IN or OUT (Boat Plugs )

[scrapper]

Ok , Ive read where you guys are putting you plugs in from the inside and the outside , Some are the theros bottle type rubber with the flip lever on them and some are screw in made of brass or nylon ( mine is the latter ) which go s in from the outside . I have stood on my head trying to fit the first type in that bung hole and with my (huge clubs I call hands) make it impossible to do from the inside . Dose anyone use the thermosbottle flip handle type on the outside ? If so wouldn't they fall out with stress of boating back there?

 

[RetNav]

Re: IN or OUT (Boat Plugs )

I certainly hope it does not fall out, so far it hasn't. When my feet get wet up to this date it has always been sweat..

 

[rwise]

Re: IN or OUT (Boat Plugs )

on the fiberglass boat I have both, one from inside and one from outside, it was that way when I got it and it'll leave me that way,,,,

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: IN or OUT (Boat Plugs )

Never had a problem with them on the boats that had them. Always made sure the metal flapper was flipped to where no water could get to it.

 

[Bondo]

Re: IN or OUT (Boat Plugs )

Ayuh,....... I got the Flip Lever style,..... Never had any issues there.....<br /><br />There's really No Stress at that point of the hull.......<br /><br />And,..... With an I/O,...... There Ain't No installing from Inside the boat.......

 

[JB]

Re: IN or OUT (Boat Plugs )

Boat topic.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: IN or OUT (Boat Plugs )

My bigger boat has a threaded brass which looks similar to a pipe thread.Very heavy duty.On my Mako ,I used to use the lever type like Bondo.Until I pulled the boat out at the end of the season and the lever had been attacked by stray current underwater and the lever was gone.I grabbed the plug between my fingers and it pulled out so easily that I could not believe it stayed in.The water pressure held it in.Soooo....needless to say ,I dont use that type anymore.I recommend a screw in ONLY and from the outside.It made me so paranoid that I put a dab of silicone on the screw in rubber plug just to make sure it stays.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: IN or OUT (Boat Plugs )

Mine are on the outside with the hole in the handle. No reason to worry unless you get in some really thick cover and a log knocks it loose....highly unlikely.<br /><br />Besides being outboard, it is easily checked visually at launching time.<br /><br />Mark

 

[NBE]

Re: IN or OUT (Boat Plugs )

Most threaded screw type plugs are installed on the outside. I've used both the lever type and the twist (T-handle) type rubber plug over the years. Both can be installed on inside or outside, depending on accessibility. Both can be turned either left to loosen and of course right to tighten. <br /><br />On the lever type, you can open the lever so it is running parallel to the rubber piece. Twist (turn clockwise) the lever as needed. I usually just push it in and turn the lever to the right until I can almost not turn it anymore to make sure it is tight, then close the lever.<br /><br />If you decide to use the lever type outside, you need to make sure that you are not just sticking the lever plug in and closing the lever. Tighten it some first. As stated above in other posts, make sure that the lever is pointing up as not to be knocked out by water flow pressure, a log, etc.<br /><br />I always put the plug on the inside. Just a personal preference. Of course, in my boat I can access it easily from the inside. If for some reason I have to pull the plug while running wide open to drain the boat (lots of rain, bilge pump broken?), etc., I have easier access to the plug while it is inside the boat. Less likely to lose it overboard too. <br /><br />Be sure to keep a spare plug in your boat also. You never know!

 

[scrapper]

Re: IN or OUT (Boat Plugs )

Thanks guys ! as i said earlier , mine is a nylon screw in with a slot, a quarter fits in nicely and be used as a screwdriver so far so good no leaks

 

[Mark42]

Re: IN or OUT (Boat Plugs )

The flip lever type are for live wells. Not transom plugs. Only use twist tighten plugs in the transom

 

[NBE]

Re: IN or OUT (Boat Plugs )

Mark, sorry to differ but the flip top plugs were around and used as transom plugs way before the twist type was invented, so to speak, or became popular. I can remember when the lever type was the only kind you could find and were the only ones that came with a new boat.<br /><br />Besides, as I stated above, the lever type really is actually a twist type, only difference is you have the lever that you can close or open to install or remove the plug. The only difference between the two plugs are one has the T-handle and the other has a lever handle. Other than that, the are exactly the same. Internals are the same, they are basically made the same, and they operate the same internally as far as how the rubber expands to make the seal.<br /><br />When installing the lever type, you need to twist it some before closing the lever in order to make the rubber expand enough to make a good seal. That is where most people have problems with them leaking and such. You can make the lever plug as tight by twisting it as you can with the T-handle twist.<br /><br />Now it makes more sense to maybe use the twist type, especially if you install it from the outside, in case of hitting an obstacle or something that may flip the lever to the open position. But for inside installations there is virtually not much difference between the two. It can be argued that the lever type is easier to install on the inside of the boat in hard to access places.<br /><br />Now I have to say that most of the boats that I have been associated with have been aluminum flats, except for my fiberglass 21 foot Hondo jet with a 455 olds. It took a screwed pipe plugged installed from the inside.

