First Timer - Drain Plug Left Out

[midmichduck]

First time everything. Bought 94 Mariah Talari 210 w/5.0L 205 HP. Yesterday was first launch. Created and printed check list but more concerned about backing, launching, blower, et, etc and never checked that plug was in. Made it half-way around small lake and engine died. Immediately heard bilge spitting water and new what I did. Engine would not restart, got towed in and trailered. Plug was in glove box.<br /><br />I will take it into shop but waht can I expect to find?<br /><br />Still trying to smile.<br /><br />Thanks!

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: First Timer - Drain Plug Left Out

Since you were in freshwater, consider yourself lucky. If you have a manual (it is good practice to have the manual for your engine) there will be a section on what steps to follow for a freshwater submerged motor. The first thing you will want to do is drain ALL of the oil from the engine and check for water. How deep did the water get into the engine compartment? Did the engine crank over or do nothing? May just have blown a fuse or shorted as the engine block is basically waterproof unless the intake goes under. <br /><br />BTW: Welcome to iboats! Just about everyone has left a plug out at least once! Most discover it before they make it half-way around the lake. Did you put the plug in before the tow got there? On some I/Os you can install the bilge plug from the inside which may be a good practice. Good Luck!

 

[Boomyal]

Re: First Timer - Drain Plug Left Out

Not knowing how your boat is constructed, I'd be concerned about water trapped below deck ie, especially in the gas tank bay.

 

[midmichduck]

Re: First Timer - Drain Plug Left Out

We didn't get the bilge plug in. I grabbed the first plug we found on boat and jumped in. It didn't fit. The correct plug was actually in a compartment on swim platform.<br /><br />The engine still cranked but would not start. The water got pretty high under flor storage compartment but I didn't look in engine until we had her trailerd and pulled out.<br /><br />I will take her into the shop tomorrow was fretting over how much damage to expect.<br /><br />Thanks.

 

[thunderroad]

Re: First Timer - Drain Plug Left Out

Take it to a reputable place, hopefully where you know someone. Don't let them sell you on a big, expensive, gloom and doom story right off the bat. Pin them down, if they say this and that is ruined, make them show you how and why. There are many worse things that can happen than being partially submerged in fresh water for a short time. I'm betting it's not all that serious....but of course, I wasn't there to see or hear it. If it were mine, I'd change the oil, maybe take out the spark plugs and crank it a little to see if any water made it into the cylinders, squirt a little oil in each one, put the plugs back in, park it in a place where it will catch the afternoon sun, open it up all I could and let it sit a few days.

 

[NBE]

Re: First Timer - Drain Plug Left Out

If you have to install your plug from the outside, as many do, be aware that the plug can actually get loose from vibrations going down the road and fall out. <br /><br />I used to put the plug in before leaving the house until one day I put the boat in the water only to discover that there was no plug. It had fell out somewhere between home and the boat landing. <br /><br />Thinking that I didn't tighten it enough, on the next trip I made sure that it was good and tight. I checked and it was still in when I got to the landing to launch. When I got home later that night and decided to check it again, the plug was loose. This had to be caused by road vibrations as I am sure it was very tight when I left the house. <br /><br />This probably is not a problem if you install the plug from the inside of the boat but beware if you install it from the outside before leaving home. It's a good idea to check it again when you get to the landing or you'll end up like me, putting the boat in the water without a plug.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: First Timer - Drain Plug Left Out

You may be lucky and only have a wet starter and solenoid. Have them taken apart. They may even be saveable. If the water didn't get into the carb, you shouldn't have any other problems. <br /><br />Keep the plug at your feet in the boat and even a spare somewhere under a seat that's easily accessible. <br /><br />Don't feel bad, it's happened to most of us, me included!

 

[Mr. Ross]

Re: First Timer - Drain Plug Left Out

Sounds to me as though the water never made it to the intake or into the oil. Let us know, and don't feel bad as it happens every day. The excitement of launch sometimes overwhelms.

 

[midmichduck]

Re: First Timer - Drain Plug Left Out

Thanks for all the replies, it doesn't sound too doom and gloom. I dropped it off at the marina tonight and we'll see what they find.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: First Timer - Drain Plug Left Out

DO NOT let anyone attempt to start this engine until the plugs have been removed and its been spun over a few times. Water doesn't compress (Physics 101). With the plugs out, spin the engine over to force out any that MAY have been injested. Immediately squirt some oil in the cylinders and again spin the engine over to get those cylinder walls coated to prevent rust formation. When everything else is done (oil and filter change, no water in fuel, etc.) then install the plugs and fire it up. The longer you wait the worse the damage will be if left with water in the cylinders (any water).

 

[NoWorries]

Re: First Timer - Drain Plug Left Out

MMD, I have a '96 Mariah Talari Z220, and if you're engine sits in the bilge well like mine, the water in your boat would have to be about a foot high above the deck to get ingested into the engine. Even leaving the plug out, if you were up on plane running around the lake, the boat WILL drain! When you're on plane, the drain is out of the water and what water came in, can drain right back out. SO, I would expect to find another reason for the engine dieing other than water ingestion. Possibly water got into the wiring harness and caused a short.<br /><br />BTW...That cooler, livewell, storage job in the swim platform is basically useless,....except to put the plug in while the boat's on the trailer! That's where I keep mine too.

 

[ruf1967]

Re: First Timer - Drain Plug Left Out

I always make it a point to put the plug in during the time I am removing the tie down straps from the boat/trailer at the pre-launch area.

 

[Flukinicehole]

Re: First Timer - Drain Plug Left Out

Just about every ramp Ive used has a big sign that says CHECK YOUR PLUG.I still see boats filling up.Hope everything is alright.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: First Timer - Drain Plug Left Out

i've done it. the marina where i use to store my boat did it also.

 

[Mr. Ross]

Re: First Timer - Drain Plug Left Out

How about keeping the plug with the boat keys, would that help?<br /><br />I guess I am one of the lucky ones, all my years of trailering and I never forgot to install a plug.

 

[JIm Cook]

Re: First Timer - Drain Plug Left Out

My 96 Mariah Z240 got flooded enough to cover the starter. Marine starters dont have a drain in the bottom and will hold water and rust up. I learned<br />the hard way and ended up with a dragging starter.<br />I believe the drive should be pulled because the<br />seal on your u-joint shaft [behind gimbal brg], wont stop water from getting into the belows area and attacking gimbal<br />bearing and u-joints. Should be OK if done promtly.<br />My leak was caused by beaching at a high enough angle that caused the exhaust tips to be submerged.<br />Turns out the factory or dealer never sealed the<br />flanges on the exhaust tips tips with sealant of anykind. The end grain of the holes that they bored were not even sealed. I hunted for that leak for a long time <br />because it only leaked when beached with bow pushed way up. Bought the boat new in 96 a it's<br />been a pretty good ride for about 800 hrs. now.

 

[Mr. Ross]

Re: First Timer - Drain Plug Left Out

Pretty sad what they do Jim, I would bet none of them are sealed. I saw a Four Winns last week, the boat looked new but was an older model, just very well kept.<br /><br />The transom was starting to rot because the hole cut for the out-drive was not sealed. I would have been sick, and mad as hell if I had cared for a boat that well only to find that kind of thing.

 

[magster65]

Re: First Timer - Drain Plug Left Out

<br />Join the club.<br />There's not many folks here that haven't done the same... myself included!<br />The good news is that you're not likely to do that again.