How Do You Remove The Drain Plug On FM165?

[BoatNoobie]

I assume it's the plug right in the middle in the back. It's not like your regular plugs I'm use to on my 14' Lund.

I store my boat outside, so I want to make sure water drains out if it gets in.


*edit*

Nevermind, I figured it out. All this time, I trying to figure out how to loosen it from inside the boat. Didnt realize I had to do it from the outside. I need a replacement though. The rubber looks beat and the nut on the end is all rusty.

Previous owner said he never removed the drain plug since it was always stored inside.

Looks pretty knarly in the battery/bilge area. Need to remove everything and scrub it out.

Where do you buy this style of drain plug? I've only located the cheap version like at walmart and such.

 

[Tiggyboot]

Re: How Do You Remove The Drain Plug On FM165?

I would say try a Lowe dealer. They should be able to hook you up. Make sure it comes with the wire on the end, it's to prevent losing the plug if it comes lose. It attaches inside the bottom of the boat.

Put a tiny bit of vaseline on it before you reinstall, makes it easier to get out, also helps with seal.

 

[BoatNoobie]

Re: How Do You Remove The Drain Plug On FM165?

wait a min, someone with a little more knowledge just told me my plug was plugged in backwards....

That doesnt make sense to me, due to the way the plug was suppose to be attached to the wire inside the bilge.

This is how the drain plug suppose to face right?

 

[nam6869usmc]

Re: How Do You Remove The Drain Plug On FM165?

wait a min, someone with a little more knowledge just told me my plug was plugged in backwards....

That doesnt make sense to me, due to the way the plug was suppose to be attached to the wire inside the bilge.

This is how the drain plug suppose to face right? "YES"

 

[hacrwj]

Re: How Do You Remove The Drain Plug On FM165?

Are you supposed to put a plug in the other hole as well? I realize it is the live well drain. I just bought a fm 165 last week. I plugged both holes when I put it in the water

 

[191Seanymphstriper]

Re: How Do You Remove The Drain Plug On FM165?

On smaller aluminum boats the drain plugs with the handle on them can go on the inside.

On larger aluminum and fiberglass boats the drain plug goes on the outside because of the presure from the wieght of the boat and sea and depth of the boat when she is in the water.


If you installed it on the inside of a larger vessel and you are mooring or docking the vessel the presure mixed with vibration will eventaully push it out and your boat will take on water.


Now if you install the plug on the outside, Even if the drain plug where loose most likly the presure would keep the plug forced inward like the picture shows above. Which is the correct way the plug should be installed.

The reason for having a chain attatched to the plug when the plug is installed on the outside of the boat is for this reason.

lets say the plug became very loose. And you are running at a high speed where the boat is basically out of the water, well you no longer have that presure and it falls out(ONLY IF IT WERE LOOSE TO BEGIN WITH).

Then you come to a stop and notice the bilge going off etc etc and the boat is taking on water and you notice its coming from the whole where the plug was supposed to be.

You would then pull the chain very fast and it would fall back in the whole.


Then the presure from the water would hold it in and you would have to either go slow and haul it out and change or tighten the plug, or jump in and tighten the plug. Now without this chain attatched you better hope you have a spare and you can find it on the boat.

"(And even if it does not fall back in the whole you still have the plug and can jump in and reinstall and tighten it!)"


If you loose this plug all togeather on a vessel with (no spare) it does not have a good outcome especially if your in the ocean! And if you think your 1 or 2 or 3 bilge pumps can save you...... Your wrong, You will sink!


Also if you think you can just go fast and you will be ok until you get to a beach well (WRONG AGAIN) you will sink

So the chain serves a purpose as stated!

Hope this positivly correct information has helped!






Also just to give a heads up the threw hull live well in and outlets are great but some boat builders do not install sea cocks on them. What this means is that these wholes in the boat are connected directly to the pump and directly to the live well....

Well what happens if the hose breaks cracks splits?

Well most likly you will sink!

So it is a good ides to install a valve from the inlet and outlet to a on off valve. they make them in plastic and in brass etc. Brass being my choice because plastic wears down and breaks. And also the inlet and outlet can be purchased in brass or stainless etc! (Very expencive but very safe)

Just another tip!

 

[191Seanymphstriper]

Re: How Do You Remove The Drain Plug On FM165?

Also i thought id throw this in there.

They make copper plugs, aluminum plugs, brass plugs and stainless plugs.


The best plug you can buy is stainless!

Because copper brass and aluminum is softer material and after a couple of uses of tightening can strip and are weak and show signs of decay. They are usaully very inexpensive as well


They are not as strong as stainless and stainless you can really tighten without stripingas the others would!

All the other above materials will strip over heavy load that a stainless can handle!

And its always a good idea to have several spare plugs on a boat incase of any hoses on live well inlets and outlets break etc...


Some people have 100K $ boats and use 4 dollar coper plugs.


Well I dont have a 100K boat and I buy a 15 dollar stainless plugs because it gives me piece of mind and dont worry about it to much then!


Now if you can afford to run a boat weather it where in expencive or expencive vessel I think its just a good investment to use the better quality plug! They are cheap enough compared to most boating pieces of equipment.


Well.............Happy and safe boating all!

 

[BoatNoobie]

Re: How Do You Remove The Drain Plug On FM165?

Hey 191Seanymphstriper,

Someone else mentioned the valve situation to me a while ago.

I would some day like to install 1 for peace of mind, or upgrade the plastic outets. But not sure how to tackle that one just yet. Baby steps for me. I plan on installing a water separator first. Maybe in spring. Just about ready to winterize the boat.

I bought 2 Attawood brass twist plugs for the boat. After about 3 uses, I had issues where it wouldnt tighten up when I spin the handle. It would keep spinning and spinning. Eventually, it will catch and tighten.

So i ordered a SS Seasense from iboat. It doesnt fit in the boat! LOL. It's too big. And it says it's for 1" holes. So I dont know. I can only get the plug about halfway in if that. Luckily, it was cheap. And yes, the plug is as loose as I can get it. The t-handle actually tightens up when you cant back it up any further.

But looking at the SS, I figured out how to make my brass plug work. I have to hold the end of the plug, there's like a flat washer looking end on the opposite side of the t-handle.

Where my plug wouldnt tighten up, I notice that end piece keeps spinning with the handle. Where as, the SS didnt. So now if I hold down the washer to prevent it from spinning, I can feel the t-handle catch whatever is inside and starts tightening up right away. So I start the twist and then jam it into the drain plug.