Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

[Johnson65]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

We normally go over the boat twice, once each time by who is going to operate it and navigate. One time a few years ago, it was very busy, holiday time, and we got in a hurry, and forgot the plug. It happens! Luckily we were close to shore and docked the boat with the bow out, got in the water and installed it. We have it tied on a rope, can't lose it.

 

[electricjohn]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

I have launched without the plug in at least 100 times. I have thousands of launches though. My boat (the 1970 Winner) was used for skiing nearly every day, sometimes multable times a day till 2003. We would get a lot of water in the boat from skiing, so the plug got pulled after every use (that we never forgot). I even put stickers on my removeable lights and transom straps asking, "IS THE PLUG IN THE BOAT"? Didn't help much. Luckily the back of my bilge is open, so we catch it quickly.

On my newer boat, only once.

 

[Hanr3]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

I almost joined the club several times.

 

[aitkenkingfish]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

joined last sheephead tournament. left the house to put in at the local ramp. Got to the ramp got ready to put the plugs in & low and behold the water was to low to launch. packed it up drove 45 minutes to the next ramp everybody was ready to go so I backed down the ramp launched the boat they walked the boat around to the outside of the dock. I drove out to the back 40 just as i parked I thought what did I forget. oh the plug I rushed down kicked on the bildge pump & fumbeled around for the plug. took a little bit to get all the water out but it pumped out.

 

[14bassguy]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

only once with my grandpa. fun times

 

[benny429]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

Once, with my Glastron V156. It was still on the trailer, so I just pulled it out to drain. It's funny how 2 minutes of water coming in takes 10-15 minutes to drain back out.

 

[foxtrotboss]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

I am a member!!! I just put the boat on the trailer pulled the plug and placed the transom straps. When my wife says the boat needs to come forward a couple of inches. well it wasnt going to winch very easy so while my wife is in the boat getting stuff out to go home, I back the boat back in to reposition it. All I heard was my wife screaming pull forward now!!! As a concerned husband I got out to see why instead of pulling forward. Then cranked the winch LOL. What I didn't ralize was how much water gets in a boat in 60 seconds or so. It took twenty minutes for it all to drain out. I just told my wife I was just washing out the bilge LOL.

 

[wildways1976]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

I per-say havn't joined that club yet but I have a feeling I will soon,,, My son one day decided he was going to get in the boat and "arrange things" after I had already setup the boat for the next morning to go fishing... He pulled the plug after seeing there was a little bit of water in it from the rain that night.

We launched, I parked the trailer, and stepped into a ton of water... Needless to say I ran back and grabbed the trailer, pulled the boat, drained the water "took almost 40 minutes" and found another plug as my son forgot where he put it....

He doesn't go in the boat anymore with out me near or in it.... LOL

 

[outboardretard33]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

I guess I'm in the club as well. It was my third or so trip out, I was new to the area. I normally pull off the road by the ramp and undo the gunwale straps, transom saver, etc. So it was my turn to pull down the ramp, and I forgot to do all that. So there I was rushing to do everything in a few minutes. I didn't want to be the one to take my time on the ramp, so I was rushing. Low and behold get in the water noticed something not quite right about the way she was sitting (19' walkthrough glasstron), but nothing clicked. Idled out away from the no wake zone, powered up, and my 125 Force was working extra hard to get up out of the water. And it hits me like a ton of bricks. We were about 300' from the dock in the bayou. I slowly backed off the throttle and the bow leaped forward and down, I told the wife and kids to get in the back, and we made it back to the dock. I put the boat on the trailer, it poured out of the drain hole on the ramp for 20 mins.

This was my calling to cut a hole in the floor, install an inspection plate, and install a bilge in there. This boat had no bilges, when I bought it. I now have two.

 

[outboardretard33]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

I guess I'm in the club as well. It was my third or so trip out, I was new to the area. I normally pull off the road by the ramp and undo the gunwale straps, transom saver, etc. So it was my turn to pull down the ramp, and I forgot to do all that. So there I was rushing to do everything in a few minutes. I didn't want to be the one to take my time on the ramp, so I was rushing. Low and behold get in the water noticed something not quite right about the way she was sitting (19' walkthrough glasstron), but nothing clicked. Idled out away from the no wake zone, powered up, and my 125 Force was working extra hard to get up out of the water. And it hits me like a ton of bricks. We were about 300' from the dock in the bayou. I slowly backed off the throttle and the bow leaped forward and down, I told the wife and kids to get in the back, and we made it back to the dock. I put the boat on the trailer, it poured out of the drain hole on the ramp for 20 mins.

This was my calling to cut a hole in the floor, install an inspection plate, and install a bilge in there. This boat had no bilges, when I bought it. I now have two.

 

[Yar.]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

Once, with my Glastron V156. It was still on the trailer, so I just pulled it out to drain. It's funny how 2 minutes of water coming in takes 10-15 minutes to drain back out.

I hear ya brutha:redface: I thought I was a smarty pants and wouldn't do this until my "normal" routine was interrupted by visiting family....doh, I'm in the club too.....

 

[cgd7777777]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

OFFICIAL MEMBER HERE!
Launched my 18' Alumicraft with a tunnel hull
buddy came back after parking thr truck and I we were idling threw a no wake zone and I wondering why my feet were getting wet!
Well forgot both plugs (one on each side of the tunnel)
put the plugs in after I gave it a lil gas and turned the bilge pump on
NEVER DID THAT AGAIN!
Thank goodness they went in from the inside

 

[bowman316]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

when i'm on plane, i can pull the plug out to drain it. i di that is the bilge does not work.