 

[sumcat1]

Re: IN or OUT (Boat Plugs )

The lever type tend to break too easy if you get them tight.The pivot pin wears.I would only use them on the inside and use T type outside.Only use the brass ones in live wells.

 

[brownies]

Re: IN or OUT (Boat Plugs )

Sort of difficult to get to from the inside on many boats. All of my boats (bass boats) have had the rubber with the flip handle.<br />Installed from the outside at the transom.<br />Inside on the livewell with a couple of spares that stay laying inside the livewell.<br /> The ones laying in the livewell get chosen for use in there by chance (that way the threads don't seize on any of them from never being used).<br /> Although difficult to get to, You would be amazed at how fast you can reach down into the livewell, grab one of those extra plugs, raise the rear lid, and make your way through that obstacle course with a plug from the inside if need be.

 

[Mark42]

Re: IN or OUT (Boat Plugs )

Originally posted by Brad E:<br /> Mark, sorry to differ but the flip top plugs were around and used as transom plugs way before the twist type was invented, so to speak, or became popular. I can remember when the lever type was the only kind you could find and were the only ones that came with a new boat....<br /><br />

That probably was true a while back, but if you compare the popular flip top to t-handle, there is a world of difference. The flip levers I have seen in the buckets on countertops are crap. They even say "live well" or something similar on them. The T-handle are listed as transome plugs.<br /><br />I have held flip levers in my hand that I can bend the levers with ease. The threaded disk is thin and will rip through in no time. I'm not saying that some are not good enough to use as transome plugs, but most are not even close to a piece of hardware that I would trust to keep water out of my boat. <br /><br />To be on the safe side, I will always refer to flip levers to be life well plugs.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: IN or OUT (Boat Plugs )

I have a couple that I use to plug my scupper valves when I launch to keep the water out, then they are removed when underway; the main drain, so to speak, is a brass threaded plug.

 

[NBE]

Re: IN or OUT (Boat Plugs )

Well, I guess the moral of the story is that you get what you pay for. I agree with you Mark, that probably most of the flip tops that are sold in buckets, like I noticed at Wally World, are pieces of junk. <br /><br />The one I have is so solid I doubt that I could bend it using a pair of pliers, much less my hand. <br /><br />As far as one being made with inferior material, I guess that depends on the manufacturer. I had an uncle that worked a long time for a company that made both types of plugs and he said both were made of the same materials, both twisted to expand the rubber, and that the flip top had the additional feature of flip-to-close that would give you more expansion. Plus the fact that it was way far easier to remove than the screw type. I usually screw in the twist type by hand but seems that I almost always need pliers to undo it.....LOL.<br /><br />I guess it is like anything else. Finding a really good one is tough with all of the junk out in the market place. The old saying comes true once again, "They don't make them like they used to."<br /><br />I did dissect one of each the other day. Both were from Wally World. Didn't see much of a difference in the pieces as far as materials of construction. In this case, both were pieces of junk....LOL. At least compared to the ones I have and use now.

 

[imported_Curmudgeon]

Re: IN or OUT (Boat Plugs )

No reason to worry unless you get in some really thick cover and a log knocks it loose....highly unlikely.<br /><br />Almost sunk a boat on Toledo Bend, came about as close as one can come and still float long enough to get to shore. Used an external flip plug and I suppose a limb jerked it loose. Used a T plug from then on and haven't had another problem.

 

[Pony]

Re: IN or OUT (Boat Plugs )

I must be really odd................<br /><br />I have never seen a flip style plug used with lever on the outside. Both of mine are on the inside.............my last boat (15ft trihull) had it on the inside as well. My grandpas boat had it inside.............I always thought thats how it was supposed to go.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: IN or OUT (Boat Plugs )

You dont need one at all if youre moving. Quit sittin around! Get moving!