Finally experienced the "I forgot my drain plug" today

[oldjeep]

I haven't forgot it yet, although I have forgotten to remove the transom straps twice. We did have a funny plug incident with the inlaws up north last summer. We had dropped our boat in with some difficulty - deep sand on the concrete launch and a 2wd truck. We were floating nearby and watch them put in the ski boat but they can't get backed up far enough due to the deep sand and a small tow vehicle, as they are trying to get it in further the bilge kicks on. We're yelling and they get the message but can't pull the boat back out due to sand, tow vehicle and all the extra water weight. They grab the plug and duck under the platform and accidentally drop the plug in the sand - it is gone for good. Bilge pump can't keep up with the inflow so the boat is taking more water on - luckily it is an inboard skiboat so the water isn't getting all over the starter. We dock, grab my truck/trailer and a strap and pull them out of the water while the boat is draining and someone else runs into town for a plug. Now we both carry a couple spare plugs just in case.

 

[Mischief Managed]

I have a simple and VERY effective solution to prevent launching without the plug. I made a box-end garboard plug wrench out of a 1"x6"x1/4" piece of aluminum that I got at my local hardware store. Aluminum is very easy to work with using hand tools and it took me all of 10 minutes to make it with a drill, hacksaw and file. The hole is square and fits my plug end nicely. When the boat is on the trailer, the starboard side transom strap top hook goes through the wrench before the hook goes through the transom U-bolt. This prevents it from being lost. When I take the strap off to launch, I can't miss the wrench and it reminds me to put the plug in. Being aluminum, the wrench can't rust and stain my boat when I toss it in the transom live well after I put the plug in.

 

[hogbare35]

Been there ,done this a time or 2 . Its really silly , part of pre launch check list should include " is the plug in". I like the aluminum wrench idea , may copy that .

 

[Alumarine]

I have a simple and VERY effective solution to prevent launching without the plug. I made a box-end garboard plug wrench out of a 1"x6"x1/4" piece of aluminum that I got at my local hardware store. Aluminum is very easy to work with using hand tools and it took me all of 10 minutes to make it with a drill, hacksaw and file. The hole is square and fits my plug end nicely. When the boat is on the trailer, the starboard side transom strap top hook goes through the wrench before the hook goes through the transom U-bolt. This prevents it from being lost. When I take the strap off to launch, I can't miss the wrench and it reminds me to put the plug in. Being aluminum, the wrench can't rust and stain my boat when I toss it in the transom live well after I put the plug in.

Good and simple idea.

If only I could remember to raise my drive before I pull/drag it up the ramp.
In my defense though for 40 years I had roller trailers which were high enough I never raised the drive.

 

[H20Rat]

Why even take it out?? If you have a correctly wired bilge pump it shouldn't need to be removed all season!?

The other reason that nobody mentioned is what happens to your boat when it is out of the water and on the trailer? Get a couple big rainstorms and your boat now has a couple inches of water in it, worst case it is sitting nose down and your bilge pump might be dry. Water is heavy, and it doesn't take that much to exceed the capacity of your trailer and possibly bend/break things. Won't happen in a single storm, but if you don't use it much...

(and to go along with the MN guys, also illegal in ND to leave the ramp with the plug in.)

 

[Sunken Ship]

Guilty :lol: Did it about 15 years ago. Seems to always come to mind now. :laugh:

 

[dingbat]

First time I did it was in October 1995. Taking my brother Striper fishing.

Put the boat in the water and went to park the truck. Jumped in the boat and noticed water in the cabin drain. Didn't take put 3/10 of a second to remember I didn't put the plug in. Brother held on to my belt while a leaned over the transom.

No occurrences since. All boats since have/had self-draining cockpits so there is no need to drain the bilge. The drain plug is removed, greased (threaded brass) and reinstalled as part of my weatherization process.

 

[brian4321]

My second year of boating I forgot the drain plug and made it a half mile from the ramp before i discovered it...talk about staining the seat of my pants... since then I haven't forgot the plug, but have left the transom straps on and left lower unit shavings on the ramp....makes you feel like a newbie every time

 

[gm280]

Some of these stories are interesting and funny to read. I guess the only sure way to never ever forget the drain plug is to not take the boat to the water...ever!