 

[chryslerguy09]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

well I have one to top it all off. I took my boat out one day and I had my friend with me. We took off and was going pretty fast. It was awsome. I shut it off and went back by the motor to re hook the motor down because it had come off. When I got back up to the helm my friend said there is alot of water comming in. There was so I went back to check to see if the plug was in the back corner. IT WAS! So not thinking anything of it I told my buddy that was out on the water in his boat that I was going back to shore.

Lets say by the time I got back to shore I was standing in 6-10 inches of water. I came up to the dock and slammed into it. I ran to go get my van and backed the trailer in the water. I then noticed how when I got back with the van my boat was partially under water. The motor was completely under and I was devistated. My winch was stripped out and nothing wasnt going right for me.

It took 7 of us to get that boat on the trailer. Thank you to everyone that helped me. I wouldn't have been able to do it myself.

ALL BECAUSE I DIDNT PUT THE LOWER TRANSOM PLUG IN!

 

[wildways1976]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

Well I didn't think it would have happened this soon but I am offically part of this club now.... Of course got in a huirry launched the boat and well you know what happens at this point..... Took quite a bit to get my 20 footer out to drain the water but little did I know that water had got into the crankcase.... Found that out like an hour later....

 

[gjonz]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

Had our new dog with me today. Launched the boat, parked the truck, got in to start the motor, forgot to hook up the fuel tank. Upon going back to hook it us and prime the motor...SURPRISE! ater was flowing in at a nice fountain-like pace as there was no drain plug.

Thank heavens I got a good deal on an 1100gph bilge pump and stuck in my Feather Craft Vagabond.

I proudly am the newest memeber of the elite club as of 8-10-09.

Greg

 

[jloften]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

I am another (not so) proud member of the club...like most mistakes happens when your rushed...unfortunatly my boat didnt(sink) very fast launch was shallow and the skeg was keeping the boat up...it wasnt until my girlfriend asked why there was water in the ski locker when it hit me. First thought was gun it to try to empty the bilge but then thought how the heck do i get the plug in at that point. I rushed back to the dock and there was someone there so i had to beach it just to the side of the ramp....thankfully my truck pulled it out. i then parked on the landing to empty the boat cause there was no one waiting to come in or out. Dnr actually asked me where all the water came from...i told them and they pointed out my tires were dry and it didnt look like it had even been in the water yet...... i pointed out thats because there was a lot of water and its been draining for a while now.... did they think i filled my boat at a different lake and brought it here to increase the lake level? HAHAHA

 

[bluebird]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

yea my husband has been around boats his whole life and he too did it once too. opps

 

[PNW Driver]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

My turn today. I had my 19, 13 and 12 yr old sons with me. My 19 yr old had the lines and was helping me launch. He is very good at the dock responsibilties. I slid it off the trailer and he said "it's good. go park" and off I went to search for a spot to park. I'm taking my time strolling back to the dock when my phone rings and I answer to hear my 13 yr old screaming "the boat is floating" I say "good it's supposed to" he says "No!! It's flooding!".I took off running like the ice cream man wouldn't stop. When I got there The 19 yr old had pulled it back to the ramp with the bow line and had the hull resting on the ramp. I took one look and saw water seeping up around the dog house and jumped in, threw the bilge pump switch,grabbed the plug and went wading. It pumped out in about ten minutes and we were no worse for the wear minus a bit of damage to our pride.

 

[SKEETR]

Re: Joined the "No Plug At Launch" Group

Don't ask me why, I had plenty of time. Noone in sight at the boat ramp, backed down and started loading the boat. Yes I know, not my normal practice, but there literally was not a soul around. Just my 11yr old son and dog with me and we were out for a three day campin trip at the back of Hell hole res. The boat was loaded down and ready to go. Backed er in and tied off to a nearby stump. "I'll be right back!! I yelled confidently driving back up the hill to park.
Got back down to see the boy throwning sticks to the dog. "Ah this is gonna be a great trip" "Hop in Son, lets get going." Went to untie the bow line as my Son says "Uuuhhh Dad??!!" I turned imediately, I'm sure with the look of dread in my eyes, AH CRAP!!! The water above the batteries already so no go on the bilge pump. Reached in grabbed the plug and waded in. With my hands on my hips in amazement at my piece of work. I sigh......and then say "I'll be right back."
So I get the trailer backed down, again and winch the boat on pulled her up. My son by now is near tears and thinks the trip is ruined. I trudge to the back of the boat and pull the plug. You know it is amazing what old wrappers you come up with on a good bilge rinsing like that.
A guy backs down next to me just as the last bits were spilling out. "How was the fishing?" he asks. Without wanting to fully admit my club membership I say "over by the dam is good." But, "We almost sunk our boat!!!" were the next words out my sons mouth. Fighting the compulsion to just hop in and leave, I just kinda laughed it off, and continued drying the engine up a bit. I guess these guys were'nt members or didn't want to fess up either because I didn't get a "I did that once" out of em.
Thankfully, whew, she fired right up when I backed in, even the other two fisherman were amazed and gave us a thumbs up as they sped away. No real harm done except for a wet pack of hotdog buns, some chips, and wet chairs.
I took a sharpie and wrote the word plug on the inside of the rear window of my truck. I see it when I am backing the boat in. Hope it works.