2 questions: Turn-tite Boat plugs and fire extinguishers

[oceansbreeze]

I searched the forums for more info on these plugs, but no real success...

I'm used to those plugs when you push the little lever down, and it plugs the boat....

My Princecraft has one that looks like it has a little brass T sticking out of it, on the exterior of the transom.... If this is in fact a turn-tite plug, a google search says these are usually mounted from the inside in the bilge area?

I'd have to take a photo if you want to see one, but how does this plug work? just turn it and pull it out? Is this the best plug I should be using for this kind of boat?

Second question, I bought a new fire extinguisher with my boat (due to havign the built in tank) and noticed it was BC, same as my kitchen. I pulled out my kitchen extinguisher last night, and it was made in 1999. There is no guage on it. Is there a way to test this one and put it on the boat? Google search tells me they have life of 6 to 12 years.... which is kind of vague...

Cheers!

PS: 3rd question, why isn't my signature photo showing up? It shows in the UserCP. Does it need to be approved by a mod?

 

[QC]

Re: 2 questions: Turn-tite Boat plugs and fire extinguishers

I'll tackle #3 . . . I see your signature as:

1999 Princecraft 166 Pro
1998 Evinrude 70hp

and for what it's worth I can't edit sigs. Tried recently and no way to do it . . .

 

[jash1178]

Re: 2 questions: Turn-tite Boat plugs and fire extinguishers

I don't know id this helps but I have a small extinguisher on my boat that it came with and I thought it was bad and meant to replace it when I got the boat at the begining of the year. Well I got boarded by the CG a couple of weeks ago and then remembered that I did not replace it. It does not have a guage and I didnt know how to tell if it was good or not so I was naturally nervous about it. He pulled it out and was looking at it and I thought oh man here we go. To my surprise it was still good, there is a little circle window on it that was green, he said when that turns to red it needs to be replaced, good thing.

 

[Les Robb]

Re: 2 questions: Turn-tite Boat plugs and fire extinguishers

The bad thing about a boat fire is you can't run away if the thing looks like it's going to blow. Fuel spreads on the surface and continues to burn. If I had any choice of leaving this world burning to death would be the last. For IO gas engines spend a few bucks to get a quality extinguisher and run your blower. OB's are a lot safer and inboard diesel's are about the safest.

For the plug you got it right and it all depends on which you prefer. You can adjust both with the little brass nut on end but I prefer the twist to tighten, takes a little more effort. but if you tighten hard enough it won't come out accidentally. And don 't forget, neither one will do you a bit of good unless they are in the hole. (Exception would be if you wanted to pull while running at a fair clip to empty any water in the boat.)

 

[md-lucky]

Re: 2 questions: Turn-tite Boat plugs and fire extinguishers

Sounds like I've been putting my plug in backwards.

I spin it in from outside the hull. I'm not big on sticking my hand down it the bildge water after a day of playing, so I'm probably not going to change, either. I can get it pleanty tight by hand.. there is no way that sucker is coming up unless the hull takes a massive hit. Even then, I doubt it.

I always keep the fire extinguisher right next to me. There is something I would never skimp on... Get a good quality, large extinguisher and live with less heart-burn.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: 2 questions: Turn-tite Boat plugs and fire extinguishers

A rubber pull-out plug ought to be inside (regardless of how you tighten it) and a threaded metal plug outside. If you can't put in inside at least tie a string to it in case it works loose. Of course, you will have a spare in the glove box and a spare spare in the tool box.

 

[Mark42]

Re: 2 questions: Turn-tite Boat plugs and fire extinguishers

The T handle plugs work the best because you can really tighten them if needed. I have two on the back of my MFG, both from the outside because there is no way they can be inserted from the inside (on that boat). Never had one come loose.

I would not trust a flip lever plug. I read where they were intended as live well plugs, but end up being sold as transom plugs.

 

[mphy98]

Re: 2 questions: Turn-tite Boat plugs and fire extinguishers

I have threaded metal on both boats, they go in from the outside, and i use a little teflon tape on them as well. I know overkill, but I keep spares and the tape in the glovebox.

 

[md-lucky]

Re: 2 questions: Turn-tite Boat plugs and fire extinguishers

The T handle plugs work the best because you can really tighten them if needed. I have two on the back of my MFG, both from the outside because there is no way they can be inserted from the inside (on that boat). Never had one come loose.

Thats another VERY good point.

I'm not 100% sure I could even reach the plug from inside the boat... and I've got LONG arms. It would be a huge stretch.

 

[oceansbreeze]

Re: 2 questions: Turn-tite Boat plugs and fire extinguishers

Thanks all...

To QC: yeah I put the 2 lines of text for the sig, and I uploaded a photo of it that is within the spec size required... I can see the image in UserCP but nowhere does it show up. I tried inserting tags to no avail... so not sure how you guys get a pic in your sig...

After I posted this thread, and I came home from work, decided to spend an hour sitting in her and looking everything over. I decided to just put the new extinguisher in the boat, I figure I have better odds of needing it on the lake, than I do in the kitchen... I got out the drill and put her in place, I am assuming that little recessed area on the side is where it was supposed to go...

As for the plug, I decided to be a brave soldier, and see what happened if I turned it! Surprise it came out! Boy did it drain. It must have drained for a good 10 minutes.... I'm glad I did that. The maina I bought it from said to just use the bilge, but I know from my last boats, they don't get rid of everything... it feels good to know she's drained good now..

I have a new question.... since this is my thread, I'll toss it in here...with respect to guages...

Horn, Lights, Bilge, what the heck is the one I circled in red? then livewell filler. When will I need the Accessory? Is this like an empty unused fuse/toggle?

Thanks for the help and insight.... I know I will have some more questions, but these were the main issues till I launch her again tomorrow...

