Transom drain plug.

[beanz2166]

Hey guys excuse me for the dumb question, But I have never owned a boat before, Im currently deployed and my wife just bought one for our family. Now this leads me to a couple concerns obviously. Its a 1996 Glastron GS 215 with a 5.7l Mercruiser and alpha one outdrive. Thats all I really know. The guy says the motor is solid and he has it winterized. I already know the interior needs some help and Im willing to accomplish that as long as the boat runs. We got it for a good price (in my eyes). But something that concerns me. below is a picture that my wife said was leaking out water. Im sure its a drain plug, but he never gave us a plug for it. Heres my questions. The day we picked up the boat it was raining hard and he only had mooring covers on the boat. Is this water draining out of the engine compartment from the rain and him hosing out the boat? Or is this something more indepth then that. If this truely is a drain plug and should have a plug in it how hard is it to change this part? Is it just those 3 screws?thanks for any input. Im sure I will have more questions as I go along on this journey

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Transom drain plug.

That looks to be a common 1/2" pipe thread Garboard Drain style plug.

Replacements can be found at any boating store or even at Home Depot or Lowe's in the plumbing section.

Is should NOT be installed if you are not in the water. Which is why it is not!
Any water that gets into the boat is supposed to drain out that hole.

Check inside of the boat again. It is probably lying around in there somewhere.

 

[Aaronjohnson]

Re: Transom drain plug.

Hey guys excuse me for the dumb question, But I have never owned a boat before, Im currently deployed and my wife just bought one for our family. Now this leads me to a couple concerns obviously. Its a 1996 Glastron GS 215 with a 5.7l Mercruiser and alpha one outdrive. Thats all I really know. The guy says the motor is solid and he has it winterized. I already know the interior needs some help and Im willing to accomplish that as long as the boat runs. We got it for a good price (in my eyes). But something that concerns me. below is a picture that my wife said was leaking out water. Im sure its a drain plug, but he never gave us a plug led bulb for it. Heres my questions. The day we picked up the boat it was raining hard and he only had mooring covers on the boat. Is this water draining out of the engine compartment from the rain and him hosing out the boat? Or is this something more indepth then that. If this truely is a drain plug and should have a plug in it how hard is it to change this part? Is it just those 3 screws?thanks for any input. Im sure I will have more questions as I go along on this journey
View attachment 181731

Its main purpose is to drain water out of boat. SO that's not a big deal

 

[etracer68]

Re: Transom drain plug.

As the others have said, drain plug hole. The trailer should be tilted up at the bow, to drain, and stern drive down.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Transom drain plug.

+1

It is doing what it should. Buy a few of them, put it in only finger tight, leave a pair of plyers on the boat because it will tighten up after a day of use and require more than your hands to get it back out. Remeber to take it out when you are done with the boat for the day. The boat can fill up with water and fall off the trailer (uncommon but it does happen from time to time)

Make sure you leave a few extra plugs on the boat. you will lose them from time to time and nothing sucks more than getting to the ramp and not having one. Most of the gas stations around the rams will sell them and other boating stuff. Another good reason to leave an extra one inside the boat is because sooner or later you will forget to put it in, get out on the lake and notice the back of the boat is sinking, you will have to jump in and put it in, then turn the bilge pump on to get the water out. Everyone has done it, once you do it then welcome to the club. Also if you forget to put it in when you start moving the water will be sucked out of the bilge so you wont notice until you stop moving. If you don't have a plug on the boat and you don't put it in then you can drive around and suck the water around IE wife drives you back to dock, does circles until you get back from the car where your extra one is, she picks you back up at the dock you drive away jump in and screw it in. Another good reason to have a few on the boat is if you drop it while trying to put it in and you don't have another you are screwed.

 

[Mohawkmtrs]

Re: Transom drain plug.

If the fitting is threaded (can't tell from the pic), get a Garboard style drain plug like posted...just make sure the plug is made from bronze and not just galvanized.

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: Transom drain plug.

Finger tight? - I'm to paranoid to do that.......That baby comes loose and your S.O.L. on the water!

I have the same on our boat...NPT threaded Broonze ( Solid ) plug.... Every time i install it i put some threaded tape on threads and snug up with a small adjustable wrench that i keep in the glove box.

Just me - But i don't wanta be bailing water.........when i can be having fun in the sun!

Thanks for your services to our country.

Good luck with your new boat...Happy Boating!

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Transom drain plug.

Finger tight? - I'm to paranoid to do that.......That baby comes loose and your S.O.L. on the water!


Thanks for your services to our country.

Good luck with your new boat...Happy Boating!

x2 I always wrenched it on too. I wouldn't put it on finger tight......JMO I would take it out before you leave the ramp to go home. Many states that's the law these days......

 

[southkogs]

Re: Transom drain plug.

Have her check the glove box for the plug ... that's where I hide mine

Beanz: thanks for your service. Keep your head down and getcha' home safe and soon.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Transom drain plug.

Finger tight? - I'm to paranoid to do that.......That baby comes loose and your S.O.L. on the water!

I have the same on our boat...NPT threaded Broonze ( Solid ) plug.... Every time i install it i put some threaded tape on threads and snug up with a small adjustable wrench that i keep in the glove box.

Just me - But i don't wanta be bailing water.........when i can be having fun in the sun!

Thanks for your services to our country.

Good luck with your new boat...Happy Boating!

