Drain plug question

[Carolineduff93]

Me and my husband just bought a boat today. We located the drain plug which looks almost permanently plugged. (I'll post a photo below) We got a wrench and my husband tried to remove it to make sure no water came out. IT WONT BUDGE. I'm not sure if the previous owner ever took it out or not. I'm lead to believe they didn't considering we cannot get it to come out. I'm not really sure what to do. My husband didn't want to put too much torque on it bc we don't want to break it or tear it up. However, I do know that we don't really want to deal with this kind of plug and would rather get one that's easier to put in and remove (without the need of a wrench). My question is, is it easy to change this ourselves or is this something we need to have a boat mechanic do? Also, feel free to give any advice on removing the one currently on the boat. We are total boat newbs and don't have a flipping clue what we're doing. Ha.

 

[Carolineduff93]

Oh, and I should've added it's a 2003 caravelle

 

[Renken2000Classic]

I'd be curious what's in the bilge now.

 

[dwco5051]

Been there, common problem. That plug is a tapered pipe thread and once the initial corrosion bond is broken it will unscrew easily. The tapered thread is designed to be leak proof so it is hard to get any solvent into the threads. Try putting pressure on it with a wrench and tapping the wrench handle with a light to medium weight hammer. I am sure someone may have a better idea but that has seemed to work for me.

 

[Renken2000Classic]

Yeah, you might try tapping it with a metal tool without the wrench too, and see if that helps shock anything loose.

 

[dwco5051]

I can't tell from you picture if that is a 3/4" or 1/2" plug but if you get it out ok consider getting two nylon plugs as replacement. Why two? Keep one in the glove compartment of the boat because sooner or later someday you will go to launch and remember you left plug #1 on the workbench at home.

 

[Carolineduff93]

I can't tell from you picture if that is a 3/4" or 1/2" plug but if you get it out ok consider getting two nylon plugs as replacement. Why two? Keep one in the glove compartment of the boat because sooner or later someday you will go to launch and remember you left plug #1 on the workbench at home.

Ok so question about that. In that case, is doing what you suggested above as easy as taking the current plug out and getting a nylon plug? And in order to do that do we take just 1 out or 2 out? (see attached photo)

 

[Scott Danforth]

Many times its easier to remove the 3 screws and buy a new plug assembly

 

[Carolineduff93]

Many times its easier to remove the 3 screws and buy a new plug assembly

Is that something we could do at home easily? Or something we should take to a marine mechanic and have them do?

 

[dwco5051]

Ok so question about that. In that case, is doing what you suggested above as easy as taking the current plug out and getting a nylon plug? And in order to do that do we take just 1 out or 2 out? (see attached photo)

If it will come out just #1. As Scott said if the plug doesn't come out with out a lot of force replace the whole thing (1 & 2)

 

[Scott Danforth]

Is that something we could do at home easily? Or something we should take to a marine mechanic and have them do?

a tube of 5200 sealant and a screw driver are normally what you need

 

[Chris1956]

You will likely end up using a pipe wrench on the plug. If the wrench tears it up and it still won't come out, you will need to replace the entire fitting. Those are called "Garboard Drains", and will be avail in bronze from most marine stores. They are pretty common and may be found in other places as well. There are probably only 2 sizes that you will want to choose from. Match your existing fitting.

Coat the mating surface of the fitting liberally with silicone caulk and install the screws. Use some grease or anti-seize on the plug when you install it, and make sure to take it out in the off season.

 

[Scott Danforth]

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[Carolineduff93]

You will likely end up using a pipe wrench on the plug. If the wrench tears it up and it still won't come out, you will need to replace the entire fitting. Those are called "Garboard Drains", and will be avail in bronze from most marine stores. They are pretty common and may be found in other places as well. There are probably only 2 sizes that you will want to choose from. Match your existing fitting.

Coat the mating surface of the fitting liberally with silicone caulk and install the screws. Use some grease or anti-seize on the plug when you install it, and make sure to take it out in the off season.

We're considering either installing something completely different like the first photo or trying to use something like in the second photo once we get the threaded bolt out. Are those good or bad ideas? You mentioned above to match the existing fitting. I'm curious why.

 

[Scott Danforth]

We're considering either installing something completely different like the first photo or trying to use something like in the second photo once we get the threaded bolt out. Are those good or bad ideas? You mentioned above to match the existing fitting. I'm curious why.

bad ideas the rubber plug is for row boats.

if you take the garboard plug out every trip, it wont corrode in.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Just replace the whole garboard plug assembly as others have recommended. Very easy to do.

My concern would be the condition of the wood around the plug and things in the bilge, if the plug has not been removed for a while. How did they drain water out of the boat?

 

[nola mike]

Coat the mating surface of the fitting liberally with silicone caulk and install the screws. Use some grease or anti-seize on the plug when you install it, and make sure to take it out in the off season.

Don't use silicone below the water line. Use a marine adhesive, like 3m 5200 like Scott said. I also fancy loctite pl marine adhesive

 

[Renken2000Classic]

...if the plug has not been removed for a while. How did they drain water out of the boat?

Yes. I hate to be negative, but it's a sign there may be other issues; like, step back and see what else might be wrong before focusing in too hard on that one thing. Did the seller take you out in the boat? Have you looked in the bilge? Was it stored inside (if it ever sees rain, that goes right to the bilge)? Does it have an outboard motor, btw?

On the plug thing, I've never heard of leaving it in, but my experience is limited. I take it out every time, usually before I'm all the way off the ramp if no one is waiting, and mindful of setting the brake and that - to see if anything has leaked during the trip (I/O motor/drive) and to let it out while the boat's at an angle. A 16mm box end wrench works great; looks like yours.

You just gotta remember to put it back before launching (make a pre-launch checklist, with one or two others as needed, like securing before pulling out of the water, etc.).

 

[Carolineduff93]

It doesn't seem that anything else is wrong with it. We managed to get the drain plug out yesterday and about 3.5 maybe 4 gallons of water came out and we don't think that drain plug had been removed in YEARS. But there didn't seem to be that much water in it. I can say that now we've got it out, we will be removing it after every trip.

 

[Braveheart1992]

Me and my husband just bought a boat today. We located the drain plug which looks almost permanently plugged. (I'll post a photo below) We got a wrench and my husband tried to remove it to make sure no water came out. IT WONT BUDGE. I'm not sure if the previous owner ever took it out or not. I'm lead to believe they didn't considering we cannot get it to come out. I'm not really sure what to do. My husband didn't want to put too much torque on it bc we don't want to break it or tear it up. However, I do know that we don't really want to deal with this kind of plug and would rather get one that's easier to put in and remove (without the need of a wrench). My question is, is it easy to change this ourselves or is this something we need to have a boat mechanic do? Also, feel free to give any advice on removing the one currently on the boat. We are total boat newbs and don't have a flipping clue what we're doing. Ha.

Tap outside of nut a few times ,Put a crescent wrench on it and tap with a hammer on the handle , righty tighty lefty loosey