Left the plug out.

Left the plug out.


  • Total voters
    95

chizzy

Cadet
Joined
Oct 8, 2011
Messages
8
Re: Left the plug out.

This may be one that "you had to be there to appreciate" and trying to make a very long story short may loose some of the hilarity.

I was a new owner of a 32' Kayot pontoon house boat.
I had a new motor put on it (I'm no mechanic)
On the maiden voyage of the new motor, my fishing/drinking buddy Stan and I invited four other people to come out and joy ride on a nice summer day at Lake Lewisville.
The motor wasn't running right. We finally got it going good, but every 15 minutes or less it would slow down and we had to pump the bubble, and it would run fine for so many minutes, then pump, run fine then pump. Stan said he would watch the motor and would pump it when necessary. I was not really wanting to take new folks out with it running this way, but what the hey, we were there and ready to ride.
So we all enjoyed the trip out to the middle of the lake and while sitting inside up front we were telling jokes and all the stories you do while riding, and Stan would disappear every so often and go out the back door and pump the bubble as needed.
So, Stan decided he would go up on top. The ladder to the top deck was in the back on the side of the boat. We were strolling along and the motor slowed, stayed slow, then I began wondering what's up with Stan. After an amount of time, Stan stepped in through the back door and he was dripping wet. I smarted off and asked "What's wrong, did your hand get tired of pumping?" He replied, "What's wrong with you? You going deaf? I fell off about a half mile ago and been screaming my head off trying to get you to stop, THANK GOD THE BOAT WAS RUNNING SLOW!"

Lesson learned, leave the back door open so you can see who fell off.
 

zopperman

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Jun 22, 2011
Messages
1,551
Re: Left the plug out.

hahahah this is a great thread! I left it out once, noticed, jumped in and plugged it and ran the bilge pump for a few minutes and all was OK, thank God!
 

catfishr1

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Nov 26, 2011
Messages
299
Re: Left the plug out.

In nearly 50 yrs of boating, 1 time. That was enough for me.
 

Searayb

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 6, 2011
Messages
46
Re: Left the plug out.

1 time last summer, couldn't push the boat off the trailer, seemed heavier then normal, heard the bilge pump run, pulled the boat out of the water, no plug.... dummy.
 

Flynny

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jul 22, 2011
Messages
86
Re: Left the plug out.

Man you guys are lucky with how slow your boats seem to take on water. It's my responsibility to put the plug in when we launch and the one time I forgot, we were at a busy public launch. This was with our old boat, an '89 Sea Ray 160. Just as my dad was pulling the truck and trailer away, I happened to look down into the ski locker and there was about 4 inches of water in it. This happened a while ago so I don't know exactly how much time passed between when the boat hit the water and when i noticed the water, but it was quick. At that point I frantically started waving my arms and calling for him to come back, luckily he did and we pulled off to the side and let it drain. Then we had to wait in line to launch again.

I've never forgot to put it in sense. I have a checklist: Straps, plug, engine support, fenders, dog. :D
 

V153

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Apr 16, 2011
Messages
1,764
Re: Left the plug out.

Did y'all know that in other parts of the world this phenomena is referred to as "leaving your bung hole open". That right there's enough to make me double check the drain plug ...?
 

NelsonQ

Lieutenant
Joined
Aug 5, 2008
Messages
1,413
Re: Left the plug out.

I've never done this, however last year when I pulled it for the first time in the spring, I double checked to make sure it had its plug in which it did.

What I didn't check is the livewell pump which I removed from the housing in the fall and the valve in the open position to winterize it were still open and removed. I drove it a few minutes over to my dock and could figure out why the bilge pump wouldn't stop running.

Now I have a new 'to do' when I launch it in the spring.
 

greenbush future

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Aug 28, 2009
Messages
1,814
Re: Left the plug out.

Yes I have left the plug out on more than one occasion, on more than just one boat. The last time, with a newer boat I bought, I checked the plug and it was in, what I didn't realize was this boat has two plugs, so by the time see the water rising in the back area, and look around for the second plug, just wasn't there. But because I have done this before with other boats, I know, if I can get up on plane, the water gets sucked out very quickly. But this doesn't solve my missing plug issue. So after all water is sucked out, I created a plug out of a rolled up very tight rag, stuff it in the hole from the inside of the boat (this is all very easy to see and get to). The rag-plug worked just fine for the day, and I now have both plugs and a spare for the days I misplace the regular ones. Being a experienced "forgot the plug" guy does have it's advantages.
 

viper1

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 13, 2002
Messages
283
Re: Left the plug out.

Me too! Always thought a person would have to be stupid to do it. But had mine in the shop getting ready docking. They pulled it to the dock there and started unhooking well 4 guys getting ready their in a little hurry and me getting kinda pushed. Well to much input at one time for this old brain. Unloaded drove down to the marina to dock and wait on wife. She got in complaining of wet floors. I look back not really even thinking anything and her feet are covered by water. Got this kinda sinking feeling and hurried back to ramp. Got them to pull it back out and screw plug in. LOL Boat handles water real well though. Hope this one does if and when.
 

Vadimk

Cadet
Joined
Jul 8, 2010
Messages
21
Re: Left the plug out.

Haven't done it to a boat yet, but almost managed to sink a jet ski once. If you've ever drove them, you'll know that you basically stay on plain the howl time. So it wasn't until I stopped at a sand bank that it started filling up. Thankfully the plug was in the front, so just put it in.
 

