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Lake Conroe pontoon repair
Pontoon Boat Repair in Conroe, TX: Mobile Welding on Lake Conroe
Lake Conroe is pontoon country. On any summer Saturday there are hundreds of them out between the SH 105 bridge and the dam, and a lot of them have a problem the owner hasn’t found yet. A tube taking on water, a bracket cracked from weekend wakes, a cone that met a stump up north. Alpha Mobile Welding TX sends partner welders to Lake Conroe homes, boathouses and storage lots to repair aluminum pontoons where they sit. Send photos and we’ll tell you what it needs.
Photos speed up your estimate. Visits depend on partner availability around the lake.
Lake Conroe repairs
What Pontoon Repair Looks Like on Lake Conroe
Lake Conroe stretches north from the dam into the Sam Houston National Forest, and the two ends of the lake are hard on boats in different ways. The south end around Walden, April Sound and the SH 105 area has deep open water, heavy weekend traffic and big wakes that pound pontoons on lifts and at docks. The north end, above FM 1097, gets shallower, and standing timber and stumps sit just under the surface in places.
That combination shows up as cracked cones and keel seams from stump strikes, brackets torn by constant wake loading, and slow leaks in boats that sit on lifts all season. Pontoon tubes are thin 5052-H32 aluminum. Partner welders find every leak with a low-pressure air test, drain the chamber, clean the metal to bright aluminum and weld with 5356 filler using TIG or a spool gun, then test again.
For the full service list, visit our pontoon boat repair hub. For gates, railings, trailers and other metal work around a lake house, see our Conroe mobile welding page.
- Lake Conroe homes, boathouses and lifts
- Tube leaks and seam cracks
- Stump and cone damage
- Bracket and cross member repair
- Motor pods on tritoons
Common damage
Pontoon Problems We See on Lake Conroe
Busy water down south, stumps up north, and boats that stay on lifts all season.
Stump strikes up north
Above the FM 1097 bridge and into the forest end of the lake, stumps and old timber catch boats running outside the channel. Cones and keels take the hit.
Wake damage at the dock
Big cruisers and wake boats on the south end keep docked pontoons moving constantly. Brackets crack and tubes rub on lift frames and pilings.
Slow leaks on lifts
A boat that sits low at one corner after a week on the lift usually has a pinhole at a seam, a bracket crack or a corrosion spot.
Cracked cross member brackets
Wake loading and rough water near the dam work the deck frame until the bracket welds crack, sometimes running into the tube.
Motor pod cracks
Tritoons with large outboards for skiing and tubing put a lot of force into the transom bracket and its welds.
Worn keels and strakes
Beaching on sandy coves and launching at busy ramps grind keel guards and lifting strakes down over time.
What we repair
Mobile Pontoon Welding Services on Lake Conroe
A full inspection first, because the crack you found is rarely the only one.
Tube leak repair
Low-pressure air test, leak marking, draining, grinding to sound metal and 5356 welds with full fusion, then a second soap test.
Nose cone repair
Rewelding cracked seams, patch plates over punctures and replacement cone sections after hard stump hits.
Bracket and cross member repair
Rewelding cracked tube brackets, adding gussets and replacing bent cross members under the deck.
Keel and strake repair
New keel guards and lifting strakes where beaching and ramps have worn the originals thin.
Motor pod reinforcement
Crack repair and doubler plates around outboard mounts, with a check of the pod-to-tube welds.
Trailer and dock-side fixes
Pontoon trailer crossmembers and bunk brackets, plus small aluminum fixes on ladders and rails.
Why Alpha Welding
Why Lake Conroe Owners Call Alpha Welding
Hauling a boat off the lake for repair costs you weekends.
Repairs at your lift
Most tube and bracket repairs can be done with the boat raised on the lift. No ramp, no trailer, no lost Saturday.
Aluminum focus
Thin marine aluminum takes clean prep and AC TIG or a spool gun. That’s what partners bring to the dock.
Honest answers
If a log needs replacing, we say so before you spend on a patch.
Photos first
Pictures let us scope the job so the partner arrives ready.
How it works
How a Lake Conroe Repair Works
Simple and clear from start to finish.
Send photos
Call or text 979-250-7486 with photos and whether the boat is on a lift, in a slip or on a trailer.
Estimate
We check partner availability around the lake and explain price and prep.
Repair at the lake
The partner tests, drains, cleans and welds right at your dock or driveway.
Retest
Low-pressure air and soap confirm the repair before the boat goes back down.
Local guide
Lake Conroe Pontoon Owner's Repair Guide
Notes for Lake Conroe owners, from the repairs partner welders handle most around Montgomery, Willis and Conroe.
The north end: stumps and shallow water
North of FM 1097, the lake narrows and runs into the Sam Houston National Forest. Water gets shallower, and stumps and standing timber sit close to the surface outside the marked channel, especially when the lake is lower than normal. Most of the stump damage we see comes from boats cutting corners or exploring coves up there. Cracked nose cones, split keel seams and torn strakes are the usual result. If you hit something, check both front cones and the full keel line before running fast again.
The south end: wakes and constant motion
Around the SH 105 bridge, Walden, April Sound and the dam, the lake is wide, deep and busy. Wakes roll into docks all weekend and bounce off bulkheads. A pontoon on a lift or in a slip moves constantly, and that motion loads the brackets where cross members meet the tubes. Over a few seasons the welds at the bracket toes crack. Partners grind out the crack, stop-drill the ends if it has spread into the tube, reweld it and add a gusset where the design is too light.
