Boat Plug?

M

MD746

Cadet
Joined
Feb 19, 2010
Messages
26
Ok, I know this is a stupid question but should the plug for the transom be installed from the outside or the inside?
 
ziggy

ziggy

Admiral
Joined
Jun 30, 2004
Messages
7,473
Re: Boat Plug?

you can do either or. which ever works best for your situation.
on my i/o, ya couldn't get to it from the inside very easy so it gets put in from the outside. i've seen some boats with a a screw in drain plug. these seem to be from the outside too. good thing about from the outside for the rubber plug type is that the water itself trys to push the plug in and make it seal. that's a plus.

dad had a couple different o/b's when i was a kid. we installed the plug from the inside on them. it was easy to get to. doing it that way had the benifit of being able to siphon the water out while underway. just pull the plug and whatever waters in the bilge goes right out the plug hole as long as your moving. never had a problem with the plug coming out when installed from the inside, but water is trying to push it out of the hole installed from the inside.
 
smokeonthewater

smokeonthewater

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
9,838
Re: Boat Plug?

makes no difference which ever works for you is fine
some can't be put in from the inside and some can't be put in from the outside

I have one of each and both are i/o's
 
MNSouthwestfishing

MNSouthwestfishing

Cadet
Joined
Nov 26, 2009
Messages
22
Re: Boat Plug?

It really shouldn't matter which side you put the plug in. That said I always put it in from the outside as I do some backtrolling and I feel better about the plug being put in from the outside. The other argument you may hear is when putting it in from the outside it is exposed to hit and catch on something and possibly get pulled out. I always have two extra plugs in my boat so if something were to happen I can slide one in from the inside. Honestly I don't believe there is a right or wrong answer here as long as you put the plug in :rolleyes:and it is tight.
 
cr2k

cr2k

Captain
Joined
Mar 19, 2009
Messages
3,730
Re: Boat Plug?

The only stupid questions are the ones you wished you had asked before you find yourself in "that" situation. Whatever that situation is.

There are a lot of people on here (me included) who can tell you WHY you need to put the plug in.
 
H

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: Boat Plug?

hold on. what kind of plug? the bronze screw-in usually goes in from the outside. But the rubber plugs go in from the inside. Huge difference.

Boating is not one size fits all.
 
P

Proselect

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 17, 2009
Messages
237
Re: Boat Plug?

I agree the bronze and plastic screw type with the pipe threads go in from the outside. The rubber type can go from the inside or the outside.
 
R

rosser1

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 5, 2009
Messages
360
Re: Boat Plug?

outside on most boats from inside on jonboats ans flat bottoms
 
H

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Re: Boat Plug?

all of the information and "rules" about boating are subject to exception, except at least one: put the plug in before you launch!
 
mike64

mike64

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Apr 10, 2008
Messages
1,042
Re: Boat Plug?

Yeah, inside or outside, being IN is the most important thing! :p

I have the rubber plug that expands when you twist it. I used to put it in from the inside, and never had a problem with that. I don't think there's enough water pressure a foot underwater that putting it in from the outside is going to help hold it in. Like someone mentioned, inside gives you the option of pulling it out when the boat is moving and empty the bilge. And like someone else mentioned, I didn't want it to get hit or caught on something and get pulled out. Or some teenager thinks it's funny to swim up and pull it out when I'm anchored (OK, maybe I'm a little paranoid :rolleyes:)

I only put it in from the outside now because I installed a bilge pump and I have no room for the inside install anymore.
 
JimS123

JimS123

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Jul 27, 2007
Messages
8,248
Re: Boat Plug?

If you put it on the outside, make sure you tie a lanyard to the handle. My new Starcraft has it mounted inside, with a chain attached to the transom knee so it can't get too far.
 
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