Boat Plugs

My boat sits high on the trailer and I can't reach the plug while standing outside of the boat so today I use a "T" type on the outside after learning a good lesson about why NOT to use a toggle type plug on the outside. One very windy day when pulling away from the blind I managed to get a tree root caught on the plug and yes the plug came out. As luck woud have it I kept my cooooool..;-) and kept the boat moving forward under power as my buddy searched in the boat box for the spare plug. Seems having a spare plug was one of the few things I remember my dad telling me at that age that sunk in. I have yet to lose a "T" type but I always carry a spare.

Ed L.


There is a picture for the day. Driving in circles while looking for a plug. Too funny - thanks for sharing.

Mark W
 
I second Dave's comment...I have a 16' starcraft, with shockcord on the handle...I've never had a plug come out, but its nice to know that if it did, I might find it...
 
Dave,

Down here that toilet ring would a be a gooey mess in the boat box. I think I'll stick with a spare plug!

Take care,

Ed L.
 
Mark, I have that same plug on my boat, I used to have the lever on the outside, but the bro in law convinced me to have it INSIDE in case of issues with major leak I coudl do what Ed did and drive in circles. In retrospect, it doesn't make sense because if I had that much water that the bilge pump could not handle it I am sure driving in circles with the plug out would not help either. Regardless, being 6'4" I can reach inside the boat and pull the plug easily when on the trailer, I too like Dave, wait until I am just about leaving so I can get the transom saver etc. all dealt with without the extra water.

I will say that I DON'T have the plug on a shock cord but now that I think about it, it sure makes sense. Hummm.

I will also add that Baumy got me to finally get a spare plug and have that right attached to the transom so Just in case....

sounds like you have your answer.
 
Eric,

I actually didn't drive in circles but drove straight for the ramp with the throttle wide open. And yes the water did drain from that boat while under way. Was it a good idea? Probably not. Will it drain if there is too much water to get the boat on plane? Probably not! Were we lucky? Probably so. I'm not in a hurry to try it again. Especially down here.

Take care,

Ed L.
 
Ed-

I rode around in a slowly leaking (most of the time...ever so often it would pop a rivet) jon boat for a long time...before I fixed it up. And I would let it leak, then go for a run as fast as I could go (not always on plane) with the drain plug out, empty it of water and stick the plug back in and repeat. It was actually kind of nice in a way because the boat rarely got hot in the summer sun. I don't know how fast you need to go to get water draining from your boat...i don't think it needs to be up on plane all the time, but certainly if it's waaaay overfilled then you'll have a hard time getting up the speed to go fast enough to get the water running out and it may not even be wise to try to go real fast...that I also learned.

Dani
 
Ed I was giving you some crap. Someone else mentioned the circles and I stuck with it. I know it works since I have forgotten my plug once and I used that to drain it on the way to the "spot"

I would not want to be "boatless" in your neck of the woods. Hope you have a great year.
 
Oh you fishermen. I am a lot more concerned about getting the boat and blind material clean of all "invasive species" during the duck season. So the question is..........???? If the C.O. is having a bad day could I have to pull the floor to comply? Steam clean the boat? Obviously the lawmakers never been in a duck boat. I missed my chance Tues when I had a CO in my Firearms Safety class and the question never came to mind (my bad). I am going to have to check this one out. Any wisdom out there? Sorry to hijack your thread Mark but it applies to you too.
 
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