Finally experienced the "I forgot my drain plug" today

[H20Rat]

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:

They do make one way plugs, but the problem is that a single piece of debris wedging up on the way out will also hold the drain plug open for water to come back in! The one way drains are great for above the waterline scuppers and splash wells, but you would never want to trust them below the waterline.

I'm actually more surprised that more manufacturers and users don't have water alarms in the bilge. Probably just a cost choice, I know some larger cruisers have them.

 

[Quick3201]

My 1870 Jon boat has a 2 inch diameter drain plug in the transom and the couple of times I've left it out the water comes in the boat so fast I never even got the boat off the trailer before it started filling up.....

Where do you find a 2" drain plug???

 

[mbhoag]

Where do you find a 2" drain plug???

Home Depot in the plumbing section??

 

[s.hadley81]

When I had a boat with a rubber expansion plug I always clipped it on my safety chain now having a garboard plug I drill a hole in the square head so I can secure it to my safety chain with a piece of wire. I did that after my brother and buddy launched his boat without attaching the bow line and then realized the plug was out. luckily it was only a little Jon boat so my brother dove in and grabbed the boat. Not the best way to start a 5:30am fishing trip!

 

[StarTed]

I had an inflatable with a one-way valve. It had some silicone stuck in ti and it leaked from day 1. I finally removed it to find the problem. The positive side is that I could also use another plug to seal it so I used it for a while before making the necessary repair.

Inflatables don't sink but the water coming in is very inconvenient and has to be removed if you expect the thing to plane.

 

[Old Ironmaker]

We were talking about this at the shop just the other day. Buddy tells a story when his pal bought a brand spanking new 23 foot Cuddy from the showroom. They launched it, tied her up and parked the truck quite a bit away from the ramp. In their excitement they forgot all the tackle so Ted walked to the truck leaving the boat unattended. The place was MT on a weekday in the Fall. When they got back to the dock only the the bow was out of the water. They didn't forget the plug, there wasn't one screwed into the transom when it left the Marine dealer. A brand new boat, the pain. Lawyers were involved, your fault, nope your fault, nope you. The owner eventually agreed to have the boat professionally dried out and the dealer went over it with a fine tooth comb before launching it, with a plug. He was never happy and sold it after 2 years and took a big hit on it. I might do the same as I am superstitious.

 

[gm280]

We were talking about this at the shop just the other day. Buddy tells a story when his pal bought a brand spanking new 23 foot Cuddy from the showroom. They launched it, tied her up and parked the truck quite a bit away from the ramp. In their excitement they forgot all the tackle so Ted walked to the truck leaving the boat unattended. The place was MT on a weekday in the Fall. When they got back to the dock only the the bow was out of the water. They didn't forget the plug, there wasn't one screwed into the transom when it left the Marine dealer. A brand new boat, the pain. Lawyers were involved, your fault, nope your fault, nope you. The owner eventually agreed to have the boat professionally dried out and the dealer went over it with a fine tooth comb before launching it, with a plug. He was never happy and sold it after 2 years and took a big hit on it. I might do the same as I am superstitious.

That's like buying a new car and wreaking it driving home. :facepalm:

 

[SeaDooSam]

When I was putting in at the beginning of the season,
The people next to us had that problem. It was a kid and his grandfather. The kid was in the boat while his grandfather backed the new 30 ft Edgewater CC down the ramp. They tie the boat to the dock and the grandfather says:" Why is the bilge pump pissin' like crazy?"
The kid goes "Oh S*** I forgot the plug!"
His grandfather tells him not to panic and they back the trailer down and bring the boat up. It took a good 15 min for them to drain all the water. At least it ended good, they put it back in and motored into the sunset!
Thankfully it had outboards instead of inboards. They may have had many more problems with an inboard!

 

[mtbdudex]

5 pages of replies, so I've done it once, a few years back, first outing of the season as the plug is removed for winter.
Boat removed by dock, I parked trailer, came back, we left left the dock and upon me trying to get onto plane the boat just went "uhhhhhh" with a steep plow.
Immediately I realized what happened, turned back to the dock and fortunately nobody there.
Frantic 2-3 minutes getting the trailer out of the water.

Of course full with my 3 kids and wife.

Fortunately no damage, except a busy dads pride.

Since them I've heard countless times "dad, is the plug in?"

 

[Oshkosh1]

In competitive shooting, there are those who HAVE cross-fired(shooting the other firing point's target) and those who WILL. It's almost a rite of passage as is leaving the bilge plug out of a boat. We can all have a good laugh, not pass judgement becuase we all know it takes just a second or two of inattention to do so.

Im also a pilot and live by checklists. I have printed and mounted one to the helm in my boat. "Transom Straps/Plug/Battery/Plug/Lower drive/Plug/Blower on/Plug"

 

[jwdavis28]

My dad and I were in a fishing tournament in about 1990. We launched like usual on a cool spring morning. Sitting there waiting for the start and dad says "why the hell are my feet wet?". Too many other motors running to notice that our bilge pump was running and losing the battle! Up on plane, run back to the ramp load up and watch it drain.....as 100 other people laughed and watched drain too. Added a larger volume bilge pump the next weekend!