Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

[Geo2008]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

I have found that boating has two fundamental moments that can ruin your day very easily.

1. Forget to screw in the plug

2. Having something go wrong on the ramp and having your vehicle end up in the water.

I have not forgot the plug but one day I was backing the truck down the ramp and my wet foot slipped off the brake and for two second (what seemed like an eternity) my H3 boat and trailer was rocketing down the ramp at light speed.

I recovered and got my foot on the brake at the last second, when I slammed the brake down my boat shot off the trailer, I jumped out of the truck rand down to the end of the dock and luckily my boat just floated right to me like it was a trained dog.

From the outside it likely did not look too bad and I recovered well. It took me at least an hour to shake off the feeling that I almost just sank a fairly new Hummer H3 in the lake.

It still gives me the heebee jeebees when i think about it.

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

Am I a member of the club? On Saturday (after reading this thread) I went to launch and remembered the plug as I was backing down the ramp. I was far enough in that I had to pull up some to not get my shorts wet and I'm not sure if the bilge had gotten wet or not.

 

[INJUN]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

I believe you'd have to get the bildge wet. Although there is probably nothing writen in stone. Yet.

A member in good standing.

 

[Fu-Inator]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

As a new guy, I'm pretty paranoid about forgetting my plugs. I read somewhere that 80% of boats sinking around the dock/ramp are attributed to plug "failures"... lol. When I stop to do pre-launch boat prep, it is the first thing I do. I may switch to the "plugs in before leaving" method.

I know it will happen, when it does, I will look for this thread again.

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

I believe you'd have to get the bildge wet. Although there is probably nothing writen in stone. Yet.

I guess I'll try harder next time. I've always wanted to be part of a group!!

 

[nmsu18]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

I was at Canyon Lake in AZ about 6 years ago with a buddy in his jet boat and backed him down the ramp and he slid off and I went to park the truck/trailer. I come back to the dock and he's driving around on plane in a small circle and I'm thinking "what the hell is he doing?"

He makes a slower pass close to the dock and he yells "Go get the truck I forgot the plug!" I ran to get the truck and backed down the ramp and he pulled her on the trailer and we started over. He realized the plug was out when the bow seemed "too high" to him.

 

[gonefishin485]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

im a member of the "whoa, hang on, forgot the plug" club, did it once, had a friend backing me in the water, looked back to see how far in i was to see if i could start my motor, and oops, scared the crap out of me so bad, i keep the plug tied to something in the bilge, and one in the battery box, just incase

ever since then when i am taking the transom saver and transom straps off, i check the plug

ive also swamped my own boat backing up off the trailer heavy motor+low transom= wet bilge

 

[wuttja]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

Since my "bilge test incident" that started this post, I've come up with a new routine that works well so far. Now when I'm getting the trailer and boat ready for departure, I put the plug in, tighten the transom straps, and tilt the motor all the way up. So far, so good!

 

[JaxFlaJaguar]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

I have seen some people hook a small brass chain to the plug and then to the transom right above where the plug goes. Always there in front of you, never left in the truck, boat, home, etc.

 

[The-Machinist]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

After throughly rinsing the bilge of my little bass tracker I started using a new method that has not failed yet. I tied a loop of cord to my plug,now any time that it is removed I loop it around the steering wheel. Its hard not to notice a plug dangling from the wheel.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

Heading off on vacation in a couple of hours. I put the plug in already !!!!!

 

[LoweRider]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

Sadly I have to say that this, my first post , is because just this morning I became a two time member of this elete group! Took on about ten inches of water before I got the plug back in, loaded my 14' aliminum superior v back on the trailer, pulled the plug and drained her. However on a positive note, my son met me about two hours later and we took my 2 year old grandaughter on her first boating trip. We all caught fish and my grandaughter had a blast! Just for the record this forum is a wonderful source of information and thank you all for sharing!!

 

[franco802]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

Not part of the club, but have been on boats where friends happen to be very active club members lol!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

I joined this club last night. Can't believe it because I am always so careful. I was really off my game for some reason. Anyway, we weren't a couple feet from the ramp and my dad said "um there's a lot of water back there" it was already over the floor. Fortunately you can put the plug in from the inside or the outside on my boat so I was able to get it in quickly. We let the bilge pump run for a bit and then we got up to speed and pulled the plug to get the rest out. What a dummy.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

Well, I did it again this past Sunday. Was at Jocassee in sc and the process for me to put there is a bit different that in the rest of the lakes I visit so this interrupted my routine. Good thing is that the plug can be put from the inside (after removing all the junk that blocked the bilge) so i did. Later I just have the plug pulled while going in plane.
Hello, my name is Nandy and I am an active member of this club!

 

[mike64]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

This is where my borderline OCD comes in handy. My routine:
Morning of day I'm taking my boat out: check/insert plug
Before pulling out of driveway: check plug
Prelaunch: Remove transom straps, etc, check plug
Several times while out on water: check to see if plug is still in

 

[KeyWestBoater]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

I think you should check your plug more often. Maybe another 1/2 dozen times or so.

 

[kmk_7110]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

My problem isn't forgetting to put it in, its forgetting to take it out once i get home.

 

[douglloyd]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

Did it once last year, Got smart and installed a one way valve/drain the bilge only drain. Oops did it again this year only a few drops got past the drain until I remembered and installed the plug.

 

[Pbear]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

yup - I been a member for over 10 years - lol - did it once but saw thewater rushin in the back befroe the cable was disconnect from the trailer - puller er back up the ramp to drain - whew !!