 

[ziggy]

Re: 2 questions: Turn-tite Boat plugs and fire extinguishers

another thing about putting the plug in from the outside is that water pressure is pressing the plug into the hole when yer static in the water. be it a rubber t-handle plug or a lever type of rubber plug. if you put the plug in from the inside. water pressure is always trying to push it out of the hole. good thing about inside is that you can use it as a siphon to remove water from the bilge. ya just move fwd at plow speed and pull the plug from inside. all the water in yer bilge will run right out..

i install my rubber t-handle type plug from the outside...

along with being sure your fire extinguisher is in the green. take it out every year and tilt it from end to end. you should feel the stuff inside sloshing back and forth. if you can't feel the stuff inside moving. it's settled to the bottom of the fire extinguisher and is getting solid. turn the fire extinguisher on it's side, and rap it with a wood mallet or the likes to loosen up the stuff inside. rap on it a few times, tilt it end for end and see if ya can't feel the stuff moving. if you can't feel it moving, replace the fire extinguisher even if it is in the green as it won't work proper with the stuff solid on the bottom of the fire extinguisher.. don't turn the fire extinguisher upside down and rap on it with a mallet though. the stuff in the bottom will let go and fall into the nozzle of the fire extinguisher and possibly plug it rendering it useless..

 

[109jb]

Re: 2 questions: Turn-tite Boat plugs and fire extinguishers

I've been installing the flip lever expanding rubber plugs from the outside for 30 years now and never had one just pop out. I do keep a spare in the boat though. As a matter of fact, I prefer these type over the screw in because no tools are needed to get a leak free install. The screw in drain plug on my Sea Ray seeps unless tightened with a wrench. I'm planning on boring out the boat mounted drain or make a custom one to accept the flip plug. My preference.

 

[109jb]

Re: 2 questions: Turn-tite Boat plugs and fire extinguishers

Thanks all...

To QC: yeah I put the 2 lines of text for the sig, and I uploaded a photo of it that is within the spec size required... I can see the image in UserCP but nowhere does it show up. I tried inserting tags to no avail... so not sure how you guys get a pic in your sig...

After I posted this thread, and I came home from work, decided to spend an hour sitting in her and looking everything over. I decided to just put the new extinguisher in the boat, I figure I have better odds of needing it on the lake, than I do in the kitchen... I got out the drill and put her in place, I am assuming that little recessed area on the side is where it was supposed to go...

As for the plug, I decided to be a brave soldier, and see what happened if I turned it! Surprise it came out! Boy did it drain. It must have drained for a good 10 minutes.... I'm glad I did that. The maina I bought it from said to just use the bilge, but I know from my last boats, they don't get rid of everything... it feels good to know she's drained good now..

I have a new question.... since this is my thread, I'll toss it in here...with respect to guages...

Horn, Lights, Bilge, what the heck is the one I circled in red? then livewell filler. When will I need the Accessory? Is this like an empty unused fuse/toggle?

Thanks for the help and insight.... I know I will have some more questions, but these were the main issues till I launch her again tomorrow...

I'd guess that the circled one is for the anchor light. As for the accessory, no telling. It could be wired up so that the radio and those type of things are on that switch. Turn it off and see what doesn't work.

 

[oceansbreeze]

Re: 2 questions: Turn-tite Boat plugs and fire extinguishers

Thanks for your reply. I also emailed the pic to the dealer I got the boat from, he said it's an interior light switch.... I'm guessing it lights up the guages and dashboard..... I will try it tonight in the dark!!

The radio and fishfinder are not on the ACC switch, cause they both work when the switch is off, and when the motor is off... so I gotta remember to turn those off when she is sitting on the trailer...

I've put in a hard 20 minutes at work already, and hoping to leave in another hour! lol The lake is beautiful today... a shame to be working on a day like this.

 

[escapade]

Re: 2 questions: Turn-tite Boat plugs and fire extinguishers

where abouts in ontario are you from if you don't mind me asking, I've been at work since 7 and havn't done a damn thing

I was going to say interior lighting/auxillary lighting but guess the dealer told ya first lets see some better pictures of the entire boat

 

[QC]

Re: 2 questions: Turn-tite Boat plugs and fire extinguishers

I am guessing courtesy lights along the floor . . . should not light the gauges. Anchor light should be alternate selection on the running light switch, middle off, down running lights, up anchor light or visa versa. Accessory could be a spare as you thought too. Mine is for the engine hatch ram.

On the sig deal, I'll look in your profile although I can't change it. Will post if I see something obvious.

 

[QC]

Re: 2 questions: Turn-tite Boat plugs and fire extinguishers

Yeah, paste the link you're are using for the signature pic and I'll see if I can see what's wrong. I can't see anything in your profile other than the text shown.

Edit: Yeah I just added Havasu Falls to my sig there. Might just leave it . . .

 

[cwhite6]

Re: 2 questions: Turn-tite Boat plugs and fire extinguishers

For the record, you can tighten the flip type plugs also. At least all the ones I have used. Turn the handle clockwise while it is still flipped up and it tightens. I tighten my until it is real snug then flip the handle down.

 

[109jb]

Re: 2 questions: Turn-tite Boat plugs and fire extinguishers

For the record, you can tighten the flip type plugs also. At least all the ones I have used. Turn the handle clockwise while it is still flipped up and it tightens. I tighten my until it is real snug then flip the handle down.

Yep. That's how I do it and IMO it is tighter than the t-handle variety unless you put a pliers on the t-handle ones.

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: 2 questions: Turn-tite Boat plugs and fire extinguishers

I'm happy to find out that I'm not the only one who teflon tapes the screw in plug before installing. LOL. Did I mention I'm paranoid?