Well I took my turn on this one this past Friday.<br /><br />Took the day off (Summer Fever sick day) and took the family to the lake for the day.<br /><br />Prepped the boat in the parking lot doing all the usual stuff and somehow forgot the drain plug that I keep hung from the steering wheel.<br /><br />Tied the boat to the launch pier had the wife sit near it with the kids while I parked the van, paid then filled out the launch fee envelope, walked the launch dash card back to the van, double checked the van was locked etc. etc. etc. I am including these boring details to give you a sense of how long the water was gushing into the boat.<br /><br />Finally got back down to the pier (lake was nice and deserted, nice to go out when most others are at work) and begin to get in and my wife and me notice at the same time that there's water in the boat 1/2 way up the lounge seat base!<br /><br />I grab the plug, jump back to the back of the boat, pull out the 6 gallon tank to access the bung and place plug in its' proper location.<br /><br />I then remember learning (probably here) that if you get your boat on plane and remove the plug, the water will exit the boat. I tried this. I wouldn't suggest it. It was a little nerve racking. I had to really try to get the boat on plane. I put it at WOT got into the bow and tried to weigh it down enough to get it on plan. Well it finally got on plane. Then I had to crawl back to the back of the boat, maneuver around the floating gas tanks and remove the plug. All the while praying I don't sink, or hit anything as no one was steering at this point. (Darwin award candidate? Me?)<br /><br />I made a circle around the lake like this and noticed the water level lowering *somewhat* but at least I wasn't sinking.<br /><br />I then decided to do what I should have done in the first place which was put the boat back on the trailer and pull it up a bit on the ramp and let 'er drain.<br /><br />This I did, and about 10 -15 minutes later, the boat was empty. Luckily there was no ramp traffic at all while I was draining, but the small crowd at the adjacent beach had a good little laugh at our expense. But by that time we were laughing too.<br /><br />Once we got all that behind us, we motored out found a great spot on the sand bar and spent nearly 5 great hours on the water. Turned out to be a GREAT day.<br /><br />Thought I'd share this so others could share the "I forgot the plug" shame.<br /><br />*Hopefully* this'll be the first/last time for me on this one.<br /><br />-Linc
. but ya do learn quickly about things like that. anyways, my comment is that i don't think ya need to be on plane to get the water out. just moveing fwd enough that there is low pressue behind ya. the water will then siphone out with the plug pulled. cool that ya had a great day boating. things have a way of working out.....sometimes......
