Why Your Pontoon Boat Is Leaning to One Side

Your pontoon boat leaning in one direction is never a good thing. These boats are designed to maintain consistent, level buoyancy on the water, making for a smooth ride and an enjoyable time for all passengers. If the boat starts leaning, it presents a risk of tipping.

If you’re researching “Why is my pontoon boat leaning to one side?” the best course of action is usually to schedule pontoon repairs. Before you do, you can gain a better idea of what is causing the boat to lean and whether the problem may have a DIY solution.

Here’s why a pontoon boat might lean and what you should do about it. 

Common Reasons a Pontoon Boat Would Lean to One Side

There are a few main reasons your pontoon boat would lean to one side. Some of these you can diagnose yourself; otherwise, you may need to take the boat in for an inspection and pontoon repair to determine the issue.

Uneven Weight Distribution

In order for virtually any structure to float on water, it needs to have a relatively even distribution of weight. If one side of a pontoon boat is significantly heavier than the other, it will begin to tip simply due to the laws of physics. 

If you notice your pontoon leaning to one side, make sure the furniture, items, and passengers on the boat are distributed evenly across the deck. If all passengers are congregated on one side, you’ll likely notice the boat leaning in that direction. 

In rare cases, an improper fuel tank placement can also cause the boat to lean. If the fuel tank is not positioned to balance the boat’s weight, the boat will lean to that side accordingly. 

Damage to the Pontoons 

The pontoons are what keep your boat afloat on the water. They consist of hollow, watertight tubes made from aluminum and filled with air. Their design allows the boat to remain buoyant. As a result, if the boat has started leaning to one side, you may have an issue with the pontoons. 

The best way to assess your pontoons is to take the boat out of the water and load it onto a trailer. Look for any obvious damage to the pontoons, as they can become dented if the boat bottomed out or hit a structure on the water. 

If you do not see any visible damage to the pontoons, check for sloshing sounds by having someone drive the trailer forward a few feet and hit the brakes. Sloshing noises indicate waterlogged pontoons. When the pontoons take in water, they lose some of their buoyancy, causing the boat to tip to that side. 

Pontoons become waterlogged when they have a leak, and the best way to repair this is with the help of a pontoon welder.  

What To Do If Your Pontoon Is Off Balance

If your pontoon boat is leaning to one side, don’t ignore the issue and hope it will resolve itself. You risk losing control of the boat or even tipping over on the water. 

As soon as you notice an issue, bring the boat to shore and look for any of the problems above. If the problem is a simple weight distribution issue, try arranging passengers and furniture more evenly the next time you take out the pontoon. But if you suspect damage to the pontoons, it’s best to bring the boat to a professional. 

Ignoring leaking pontoons is especially dangerous. More water will seep into the toons, further impacting the pontoon balance and your ability to control the boat. 

Trust Augello’s Pontoon Welding With Repairs 

If you’re asking, “Why is my pontoon boat leaning to one side?” the best way to find the answer is by calling Augello’s Pontoon Welding. We’d be happy to inspect your boat on-site or arrange a pickup from your dock. 

We offer professional pontoon welding and reinforcements to fix leaks, along with a range of other professional repairs. Call us today at (573) 207-0285 to schedule a repair at Lake of the Ozarks.