Left the plug out.

[halfmoa]

Re: Left the plug out.

Well I've been bashed plenty of times in 24 hours in my last thread and I'm sure this will only cause more insults, derogatory comments, and negative criticism but I don't have a plug. The po of my boat epoxied it solid and installed a large bilge pump. Hence, I will never forget my plug. I'm ok with that.

Halfmoa

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Left the plug out.

well I have left it out , but the most memorable time was when the wife and I launched to do a bit of fishing and a short way along she pokes me in the ribs and asks honey why is water in the boat so I knock it out of gear and stop the motor and flip on the bilge pump and start looking for the plug, and it wasnt in its storage place and cant find it , so I reach down to check, and its in. A quick turn around and back to the launch, and the first and only time I have ever jumped the line. I got some angry looks at first till I explained and then had several stop thier launching and reterving to help get it on the trailer and then pulled to the recover area to find a 6 inch gash in the front of the hull, and to this day I have no clue how of when that happened.

 

[Beefer]

Re: Left the plug out.

Well I've been bashed plenty of times in 24 hours in my last thread and I'm sure this will only cause more insults, derogatory comments, and negative criticism but I don't have a plug. The po of my boat epoxied it solid and installed a large bilge pump. Hence, I will never forget my plug. I'm ok with that.

Halfmoa

You shouldn't be. You'll know why next time you have heavy rain, or in the winter when the water in the bilge freezes, or when you go to start her up and your battery is dead from the bilge pump turning on, etc., etc., etc. Replace the garboard drain assembly, and make it right. But I'm not going to bash ya about it.

 

[timdan94]

Re: Left the plug out.

well a few weeks ago I joined the club.... my dad, the wife. and I were going fishing at a local lake... my dad decided to help which of course broke my routine and I forgot the plug. just as the transom hits the water the wife goes is the plug in? nope. after that people can now get ropes ready and put fenders on for me but thats it. I'll do the rest myself from now on.

 

[Silly Seville]

Re: Left the plug out.

I never take the plug out during the boating season. Why? Because it isn't necessary. I keep the boat covered at all times when not in use (on the trailer) and check on it frequently, thus eliminating the potential for this SHT.

 

[V153]

Re: Left the plug out.

But I'm not going to bash ya about it.

Mighty white of you beefer.

A boat with no drain plug hmm. How/where does the 'condensation' that inevitably enters drain?

Yikes! As mentioned stick a garboard in there. Went so low with mine actually had to modify it. But that thing would drain all but about a teaspoon of water outa the hull.

 

[erwinner]

Re: Left the plug out.

I've only forgotten it once (so far) but haven't gotten off the trailer with it out! My boat is so small that with a 1" hole you start to notice the problem very quickly!

 

[cribber]

Re: Left the plug out.

Luckily I can say I have never left the plug out in the three plus years I've had my boat. I keep the plug and trailer swingaway pin together. Can't hook up the trailer without the plug in my hand. Plug goes in first then I hook up the trailer. Now bouncing my skeg is a whole nother story... 3 times and counting.

 

[Lakemeadan]

Re: Left the plug out.

Luckily I can say I have never left the plug out in the three plus years I've had my boat. I keep the plug and trailer swingaway pin together. Can't hook up the trailer without the plug in my hand. Plug goes in first then I hook up the trailer. Now bouncing my sheg is a whole nother story... 3 times and counting.

Thank you, I have a swingaway also that I have to do to get it in the garage. The plug and pin will now be together. I've always kept the plug in a socket with 1/2 drive ratchet which usually ends up on the ski deck thinking I can't forget it since I always have to clear it off since it ends up as a shelf while parked. Once when I was heading for the lake I decided to fill it up which I don't always have to do. As I was pumping gas back by the ski deck, there was my wrench/socket with the plug in it. One good bounce could have thrown it off, it was my lucky day or my first time I would have left the plug out.

 

[glenfruin]

Re: Left the plug out.

I left my plug out and was on the water for half an hour before i noticed the boat was sitting deeper in the water I lifted the bilge board and the water was right up to the floor!PANIC..I leant over the transom face flat touching the water arm stretched out fully and only just reached the hole popped my finger in and then realised I was stuck there i didn't know what to do...then by a miracle you wouldn't believe this a plastic wine or champagne bottle cork the barbed type floated up to me I grabbed it and reached down and It fitted perfectly in the hole !!! what a amazing piece of luck.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Left the plug out.

I never take the plug out during the boating season. Why? Because it isn't necessary. I keep the boat covered at all times when not in use (on the trailer) and check on it frequently, thus eliminating the potential for this SHT.

And opening the door for a few more.
1. Heavy unexpected rain and wind tearing cover and filling boat up like a bath tub.
2. Harboring/nurturing invasive species like zebra mussels.
3. In more and more states, a hefty fine for not removing the plug upon retrieval. (See #2)
4. Some rascal steals your plug and you discover it about 7 miles from the launch, too late to get on plane and run it out.

 

[produceguy]

Re: Left the plug out.

I left my plug out and was on the water for half an hour before i noticed the boat was sitting deeper in the water I lifted the bilge board and the water was right up to the floor!PANIC..I leant over the transom face flat touching the water arm stretched out fully and only just reached the hole popped my finger in and then realised I was stuck there i didn't know what to do...then by a miracle you wouldn't believe this a plastic wine or champagne bottle cork the barbed type floated up to me I grabbed it and reached down and It fitted perfectly in the hole !!! what a amazing piece of luck.

I'm callin BS on this one.

 

[pikefisherman]

Re: Left the plug out.

Does getting out, untying the boat, getting back in thinking did I get every thing? Getting back out taking the tie downs off,getting back in, getting CLOSE to the water, then remembering oh !@#% the plug, Qualify as a yes or a no?

 

[mommicked]

When you ask "have you left the plug out?" do you mean today? I think there are two types of boaters also, those who admit they've done it and those that won't

 

[lennyb]

Re: Left the plug out.

1st time in this year.. I set the boat at dock, Parked truck and trailer, came back , got on boat, bilge pump kicked on and then noticed my 5 year old sitting there playing with the plug!!! Jumped in water, slipped on nasty algea, went fully under (by this time my wife and kids are dying from laughter), got up barely, but still managed not to only hold on to plug but get it in the hole....Victory!!! Did i mention i havent been back to those docks this year due to extreme embarrasment..

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Left the plug out.

I put my plug in only one time a year and take it out once a year. A 28'er can hold lots of water if you forget. Only time I forgot it is when I left it at home. One of my dock partners had a spare and I still am using it. That was 9 years ago.

 

[beezee28]

Re: Left the plug out.

yeap.. did that too, once.

 

[Quick3201]

Re: Left the plug out.

Ever drive through a hard rain storm with the plug "in" and watch in the rear view mirror as the trailer tires slowly get flatter?? Water is heavy. Been there, done that!

 

[railroad.builder]

Re: Left the plug out.

Yep for got that one time; my son motored off as I parked and when I was standing on the dock for pick up noticed the bilge was cycling on/off -- Mine is always attached so I reach down to my shoulder in and screw it in.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Left the plug out.

In MN you have to have the plug out, so I just have it in my cup holder with the 9/16th wrench next to it, as soon as I get out to prep the boat I grab it, sometimes I make up a boat plug song on my 3 minute drive to the ramp.

Yeah, that law went into effect July 1, 2010. Before then I never took the plug out. First time out after the law the boat wouldn't get up on plane. Plug is tethered to inside of hole, so reached over the transom and put it in while son turned on the bilge pump. Lesson learned.

As part of the law the DNR offers free stickers to remind you about that there plug, so I got one.