 

[thumpar]

I did it once 3 seasons ago. At the ramp I backed in. I asked the then wife if the plug was in. She said she didn't know but that there was water coming out my blind blind side (bilge pump) :facepalm:. Luckily it was still on the trailer so I just pulled it back out of the water. I now carry 2 brass plugs and a plastic emergency plug on the boat keyring.

 

[brian4321]

"guess the only sure way to never ever forget the drain plug is to not take the boat to the water...ever!  "
Ummmm... I think I'll take a chance

 

[vans]

As usual, I qualify for group #1, no harm yet but some serious ribbing from the family

 

[wrvond]

I left the plug out. It was 1985 on a tributary of the St. John's River near Mayport, Florida.
Few of Life's Lessons have stuck with me like that one.

 

[no704]

No Title

While I had the engine out to replace the bell housing pds bearing failure. I reflowed the transom with resin the bilge drain was just a metal ring that only went like 1/2" into the transom. All I could find that would go thru the transom was a brass sink drain. Comes with the push on push off stopper. Never need to worry if I have a bilge plug.

 

[Watermann]

While I had the engine out to replace the bell housing pds bearing failure. I reflowed the transom with resin the bilge drain was just a metal ring that only went like 1/2" into the transom. All I could find that would go thru the transom was a brass sink drain. Comes with the push on push off stopper. Never need to worry if I have a bilge plug.

Whoa... ever sink stopper I've ever used the sink is empty after I turn my back for a few minutes.

 

[Starcraft5834]

Last summer bilge pump hose clogged didn't notice it, took on so much water engine stalled, had to be towed in.., drain plug, haven't done that one.... yet

 

[no704]

Whoa... ever sink stopper I've ever used the sink is empty after I turn my back for a few minutes.

Works great, just push to turn off the sink.

 

[Richmond2000]

Last spring had just bought a boat from a Co worker
took it out to the LAKE for a test N tune after spending about 3 weekends getting it running on muffs
a friend and I go together and he is on the pier holding the bow rope and I pull the trailer out and park the truck
the Parking is 500+ meters away from the ramp and my friend is watching as the boat is going down as I run up and see it 1/2 way under
he had at least pulled it up and beached it on the ramp I grab the *spare* plug and grope around under the motor and get the plug
we all board and start the motor and *try* to power out of the harbour to find out the motor did NOT like water very much - we never made it more then 50 FT from the launch in our 1/2 sunk boat at the end of the day 15 MINUTES of boating 90 min of driving to/from the lake and MY CELLPHONE was on the floor of the boat *slightly* below the waterline and went un noticed - epic on the BAD day fishin is better then a GOOD day @ work
later in the summer after my motor was sorted I was going for a CRUISE up the RED river and @ the launch parking my truck walking back to the boat I see a nearly new crestliner superhawk with the WHOLE FAMILY aboard run aground on the ramp with NO trailer in sight a even HAD CUT other people off doing so
getting closer I see it is FULL of water the DAD states it is his first time out and did NOT KNOW there WAS a plug

 

[Baylinerchuck]

I haven't done the plug yet, but had similar results on a restoration test. I was rebuilding my 16' capri and took it to the river to test run the motor. I didn't install the fitting that goes through transom into the motor splash pan. Backed the boat into the water and was fiddling for some time with the controls not realizing water was pouring into the bilge through that hole in the transom. A buddy that was at the ramp with his boat came over and says, "so you have a lot of rain at your house?" I thought that was weird to ask and answer no. He then says "what's with all the water in your ski locker?" It took me 30 seconds or so to figure out how the water was getting there. Since I didn't have the pump wired up yet I had to wire the leads directly to the battery terminals to start pumping her out. Needless to say, test #1 was a fail....but it didn't sink! Totally.

 

[gm280]

Maybe we all need to install a one way valve type bilge drain plug and then never worry about it again. Sounds too good to be true. but that would solve all these "forgot to put the plug in" stories. But I have to admit, they are funny to read. :noidea: