Leaving the plug IN

[Home Cookin']

Re: Leaving the plug IN

here's another issue: if you have water in your bilge, boat on the trailer, and freezing weather, the bilge water will freeze and could crack stuff. A boat sank in the Chesapeake Bay last week when the guy's live well pump blew apart while he was running. Could have frozen adn cracked, then the water pressure while runing broke it. Meanwhile, if your bilge pump is iced up, even if not damaged, it won't work.

The boat sinking was a very close call and luckily the people on the boat were able to jump onto a nearby boat before theirs swamped and rolled. Still investigating the cuase, but to be safe: drain your bilge and close your sea cocks.

 

[SS Flasher]

Re: Leaving the plug IN

I haven't left the plug in, but I did forget to put it in after launching the boat once. I was pretty embarrassed.

 

[noworries79]

Re: Leaving the plug IN

I haven't left the plug in, but I did forget to put it in after launching the boat once. I was pretty embarrassed.

Everybody gets one! We've all been there. Bet you won't forget again.

 

[kamby]

Re: Leaving the plug IN

Everybody gets one! We've all been there. Bet you won't forget again.

Ive done it before as well but mines opposite. I fished all day and launched with it in. When i got done loaded the boat onto the trailer pulled out etc, this lake they make u remove the plug there is a dock boy that watches so you drain out bilge live wells etc. I decided i didn't like the way it was sitting on the trailer needed to come up a little bit, people were impatient that day not at me, i am fairly quick for being new, but the winds were picking up. Anyway after backing it in pulling it up and pulling out of the launch a lot of water came out, i mean a lot came out the drain plug, oh well live n learn. Thankfully the starter on this engine sits up higher so when it filled the bilge the oil pan just got wet. Bilge pump is switch ran plus the grommet on the boat was broke when i bought it so when u ran the pump it would pump back into the boat which is fixed now a $3 thruhull took take of that problem thanks i boats. This year is time for a new bilge pump, when mine doesnt work you have to reach down and jiggle it to get it to turn on and a new fuse panel, the old one is starting to get corred not bad for bein 25 years old.

 

[TBarCYa]

Re: Leaving the plug IN

My brother left the plug in his bowrider one time and didn't realize it until hurricane Floyd hit NJ and FILLED the boat halfway with water. It had only been sitting for a week or so before the hurricane and there was very little rain leading up to the storm.

Foolish me thought it may be a good idea to pull the tub to the bottom of the driveway where it could completely drain but it was so heavy that it broke the axle on the trailer. We ended up replacing the axle while the boat drained and then putting it back in the driveway without the plug.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Leaving the plug IN

In a recent northeaster, a guy pulled his boat out of the slip, put it on the trailer at the marina and pulled the plug. The tide rose, flooded the parking lot and the boat (salt water of course).

Before Hurricane Floyd, a guy pulled his boat, left it on the trailer but did not pull the plug. The marina lot flooded and his boat washed away--but it was retreived several miles upstream, with the trailer still attached, relatively unharmed.

Goes to show: you just never know.