Ditto on ALL counts!

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Transom drain plug.

Buy a few of them, put it in only finger tight, leave a pair of plyers on the boat because it will tighten up after a day of use and require more than your hands to get it back out.

Interesting. Installing a drain plug only finger tight explains why you have so much experience with emergency sinking procedures. Using the wrong tool to solve a non-existent problem is mind boggling advice.

Another good reason to have a few on the boat is if you drop it while trying to put it in and you don't have another you are screwed.

If you drop the drain plug, why not pick it up and try it again? Oh, I see ... the recommended procedure is to launch the boat first and then install the plug. I think I've heard it all. The magic drain plug that tightens itself and an emergency "forgot the plug" procedure where, once safely back at the dock, the boat heads back out onto the lake to run in furious circles.

For a secure, watertight seal, wrap the plug with a turn or two of teflon tape and tighten it with a wrench ... and oh yeah, do it before you launch the boat.

 

[jack7771]

Re: Transom drain plug.

... If this truely is a drain plug and should have a plug in it how hard is it to change this part? Is it just those 3 screws?thanks for any input. ...
View attachment 181731

Hopefully the the inset part with the 3 screws is not loose. All you need is the screw-in plug.

 

[jack7771]

Re: Transom drain plug.

Just two or three years ago a guy bought a first-time boat (used, 17' boat w/90 hp Merc) and for the maiden run launched it at Lake Anna. He forgot to put in the drain plug. He wasn't aware of any of the good advice above. He got back to the boat ramp to get his truck & trailer, but by the time he backed down the ramp, the transom went under water. I was one who helped him retrieve his boat. But before things got better, the engine went under water also (a boat fills up real fast once the water starts pouring in). If he would have dropped off the wife to get the truck, and then kept the boat moving, that would have sucked the water out of the boat. Once the trailer was down the ramp, he could have run the boat up on the trailer. However, if the ramps were crowded, and he had a spare plug, he could have jumped in the water and plugged it before things got ugly.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Transom drain plug.

Uhmm Pez Vela,

In July 2011 I bought a stingray 215LR from a local dealer in NC. They told me only finger tight. Last weekend I traded it in on a Bayliner 255 from an out of state dealer, they said the same thing, only finger tight. Just what I have had two dealers tell me. I don't see the harm in putting a wrench on it and giving it a snug turn. Just going with what they tell me. Also using the finger tight method for two seasons every time I have taken the plug out after using the boat I had to use a pair of Plyers. I think why they say finger tight is because it does tighten up and they know someone will go to town with a wrench. How about this. use a wrench put put it on only as tight as you would screw on an oil filter.

As leaving a few extra plugs on the boat incase you drop one I was thinking of when you forget to put it in, notice it, have to jump in the water and put it in. If you only have one and you drop it in the water than you are in trouble.

As for "experience" forgetting the plug. I did that once 4 years ago on my glastron. Once was all I needed to learn my lesson. And yes I think it is a great idea to launch the boat without the plug then jump in and put it in. It will keep the bilge nice and clean

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Transom drain plug.

Thank you for being so good natured about it. Maybe you're referring to a different style of plug, or perhaps you've got stronger fingers than I. Here's to a drain plug in your boat, a dry bilge, and no need for crazy circling at the dock.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Transom drain plug.

86 the teflon... it isn't needed. If your plug has a T then finger tight is recommended... If it is a square then a wrench should be used to snug it slightly (1/8-1/4 turn). They do not self tighten throughout the day but do often require slightly more force to remove than to install....

For a spare, you can buy a bright orange plastic version for your key chain. My normal plug stays in the door pouch of my truck along with a wrench until I get to the ramp.... I keep the plastic spare on the boat..... If you get in an emergency situation, instead of doing mad circles, stick ANYTHING in the hole... a wadded up sandwich bag, scrap of paper, stick, hot dog, fruit roll up, part of your shirt, $4.00 in cash... anything that will slow it to a trickle and allow the bilge pump to easily keep up till you can get it on the trailer.

 

[supersoaker548]

Re: Transom drain plug.

86 the teflon... it isn't needed. If your plug has a T then finger tight is recommended... If it is a square then a wrench should be used to snug it slightly (1/8-1/4 turn). They do not self tighten throughout the day but do often require slightly more force to remove than to install....

X2

i have 3 of them in my transom and hand tight plus 1/4 turn works great

 

[catfish58]

Re: Transom drain plug.

I know a guy that used a partial bag of plastic worms to plug his bilge drain hole. He fished a local bass tournament all day and said his auto bilge pump came on only once.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: Transom drain plug.

A GOOD finger tight is enough, no reason to go crazy with a wrench... Here is something to ponder. I'd bet money that if you put it in finger tight when you unload, you aren't going to get it back out by hand at the end of the day... Under most conditions, you are taking a plug and socket that are at ambient air temp and screwing them together. Again, most conditions, the water temp is going to be colder, so when they cool down, the socket contracts, and it gets significantly tighter than when it started. The plug has tapered threads, so the contraction of the socket snugs it up quite nicely.

 

[81 Checkmate]

Re: Transom drain plug.

Smokingcrater you would win the bet......Yea - Finger tight is proly ok......But im a Scardey Cat! It's when i have 6 or so people on board from little ones to big ones.

I dont like it when your in 30ft of water and water start's rushing in....Then people are in a panic.

Just me...Happy Boating....Spring is almost here!