Brass or rubber plug???

[elcamino12sec]

My Family owns a 1986 22' Chris Craft cuddy with an outboard. It has a brass plug that we tighten up with a wrench we leave in the tow vehicle. It is tightened before we leave and taken out when we get home. My question is: My My mother worries that it will fall out and we will sink. We have had boats in the past that had rubber plugs. She feels the rubber ones are safer and we should change it to that type of plug. Can anyone tell me wich one is safer? I think the brass plugs are, she does not. I will show her the results of this post in a couple days. And if there are any facts in which plugs are better to use, please explain because it will make my Mother sleep better at night and help me here her complain less. Thanks.

 

[nickwilson]

Re: Brass or rubber plug???

I personally have a brass plug in my current boat and have never had a problem, then again, I've never had a problem with rubber plugs in any of my other boats either. I'm thinking hard - and can't say that I know anyone who has ever has a brass or rubber plug fall out that was properly inserted. They are both fine. I guess you could say use which ever one "floats your boat"!

 

[flashback]

Re: Brass or rubber plug???

I would prefer the brass, as it will not deteriorate like the rubber ones, plus, the rubber ones can be turned out of adjustment and become loose where as the threaded pipe plug is designed to bind up as it is screwed into the fitting.........

 

[cuzner]

Re: Brass or rubber plug???

I keep a rubber for a spare,that way if I ever forget to bring a wrench,I don't have worry.<br /><br /> Jim

 

[Blk-n-Blu]

Re: Brass or rubber plug???

I'll agree with Cuz, keep the brass threaded plug and also find and properly fit a rubber plug and keep it on board for Moms peace of mind.I would also carry a minimum set of tools onboard for emergency repairs ( extra belts, hose clamps and such )

 

[Baldguy]

Re: Brass or rubber plug???

Tell your mother this story....<br /><br />A friend of mine wanted to take me and some other friends out on his boat one evening during the holidays to view all the boats with lites. We put in and started to cruise around. No problem.<br /><br />I was sitting in the back and had my feet up. I got up to grab a drink and was up to my ankles in water. I yelled to my buddy that there's water in the boat and he got the spotlite and turned it to the rear of the boat and sure enough we were sinking.<br /><br />I lifted up the engine cover to see how bad we were and there was water spinning from the pullys and the motor was just about gonna quit. My buddy gunned it and with the help of the bilge pump we managed to get it back to the ramp.<br /><br />He swears he put the rubber plug in. The kind of person he is I have no doubt he did. The plug was the rubber kind that you twist in and then pull the lever down.<br /><br />The only thing we can think of that caused that plug to come out is....he didn't twist tight before he flipped the lever down. There was seaweed and other stuff around the dock where we put in and "perhaps" something pulled it out.<br /><br />To make a long story short...it's for this reason I don't use rubber drain plugs.

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: Brass or rubber plug???

Have you ever tried to remove a brass plug by hand after a day on the water? Absolutely impossible. They just won't come out. Have your mother try to get it out herself without a wrench, I think that might ease her mind a little.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Brass or rubber plug???

Brass plug by all means! If you put it in with a wrench you'll need a wrench to get it out. Don't tighten it too much or you risk breaking the seal on the female fitting. Carry a spare and a wrench.

 

[elcamino12sec]

Re: Brass or rubber plug???

Thanks guys. I am going to show her the replys this weekend. I dident think Chris Craft would put a plug in a boat that would make it sink.

 

[Boilermaker]

Re: Brass or rubber plug???

Am I the only one that puts the rubber plug in from the INBOARD side of the plug tube??? It seems to me that is the safest place to put the plug>>>If it ever works loose, it can be reinserted because it would be right there in the bilge. (I also carry a few spares onboard)<br />As far as which is better, I don't know>>>But I've seen many bolts, nuts, and fittings that where put on with a wrench come loose from vibration. Now if thats a plug on the outboard side, your gettin' wet my friend.

 

[kd6nem]

Re: Brass or rubber plug???

I feel a bit more secure with the rubber plugs which have a tee handle that is screwed in rather than a flip lever which could snag on something and loosen more easily. I'm not sure if a rubber plug would seal inside brass threads altogether perfectly, kind of have to use what the boat is set up for. Might get torn up after awhile inside the threads anyway. The brass plug would give me most confidence without question.

 

[djvan]

Re: Brass or rubber plug???

Boiler maker,<br /><br />My brother in law installed his screw type rubber plug from the inside one year, at the end of the season you could pull the plug out without loosening it. Don't know if this is common or not, at very least I would check it often as water pressure will always be trying to push the plug out (in).<br /><br />DougV>

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Brass or rubber plug???

I prefer the screw in brass plug, too. I think it's a much more positive connection than the rubber plug and dosn't deteriorate over time. I can only get my plug in from the outside and can visualize a rubber plug working it's way out underway because I forgot to seat it properly. That brass plug ain't coming out [ever, if you neglect to grease it every year].

 

[Buttanic]

Re: Brass or rubber plug???

One thing to think about with a rubber plug. The plug is usually in a brass or aluminum sleeve that is pressed or glued into the transom. The rubber plug may not come out of the sleeve but I have seen sleeves come out the transom. At least the socket for the brass plug is screwed to the transom.<br /><br />Buttanic