When do you put your plug in?

[slydog75]

I see lots of posts where people list their launch prep procedure and all of them that I can remember has them putting their plug in at the Marina/launch ramp parking lot. We just got our first boat about a month ago but so far I've been pulling the plug to drain the water out (if there is any) then putting it back in immediately afterwards. The way I see it, by doing this I'm never going to forget to put the plug back in. Why leave it out when it's not in the water?

 

[Jeff-in-PA]

Re: When do you put your plug in?

I keep the brass plug in the key chain float which is hanging from the tilt wheel lever in the tow vehicle. That way when I get to the ramp, I grab the keys, feel the weight and am reminded to put the plug in. ( I also have a 9/16" wrench in the door pocket to tighten it).

That's my system

Jeff

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: When do you put your plug in?

I have NEVER taken it out. neither did the previous owner..

 

[ziggy]

Re: When do you put your plug in?

i put the plug in at the ramp too. my plug sits in my van console in one of the coin try slots. that way i see it every time i get in my van. i know where it is... got spares too.
reason i leave it out is that while my boats in storage, if it rains, or for any other reason, i want whatever breached my cover to leak out. i don't want to store it with water in it.

 

[LongLine]

Re: When do you put your plug in?

I don't take the trailer strap off the boat till I'm about 6 ft from the waters edge. I also straighten the motor & put the plug in while I'm back there. Takes less than a minute to do all 3. It's the other "stuff" that should be done in the prep area. i.e mount riggers, raise antennea, relocate fishing stuff, position carry on gear, raise top etc. Retrevial is a different story: winch it on straight, chain bow, then go to prep area to tie her down & put everything away.

As far as "plug theory" goes, my plug is out when boat is not on water. Sitting in the water is not the only possible source of water. Occasionally it rains & cover may shift or leak. I don't want any type of moisture to sit in boat. Also gas fumes are heavier than air. Open plug provides a good vent, just in case.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

 

[dazedandconfused]

Re: When do you put your plug in?

I put the plug in when I prep the boat and take the back straps off. I've seen many guys launch there boat without the plug and even had to winch one guys boat on my trailer to save it while he was parking. That was interesting trying to explain why I had his boat on my trailer until he saw the boat 3/4 full of water draining out.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: When do you put your plug in?

I put the plug in before leaving home and take it back out before leaving the tie down area, I have a little case that houses the plug right there in the motor well. If I had a cover that was 100% waterproof or had garage storage then there would be no need to ever take the plug out, but till then unless I want water sitting in my bige the plugs come out.

 

[mphy98]

Re: When do you put your plug in?

I leave them in all the time, all boats dry though no leaks and covered when not in the boat.

 

[jdsgrog]

Re: When do you put your plug in?

I put the plug in when I get home from the lake and put the boat back in the garage. I figure any water that was not drained will be drained with the ride home. Once I'm home the boat is dry and I put the plug in just in case I forget to check it at the ramp.

 

[Daley]

Re: When do you put your plug in?

Mine has two screw-in types with the plastic thingy that keeps 'em attached when they're out. I unscrew 'em in the rigging lane after I pull the boat out and screw 'em back in as I'm cleaning the boat before it goes in the garage. When it comes out next time, I check 'em a few times before we leave the house and a couple more times at the launch. I haven't come up with a fool-proof way to avoid forgetting 'em on this boat, but with "standard" plugs they were always attached to the boat keys (yes, one on the spare set too!).

Not having figured out a way to idiot-proof this one for myself, I know I'm in for at least one incident.

 

[Boss Hawg]

Re: When do you put your plug in?

I put mine in at home just before leaving-
Part of my pre -- pre launch routine

 

[redone4x4]

Re: When do you put your plug in?

i put it in when the straps come off. so pretty much first thing when we reach the marina. I always stage in a parking lot out of the way, to get all my ducks in a row before launching though. Then, when i pull the boat out, i pull the plug on the ramp immediately and let it out until we go out again. It stays in the door of the truck at all times with the wrench. This way I figure it has the whole way home to drain every last bit of water out from swimming, tubing, etc.

 

[kg5388]

Re: When do you put your plug in?

got 2 plugs clipped to both stern straps so before I remove a strap i grab the plug off that strap and put it in
also got one clipped next to the winch as a visual reminder as it's the last thing I unhook as the boat goes in the water

 

[skargo]

Re: When do you put your plug in?

My plug goes in at home before we leave, and I check it again when I remove my transom straps in the prep area, where you are supposed to remove them.

I leave it out for the ride home, to allow any water that may have gotten in a chance to run to the back. I leave it out until the next trip. That may change when I finish building an extension to the lean to on my pole barn.

Also, my plug has a lanyard and is attached the the stern.

 

[TJDave]

Re: When do you put your plug in?

Plug goes in before I leave the house while I am prepping the boat with all the other stuff we will need.

Plug comes out at the staging area after retrieving boat. It stays out until our next trip for all the reasons stated by the smarter people above.
Never know when the cover may tear or allow water to enter during a storm.
Provides another source of ventilation.
Allows all water to exit engine compartment on the way home, and what little water that remains will evaporate faster with the plug out.
A dry boat is a happy boat. I just wish it would fit in my garage.

 

[Friscoboater]

Re: When do you put your plug in?

I put mine in during boat prep on the ramp. The wife and kids are chanting "plug, plug, plug" until I put it in. That way we do not forget.

 

[dingbat]

Re: When do you put your plug in?

My plug comes comes out once or twice a year when I rinse out the bildge. With a self bailing hull there is no reason to remove it otherwise.

 

[Campylobacter]

Re: When do you put your plug in?

I answered "never", but it does come out when I wash the boat. It is always stored under cover, and has a self bailing deck.

 

[jasper60103]

Re: When do you put your plug in?

I keep it plugged.
Fortunately, the little tinnie doesn't leak and stored in the garage.

 

[david_r]

Re: When do you put your plug in?

i put mine under the remote cables............. that way when i get in and look down at the key i can tell it its still there.

i bought a garboard plug with the lil ball and pin but havent had time to fool with it yet........... its one of those one-way drain jobs.

i prefer the t-handle rubber plugs.

besides i dont have auto bilge pumps and i need a new cover so if i left it in i would have a boat full of water when it rained............. been there done want to go back lol