Hole too big for drain plug

[RichRab]

2002 Sea Ray and I cannot think of the proper word but the drain plug screws into the brass (flange) ?- that has three screws holes that screws into the hull of the boat. These holes have been redrilled in a different location with bigger screws being used and now the screws do not grab onto any fiberglass. Last year they held a little and I put silicone around the hole. This year the screws are hardly doing anything. Any ideas? Thank you, RR

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Hole too big for drain plug

Garboard Plug

Remove it and get RID of all the SILLYcone because it is worthless.

Go to home depot and pick up a 5 oz tube of 3m 5200 AND a stick of 2 part epoxy that you tear off / cut off and knead together.

Remove the Garboard plug and make sure it is dry where it goes through the hull.

Clean out ALL your old bolt holes with a drill bit. Fill all the screw holes by forcing epoxy in there. Once the epoxy is dried then smear some 3m 5200 inside the hole onto the transom wood. Insert the garboard plug housing and then re-drill your 3 screw holes by using a pilot drill smaller then the screw.

Install the 3 screws into the epoxied holes and you are fixed and should be water tight!

 

[catfishcarl99]

Re: Hole too big for drain plug

good advise. i used aves 2 part epoxy ro fill a small hole in my alum hull from a sharp rock. holding great. under the waterline. i use the epoxy in taxidermy. has many uses.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Hole too big for drain plug

Bondo makes a "marine stick" which cures underwater and will also repair a fuel tank and I carry that one in my tool kit.

 

[Davem3]

Re: Hole too big for drain plug

Bondo makes a "marine stick" which cures underwater and will also repair a fuel tank and I carry that one in my tool kit.

View attachment 150128

where do you get that ?????

RR thanks for this thread, good learning experience to be had here..........

 

[RichRab]

Re: Hole too big for drain plug

Thank you for the quick replies. RR

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Hole too big for drain plug

where do you get that ?????

I have picked up at Walmart in the past, but any marine shop should carry it.

 

[RichRab]

Re: Hole too big for drain plug

The problem started I think because the drain plug is so hard to turn in the garboard plug that it loosened the screw holes. I bought marine tex at the marine store and 3 M 5200 at Home Depot and the first coat of Marine Tex is drying. Any suggestions on making the drain easier to turn?

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Hole too big for drain plug

clean the threads

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Hole too big for drain plug

The problem started I think because the drain plug is so hard to turn in the garboard plug that it loosened the screw holes. I bought marine tex at the marine store and 3 M 5200 at Home Depot and the first coat of Marine Tex is drying. Any suggestions on making the drain easier to turn?

Yup marine tex will work fine I was just trying to get you out a bit cheaper

5200 takes a week (yup 7 days) to fully cure but it will dry under water so do not worry about launching if it is not fully cured.

Wire brush your plug and you even can dap a small touch of grease on it but, it is actually a tapered pipe thread so it will always be hard to turn.

 

[RichRab]

Re: Hole too big for drain plug

Tips for the "learners". At first I tried to keep the same hole size for the garboard plug but when I drilled the holes there was not enough there. So the second and third time I built up the epoxy to make a smaller hole and then I will enlarge it to make the plug fit. Raining every day in NJ so not in any rush to get boat in. I will drill new hole tomorrow after epoxy has set over 24 hrs. They have quicker drying formulas but I think (in my opinion) that this sacrifice strength and I am not in a rush. Thank you RR