Safety Plugs

[FastFission]

Has anyone tried the Seasense safety garboard plugs? They look like a standard garboard plug with a one-way ball to keep water from coming back into the boat. Seems like a good idea for those of us who occasionally are subject to "senior moments".

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Safety Plugs

would you trust that little ball to keep your boat from sinking? How about if you add a couple leaves or random debris, and it manages to wedge the ball open?

** edit ** just looked up that exact plug... Its a standard threaded brass plug PLUS a safety ball in case you do forget it. Not a bad idea, you still aren't trusting the ball to keep your boat afloat, it is just a backup to keep your boat from sinking as quickly if you do forget a plug... If my boat used that style plug I'd probably be ordering one now!

 

[oops!]

Re: Safety Plugs

a safety plug like you are diescrbing is just an excuse for a proper routine for launching....

make a check list.....write it down...

then follow it.....exactly every time....after a while, you can leave the check list in the truck, and do it automatically.

there is no cure for altimeters....but there is a cure for seniors disease. (commonly called CRS, that is short for Cant Remember Shi*)

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Safety Plugs

I'm with oops on this one.... Follow the same routine every time and never make a mistake.....





Oh and sure, if it makes you feel better, get the plug and keep it to yourself..... If you ever DO get distracted and forget, nobody but you will know you didn't follow the launch procedure.

 

[Treager]

Re: Safety Plugs

Has anyone tried the Seasense safety garboard plugs? They look like a standard garboard plug with a one-way ball to keep water from coming back into the boat. Seems like a good idea for those of us who occasionally are subject to "senior moments".

I prefer this one: http://boatwize.com/How_it_works.html

It has removable (for cleaning) screens that prevent debris from interfering with the ball seating properly...

 

[truckermatt]

Re: Safety Plugs

I just use the standard threaded plug and never had an issue, I take it out when i drive home, then i tilt the trailer up to remove water, (if i have been doing water sports) then i put the plug back in, and i'm ready for next trip. (i keep my boat in the garage)

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Safety Plugs

a safety plug like you are diescrbing is just an excuse for a proper routine for launching....

I disagree, this is no different than any other backup system. Do you run your bilge blower? There isn't a need, if everything is working as intended and there are no fuel leaks. I'm guessing you don't believe in safety foam either? Since the only time you need that is if the boat is going under. How about wearing life jackets if you can swim?

A backup system to a manual process is NEVER a bad idea. A system like this won't seal well enough for anyone to ever rely on it for their primary plug, but it certainly will help if you do manage to forget it.

There are two types of boaters, the ones that have forgotten the plugs, and the ones that are about to.

 

[BRICH1260]

Re: Safety Plugs

Seems like a reasonable bit of insurance from my perspective. You still should install the plug, it just saves you if you would happen to forget. I don`t know why is it not standard equipment on all larger boats.

 

[oops!]

Re: Safety Plugs

I disagree, this is no different than any other backup system. Do you run your bilge blower? There isn't a need, if everything is working as intended and there are no fuel leaks. I'm guessing you don't believe in safety foam either? Since the only time you need that is if the boat is going under. How about wearing life jackets if you can swim?

A backup system to a manual process is NEVER a bad idea. A system like this won't seal well enough for anyone to ever rely on it for their primary plug, but it certainly will help if you do manage to forget it.

There are two types of boaters, the ones that have forgotten the plugs, and the ones that are about to.

crater....this isnt a bilge blower....or a lanyard...or foam...those have definite purposes. but we are talking about a hole in the hull here.
This is something that only happens ONCE to a boater.....after it does......then a routine pre launch assessment is developed.....like a pilot doing a pre trip ....so.....do the routine pre trip first......and no need for the gizmo

 

[FastFission]

Re: Safety Plugs

I'm kind of surprised this topic popped back up...

I'm still on the fence on whether one of these plugs is worth the effort of installing. I don't think a one way plug is a necessity, like flotation or blowers. Having a background in flying safety and nuclear plant operations, however, I'm not terribly comfortable with pre-launch checklists and such. I've seen too many people miss pretty important pre-checks because something happened to distract them from their normal routine. In one particular example, an experienced pilot and his check pilot both thought the other had removed the tow bar from the nosegear prior to starting the engine on a Cessna 182.

I am thinking that perhaps a good bilge alarm would be a decent backup, as well as giving me an indication if something else started to leak.

Yeah, it is a gizmo, and I don't like to rely on those. I do like a "plan B", however.

Carl

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Safety Plugs

crater....this isnt a bilge blower....or a lanyard...or foam...those have definite purposes. but we are talking about a hole in the hull here.
This is something that only happens ONCE to a boater.....after it does......then a routine pre launch assessment is developed.....like a pilot doing a pre trip ....so.....do the routine pre trip first......and no need for the gizmo

I think you're coming at this thing a little harsh. It's definitely a "can't hurt!" kinda thing.