Lake level changes
Lake Conroe is managed by the San Jacinto River Authority, and in some years the lake has been lowered seasonally for flood management. Lower water exposes points, sandbars and stumps that boats normally clear easily, and lifts that sit too high can leave a pontoon hanging awkwardly. When levels change, run the channel, watch the coves and check your lift setup so the bunks support the tubes evenly.
Repairs on a lift or in a boathouse
Most Lake Conroe repairs happen with the boat raised on its lift. The tubes need to be clear of the water and dry, and the welder needs room under the logs and a safe place to stand. Clear the walkway, move fuel cans away and make sure there’s working power at the dock. Wood boathouse framing near the work may need protection from sparks, which the partner handles on site. If the lift can’t expose the damage, the boat goes on a trailer instead.
How the leak is found
The chamber is sealed and given a very small amount of air pressure, usually a couple of psi. Soapy water goes on every seam, bracket and cone, and every bubble is marked. Too much pressure can bulge or split thin tube skin, so this is done with a regulator. On older boats it’s common to find two or three leaks in one chamber, and fixing all of them in the same visit saves a second trip.
Getting a weld that holds
The oxide layer on aluminum melts at a much higher temperature than the metal under it, so it gets removed with a stainless brush or grinder right before welding. The area must be completely dry, because water left in a freshly drained chamber turns into porosity. Partners use argon shielding and 5356 filler, which matches 5052 tubes well, and make sure the weld fuses fully into both sides of the crack. Bracket areas get a gusset or doubler so the weld isn’t the only thing carrying the load.
Repair or replace a log?
Cracks, punctures, seam leaks and bracket damage are repairs. Replacement makes sense when a tube has widespread pitting, thin walls in many places or a long crushed section. Check warranty terms with your dealer before outside welding on a newer boat.
Trailer boats and busy ramps
Not every Lake Conroe pontoon lives on a lift. Plenty of owners in Conroe, Magnolia and Spring trailer in for the weekend and launch at public or marina ramps that get crowded by mid-morning. Rushed launches lead to boats sliding off bunks at an angle, tubes dragging on ramp edges and brackets taking side loads they weren’t built for. Look at the bunk brackets, the bottom of each tube and the keel guards after a season of ramp launches. Worn spots get a doubler or new strake before they wear into the tube.
Before the welder arrives
- Raise the boat on the lift with tubes clear and dry
- Pull the tube drain plugs
- Move fuel cans and gear off the boathouse walkway
- Confirm power at the dock
- Tell us about foam-filled tubes or a center-log fuel tank
Related welding services
Hit a stump up north?
Send photos of the front cones and keel. We’ll tell you if it’s safe to run and what the repair looks like.
Service area
Pontoon Repair Near Me on Lake Conroe
Partner welders cover lake homes, boathouses and storage lots around Lake Conroe and the surrounding towns. Availability is confirmed for each address, and marina work needs the marina’s okay for hot work.
West shore
- Montgomery
- Walden
- April Sound
- Bentwater
East and north shore
- Willis
- Seven Coves
- North end and forest area
- Lake Conroe dam area
Conroe and south
Nearby
- Houston
- Humble and Lake Houston
- Lake Livingston
- Huntsville
FAQs
Lake Conroe Pontoon Repair Questions
What Lake Conroe owners ask us most.
Is there a mobile pontoon welder near me on Lake Conroe?
Alpha Mobile Welding TX coordinates partner welders who cover Conroe, Montgomery, Willis, Walden, April Sound and the rest of the lake. Call or text 979-250-7486 with photos and your address, and we’ll confirm availability and give you an estimate.
Can you weld my pontoon while it's on the boat lift?
Usually, yes. The tubes must be raised clear of the water and dry, with room for the welder to reach underneath. Most Lake Conroe lifts allow that. If the damage is in a spot the lift can’t expose, the boat goes on a trailer or stands.
I hit a stump on the north end. Is my pontoon safe to run?
Check both front cones, the keel seam and the bracket welds near the impact. If you find a crack, a split seam or water draining from a tube plug, keep the speed down and get it repaired. Small cracks spread quickly with wave impact.
Why does my pontoon list on the lift?
Usually one tube has water inside from a seam crack, pinhole or bracket crack. It can also be a lift bunk out of adjustment. Pull the drain plug on the low tube. If water comes out, there’s a leak to find and fix.
How much does pontoon tube repair cost on Lake Conroe?
It depends on the number of leaks, access, whether water or foam has to come out, and the trip to your dock. A single pinhole costs far less than a crushed cone or several brackets. Photos let us give you a realistic estimate before scheduling.
How long does the repair take?
A single crack or pinhole is often done in a few hours, including the pressure test, draining, welding and retest. Cone replacement or several brackets take longer. Timing depends on partner availability, and same-day visits are never guaranteed.
Request an estimate
Get Your Lake Conroe Pontoon Fixed
Send photos and tell us where the boat is on the lake. We’ll reply with an estimate and partner availability near you.
- Free, no-obligation estimates
- Photos help us understand the job faster
- Same-day requests depend on partner availability