Bone headed move - put the plug in with 3M 4200

[Lou C]

Yep you don't have to tighten them with a dying strain, it's not like a lug bolt on a car it is just to seal out water. I like putting thick grease on them even though the metal used doesn't corrode.
If you have trouble with them the threads maybe damaged, and it may be time just to replace the whole thing! Only 3 screws.

 

[SkaterRace]

You have more going on than just the sealant.

There isn’t a sealer on the market that would withstand the force of an impact gun.

Having said that, the plugs are tapered, dry seal connections. They should be “snug”, but not tight. Over tightening will gull (distort and damage) the threads, making removal almost impossible as you have found out

That sounds like what I might have done then, I thought it was the sealant. I'm going to do hand tight with nothing on it next year. Hopefully that works out a bit better.

 

[Chris1956]

Hand tight may loosen, and that would be bad. Put some anti-seize on it and moderately tighten with a small wrench.

 

[dingbat]

That sounds like what I might have done then, I thought it was the sealant. I'm going to do hand tight with nothing on it next year. Hopefully that works out a bit better.

Best to use a little bit of grease on the threads as a lubricate so the threads don’t gull.

Tight wise, the seal is a tapered, interference fit. Hand tight until thread contact then a quarter to half a turn further to seal.

 

[tank1949]

This spring I was in a scramble to get the boat ready by the launch date I had to be at the marina so not thinking I grabbed what I had in the garage to keep the plug in and ended up using 3M 4200 to put in the drain plug. I am now trying to figure out how I am going to remove it. Any ideas short that will limit the damage to the boat itself? I don't care about buying a new plug.

Drill or tap, depending on threads. If just a rubber plug, drill baby drill. My plug is pipe thread. TAPS ARE CHEAP.

 

[Scott Danforth]

pretty sure he replace the whole garboard assembly about a page back