Seasense Drain-One-Way Safety Plug, Garboard

[bdblazer1978]

I'm in the process of replacing all the rotten wood in my boat. I've removed the transom and I'm getting ready to replace it. The boat had the brass drain tube that took the rubber snap type plug. I think I want to change to a Garboard style plug and was looking at this Seasense one, since if I "forget" my plug, it's supposed to prevent flooding.

My question is: has anyone used this plug? My concern is if I get some junk (leaves/dirt) in the drain it will plug it up since the ball is in the way. It also has a much smaller opening at the end of the tube.

Thanks for your thoughts in advance,
Bill

 

[JoLin]

Re: Seasense Drain-One-Way Safety Plug, Garboard

I'm in the process of replacing all the rotten wood in my boat. I've removed the transom and I'm getting ready to replace it. The boat had the brass drain tube that took the rubber snap type plug. I think I want to change to a Garboard style plug and was looking at this Seasense one, since if I "forget" my plug, it's supposed to prevent flooding.

My question is: has anyone used this plug? My concern is if I get some junk (leaves/dirt) in the drain it will plug it up since the ball is in the way. It also has a much smaller opening at the end of the tube.

Thanks for your thoughts in advance,
Bill

There are several here who use self-sealing plugs, so you'll find proponents and detractors of each type.

IMHO (and it's only mine), anything below the waterline should be positively sealed. 'Automatic' solutions tend to make one complacent, which is fine until you no longer chack, and it fails. I'd use a pre-launch checklist, or a note on the trailer winch or somewwhere else instead.

My .02

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Seasense Drain-One-Way Safety Plug, Garboard

I'm with John. Way too much at risk with that "simple" device. Your whole boat is carried by that plastic ball. i would certainly not use one on a boat that is moored unattended.

In my view, use a solid bronze garboard for below the waterline if you can't reach the plug from inside. Use the large rubber plugs for drain holes you can conveniently reach inside the boat and would use to run the water out--typically the small open boat.

 

[blifsey]

Re: Seasense Drain-One-Way Safety Plug, Garboard

Are you referring to this "one-way safety" plug? I gather the one way ball "valve" would be just in case you forget to put in the plug and not for all time use? And, for normal operating you would still use the threaded plug? I would think just to prevent a situation if you forget plug it would be OK but how would you know you forgot the plug.

 

[bdblazer1978]

Re: Seasense Drain-One-Way Safety Plug, Garboard

Thanks for the help so far. The safety ball would only be a backup safety feature; I'd be using the brass plug every time we go out. I've never forgot my plug so far, but this would be for that one time mind slip, like so many other people have posted on here about. I figured a little extra protection is better.