I finally did it....

[GreenF350]

Well, despite my meticulous checking of the drain plug everytime out I made the mistake last Sat. and to top it off there was a guy just hanging out and I know he had to be laughing at me. I went out with the intent of getting the motor in the water to see how it was running and maybe do some tuning with it sitting on the trailer (the ramp is down a dirt road on a river and not very used). So I prep the boat and intentionally didn't worry about the drain plug because I never expected it to run right. Cranked it up and ran good enough to try and make some adjustments. I guess I got to excited and told my dad to unhook and push the boat off the trailer. As I am floating out I realized it was listing to the starboard side pretty bad with just me in the boat...hmmm...think.....what is wrong here....DOH! I know...drain plug. So at exactly the same time I realize this, the motor stalls and doesn't want to start again...go figure. All the while I am floating downriver towards some trees in the water. I ended up getting the boat started and hauling but to shore at the ramp. Put the plug in and all was well, but it still hurt my "ego" pretty bad. All is well that ends well, but I sure hope that was my last attack of stupid.
-Aaron

 

[DrWiffel]

Re: I finally did it....

Don't you just leave the plug sitting in the boat somewhere so it's easily accessed? If you did, why didn't you just pop it in right away when you noticed it?

I've done it too, but lucky for me I popped it in before it had too much water in the boat.

 

[marlboro180]

Re: I finally did it....

Welcome to the club! Glad you are not out in some scuba gear trying to get yer boat off the the bottom right now!

 

[xjcj3a]

Re: I finally did it....

not all boats have a drain plug that is in a spot you can get to from inside. so even if you knew where it was you would have to jump out the boat and screw it into place.

 

[rndn]

Re: I finally did it....

When not in the boat, mine is kept on my boat key chain along with the trailer coupler lock key. When I unlock the trailer I can't help but notice the plug and put it into the boat. So far this has worked for me.

 

[Andy'sDelight]

Re: I finally did it....

Don't you just leave the plug sitting in the boat somewhere so it's easily accessed? If you did, why didn't you just pop it in right away when you noticed it?

I've done it too, but lucky for me I popped it in before it had too much water in the boat.

Not all boats are designed to put the plug in from inside the boat. In fact, most newer ones are put in from the outside.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: I finally did it....

I love reading about these "drain plug fiascoes", and I guess it is so I don't have to feel so bad.

But I have a question-- If a guy (not me) was to leave the plugs out of a catamaran, does this count as 1 or 2 times? Also, does this start a new category of club members?

 

[LoweRider]

Re: I finally did it....

Sorry to let ya in on this one , but, the ONLY way this is your last attack of "stupid" if if that was your very last time of boating! Glad it worked out okay in the end for you!

 

[barman84]

Re: I finally did it....

Hey at least you didn't try to push off with your tie down straps still connected. I have sense learned you can never rush to get the boat in the water.

 

[bkwapisz]

Re: I finally did it....

Seems like this mistake is a case of not "if" you're going to forget, but "when." I put mine on the gimbal bracket of my graph, so it's right in front of my face when I get in the drivers seat. I never leave my graphs onthe boat, and never leave without them, so it's always there.

Having said that, I'm sure in the future I'll have an SHT moment as well. Hopefully it doesn't sink.

 

[rndn]

Re: I finally did it....

I've been told there are 3 types of boaters in this world when it comes to putting the plug in:
1. Those that have already forgotten to put it in.
2. Those that will forget to put it in.
3. Those that lie about it.

 

[madgadget]

Re: I finally did it....

I did this on my 16.5 footer. The auto bilge pump came on, so then I knew what was up and my mate standing behind the boat still on the slipway plugged it in haha fortunately the pump clears way faster than it could get in the plug so no problems there...

 

[joebob14]

Re: I finally did it....

WOW I just got my million dollar idea. Im gonna make a one way valve that replaces the drain plug to let water out and not in. I bet ill sell a million in the first month.

 

[lonesouth]

Re: I finally did it....

joe i just had the same idea after reading madgadget's post.

 

[DrWiffel]

Re: I finally did it....

Not all boats are designed to put the plug in from inside the boat. In fact, most newer ones are put in from the outside.

I did not know that. Good to know...

 

[Dabbler_E]

Re: I finally did it....

WOW I just got my million dollar idea. Im gonna make a one way valve that replaces the drain plug to let water out and not in. I bet ill sell a million in the first month.

Iboats has what you need!

Seasense One-Way Safety Plug

 

[DuckOfDeath]

Re: I finally did it....

In my early years of boating I forgot the plug 2 or 3 times. Fortunately, I can insert it by leaning over the back of the transom. The last time, I fumbled it and watched it sink out of site, but had a spare. That experience must have been what it took to be more vigilant 'cuz I haven't forgotten it since. Knock on wood.

Welcome to the club!

 

[Lakemeadan]

Re: I finally did it....

Used to turn wrench for living, had the motto a plug is either all the way in tightened or all the way out. Now with the boat, I've added to it. All the way in tightened or all the out in the wrench socket attached to ratchet on the Driver seat on the boat. Try sitting on that, so far that has worked for me going on 3 years. Oh yea, have 2 extras for that special day, one in glove box of boat and one in glove box of my tow vehicle.

 

[jonesg]

Re: I finally did it....

WOW I just got my million dollar idea. Im gonna make a one way valve that replaces the drain plug to let water out and not in. I bet ill sell a million in the first month.

some will install it backwards.

 

[brick75]

Re: I finally did it....

WOW I just got my million dollar idea. Im gonna make a one way valve that replaces the drain plug to let water out and not in. I bet ill sell a million in the first month.

Iboats has what you need!

Seasense One-Way Safety Plug

Seems like a no-brainer. Not sure why boat makers don't make this standard on all boats.