Did you forget the plug?

[Bob Huff]

I hear those words everytime me and the missus have boating in the past 20 years. You see, when I go my very first boat in 1979, I did pretty good the first 2 months I had it. THEN I took the missus fishing.. Well I backed the boat into the water and moved it over to the dock, went and parked my truck then walked back down to the dock. Iadmit I was feeling pretty cocky seeign as how I did everything exactly right. Did I mention there wasa bass tournament at the ramp that day and there were about 100 guys standing around waiting to go? Well when I got back to the boat with my wife, she asked me "Is there supposed to be that much water IN the boat?". Sure enuff, I had about 2 inches in the bottom. Well thinking quick I jumped in and put the plug in to stop any more water from coming in. Next idea was that since I didn't want all those 'experts' on the dock who are already starting to laff get any more kicks, I told my wife to get in, we'll get to moving pretty fast and pull the plug, sucking the water out the plug hole. She looked at me like I was insane and said words that I never heard her use before. End result, I trailered the boat, pulled it out, pulled the plug and drained about 100 gallons of water out. 20 years and I still hear 'Did you put the plug in?'...

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Did you forget the plug?

There are those that have forgot the plug and those that will forget the plug.

 

[kanai8238]

Re: Did you forget the plug?

hi guys,your story rings so true,as I just did that same thing just this past weekend.Forgot the plug and went and parked the trailer and got back to the dock and the wife saying the exact same thing,I ended up pulling the boat on the trailer and draining it,after I paniced abit.The horror doesn"t end there
when putting the boat back on after our day out,I was to far from the dock and couldn"t get on straight,and then had no running lights on the way home,
pulled over and turned the boat marker lights on so could be seen in the dark.
I did meet some friendly helpful fellow boaters in my time of need and can
sit back and have a chuckle now,but its all good,live and learn.
Good boating.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Did you forget the plug?

did the same thing, boating by myself. My luck is that I always have my bilgie pump in auto. Returned to see the pump going. I inmediatelly figured what happenend, plugged it and then left to go fishing.

 

[WaterWitch2]

Re: Did you forget the plug?

I did the same thing once. It was the second time out with my wife. I didn't have a bilge pump so I got the boat up to speed and pulled the plug to drain the 4-5 inches of water. The next week I installed a bilge pump. Nowadays I put the plug in in my driveway when I connect the hitch so I don't forget.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Did you forget the plug?

Have not forgot it ......YET !!!!!
I have a plug on my hitch lock to remind me. When I am hooking up to tow I see it and immediately before I do anything else I make sure the plug is in.

 

[IOSLVR]

Re: Did you forget the plug?

I got a missus like Bob's. Look forward to hearing those famous words from her that have already been said the few times we've been out. She grew up around boats so maybe I won't have that "when" it happens time.

 

[wadouglas]

Re: Did you forget the plug?

Did the same thing after going on and on to my wife about what idiots most people were and if they only had a clue etc.. We had several people lined up to launch so getting the boat back on the trailer wasn't an option. Sent my young son to put the plug in and the bilge pump took care of the rest, so I thought. After a couple of hours of boarding we stopped for lunch, and as my wife is eating her sandwich her feet start getting wet, so this time I go in the water to investigate and it turns out my son did put the plug in but just not into the right hole. Well I'm a little quieter now!

 

[jtexas]

Re: Did you forget the plug?

I have a system: once I have a transom tie in my hand I can *not* set it down for *any reason* until the plug is in. I figure that way, if I do forget the plug, at least the boat can't leave the trailer.

 

[K.C.IMP]

Re: Did you forget the plug?

My plug has a cord on it that I leave atachted to the key.

 

[The Bayliner BarBeeQ]

Re: Did you forget the plug?

Wouldn't it just be easier to make sure the plug is in the boat hole before you leave the house? I know it is guy thing. Oops I'm sorry that is just to easy for all you smart boaters.

 

[Maclin]

Re: Did you forget the plug?

KC IMP, that must be a really long cord, otherwise how could you start the boat? HA just kidding....I feel like I can do that 'cause we are in the same neighborhood almost....

Looks like you have an Iola Molded Plastics boat.....neat. Love those mid to late 80's ones.

 

[azlakes]

Re: Did you forget the plug?

yup.. almost sunk a seaswirl in 89' at wahweep. owner had docked us as she left to park the trailer. i looked down after a few minutes and thought man it musta rained a lot last week, cause things were starting to float in the ski locker.. well bout that time the owner saw me scooping water out she started running shouting "get the plug, get the plug!"

 

[just plain ole Bill]

Re: Did you forget the plug?

Yup, did it again. Only this time I was ready for the onlookers. Boat still on the trailer, I pulled it a few feet out of the water then went to the drain and watched the water pour out. When it slowed I backed it in again without the plug. Waited a few seconds then pulled out again and watched water run out again. By this time the curious folks moved a little closer. I looked up, smiled and said "Just cleaning out the bottom. She's been setting up a while."

 

[kanai8238]

Re: Did you forget the plug?

I"ll have to remember that one,just cleaning out the bottom.
good boating.

 

[jtexas]

Re: Did you forget the plug?

Yup, did it again. Only this time I was ready for the onlookers. Boat still on the trailer, I pulled it a few feet out of the water then went to the drain and watched the water pour out. When it slowed I backed it in again without the plug. Waited a few seconds then pulled out again and watched water run out again. By this time the curious folks moved a little closer. I looked up, smiled and said "Just cleaning out the bottom. She's been setting up a while."

priceless!

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Did you forget the plug?

sorry i posted twice

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Did you forget the plug?

I put in once by myself and forgot the plug. After parking and walking back the boat was half full of water and almost sank. Scared me so bad I always remember now NOT to let it happin again. Not as bad as the friend who left his tied up over night assuming the auto belge was working. It rained heavy that night and the battery died. He returned to the dock the next morning to find nothing but a rope tied to the dock leading down into the water, Guess what was on the other end of the rope?

 

[Nandy]

Re: Did you forget the plug?

I did it again, this time i was in the boat and my girl was doing the trailering. I was making sure the motor was idleing fine then the automatic bilgie pump kicked in. I howler to her to slowly pull the trailer out, I forgot the plug. She said, " you big goober, you forgot again!" She is still lauging!

 

[Capt Joe]

Re: Did you forget the plug?

A couple of years ago I was last in line backing down the ramp. Wife in the boat yelled out "You forgot the bungs!". My reply was "How else am I to get last night's 2 inches of rain out of the boat?".

I reckon that was pretty quick thinking - even if not the whole truth.