inspection. Cost of the inspection ranges from 0-$380.

Yes. Once we inspect your pontoon boat we will provide you a written estimate along with pictures of any damage we find, as well as a detailed description of the problems. The estimate will be accurate to the penny. After our quote is accepted, we will never charge more than the agreed upon price.

Most of the time, no. A very common problem with pontoon boats is the brackets which connect the pontoon to the deck. The stress on brackets creates cracks around the weld where it is welded to the pontoon. Small cracks form around the weld on the pontoon. These cracks allow water to enter the pontoon. If not fixed soon enough, eventually these brackets will literally punch through the pontoon. So although most cracks form around welds, it is not actually the weld that it is bad. It is the material of the pontoon that is weak.

The short answer is “yes,” but it is generally not a good idea to simply weld the cracks. Once the cracks have formed in a pontoon this means that the area is stressed and fatigued. While we can just weld the crack closed, the weld will not last very long. In order to ensure the crack does not form again the area must be reinforced with thicker material.

Yes, we guarantee all of our work. If one of our repairs breaks, we will repair it again at no cost to the customer. The only thing the customer is responsible for is getting the boat to us.

Most likely, no. Lake of the Ozarks is an extremely rough lake. All of the wave action causes a lot of twisting on the structure of the pontoon boat. It is EXTREMELY common for cracks to form in all pontoons regardless of the manufacturer. If there is a pontoon that doesn’t break on the Lake of the Ozarks, I wouldn’t know what it is.

As far as we are concerned, there is no boat which is structurally better than any other. If buying new, make sure there is a warranty on the actual pontoons. Some even come with a lifetime warranty. But even a company offers a warranty on the pontoons, ask around and see how good they are about honoring that warranty. There are some manufacturers which don’t do a good job honoring their warranty.

1. Look for the following before buying: Ask for covers and even side skirting to be removed so that you can see easily and clearly the 2nd, 3rd, and rear brackets connecting the deck to the pontoon. Examine the brackets connection to the pontoon. These are the most common problem areas for cracking and repair due to rough waters and heavy use.
   
   
2. Pontoon Warranty: The pontoon structure is standard across brands. A solid platform—or deck--supports amenities such as lounge areas and seating. Those catch the customer’s eye, but below are the pontoons, critically important for your days coving and boating so when buying new, be sure the pontoons have a warranty. If there is a warranty, ask around or do a bit of research to be sure the manufacturer stands behind its warranty.
   
   
3. Pontoon Problems: Brackets connecting the deck to the pontoon may be stressed creating cracks around the weld. Cracking allows water inside the pontoon, and over time, brackets may even punch through the pontoon itself. Repairs must be made and as quickly as possible. Those repairs consist of more than just welding cracks. Once the metal has shown fatigue or has been shown to be weak, it needs to be reinforced with better, stronger materials.