Chriswalden

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jan 25, 2012
Messages
35
Re: Left the plug out.

I have been boating for 6 years now and have not left the plug out yet. Knock on wood I hope I never have to. I have had to pull one while cruising down the river to get some extra water out though, but always made sure to put it back in before I stopped.
 

R Socey

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jan 9, 2011
Messages
501
Re: Left the plug out.

I've done it twice - it's amazing how fast the water comes in! :redface:
 

lexer440

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Aug 30, 2010
Messages
222
Re: Left the plug out.

A friend told me a story about a guy who forgot his plug in an old boat with a 150 outboard on back, he apparently decided to leave the plug out and use the vacuum from forward momentum to draw the water out and opened up the throttle. So much water in the boat it bogged down and caused a wave inside to run from stern to bow and back again, blew the transom right off he said and the whole thing sank in about 3 seconds.

Me? I left the plug out once and my son pointed out that there was a lot of water coming in fast. found the plug, put it in turnede on bilge pumps, they didn't work!!. no worries i said reach in front storage locker and theres a manual pump we can use, no my son said its not there, mom used it to drain the last of the water from the little backyard pool we have and its still at home.

The pump is kept on the boat, the bilge pumps are checked before we leave and the plug is kept on the fob with the ignition key when not in, that way I see it and know its not in. some lessons are learned the hard way.
 

fish hook

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jul 22, 2011
Messages
94
Re: Left the plug out.

I left the plug out in my father in laws bass tracker many years ago - thankfully made it back to his lift and got it drained without incident. With my new (to me) boat on first launch, had kill switch on. Cranked the darn thing over and over and over......., started smelling gas ----- was thinking wtf?? it started fine when I bought it -----turned into a fight with my wife, she wanted to leave it sit so I wouldn't blow it up but I kept on a crankin! Looked down, hey shouldn't this switch be flipped up? Fired right up - guess that qualifies as stupid. Oh yea, upon return to the dock, forgot to trim up to load - makes a beautiful grinding noise on our concrete ramp!! You should see all the peoples heads turn at the dock when you hear that noise! Oh well, no damage and that's all behind me now. I now keep a laminated checklist clipped to the steering wheel before every deployment - includes everthing down to checking the fire extinguisher!! (and duct tape for you know who's mouth for when I do something stupid again)
 

timfives

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 30, 2009
Messages
382
Re: Left the plug out.

YUUUUUP! Count me in those who have left it out. Ahh a great day for sure. It was just after finishing the bulk of my restoration where my mates and i decided to take it to Ontario for the week. One of those high stress days, where you pray everything goes perfect. The launch was super busy, and had time to go around the boat 100 times, nary once did i look at the plug. My friend back the boat into the water, i fired the engine right up , and backed it off into the water like a pro. Man was i happy, thinking the engine fired right up, and we didn't hold anyone up.

I was only 20 feet from where we launched, when i heard water running, yep the bilge. i motored on for another few seconds, when i looked down and saw a plug in the cubby. I then knew why i heard water running.. So like a chetah on crack. I pointed the the boat towards shore, gave a burst of power, then shut it down. I grabbed the plug, and dove off the back. Yeah that was smart, and i had to sprint after the boat.. I managed to grab the swim platform, and insert the plug. Soaked i pulled myself back in the boat where there was water above the floor in the rear.

So the interesting part of the story was the bilge shorted out, and i limped it make 4 miles to the dock, where i had my tools and got the bilge working.

In short there are now two bilges onboard, and i have plugs strewn around the boat, in my car, and in most of my pockets.. Hopefully that will be the last time i forget, but if i do rest assured there is a plug near by.

T
 

MRneatfreak

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Feb 20, 2012
Messages
138
Re: Left the plug out.

Yah did this one Sunday at a busy boat ramp with only two slots to put in at. The trick was to get up early and find a parking space for the truck and trailer at the public (free) boat ramps. So needless to say there was a line of trucks trying to launch and then find a parking spot. Went through the normal routine while waiting in line, transom buckles undone, lifejackets loaded, tools, food, etc. Launched the boat, parked the truck, loaded the wife and two boys, noticed the boat seemed lower than normal sitting in the water, but didn't think too much of it, and didn't wan't to be the one getting scorned for wasting time at the docks. So powered away at no wake, got 150 feet from the docks, went full throttle, engine was working but we weren't going anywhere :eek:. Quickly powered down and the bow heaved down, gave me that unsettling feeling in my gut when you know something bad is about to happen. Gently turned her around, and powered back up and watched the water creep up the sides of the hull, made a hasty powered retreat to the docks, got on the trailer and drained for 20 minutes.

This was when I cut a hole in the floor and installed a bilge pump for emergencies just like this.

When I told the story to my neighbor he said I could have kept going at full throttle and the water would have eventually been sucked out of the hole. But I'm glad I played it safe. What if the engine puttered out, then I would be full of water.
 
Joined
Jun 29, 2010
Messages
5
Re: Left the plug out.

Yes, goddammit! I have left the plug out and I wrote a story about it last year for Stupid Boating Tricks.
I own a 1959 Feetform runabout with the original trailer and the original Mercury Mark59A 55 hp two-stroke. It is a 14-and-a-half footer that I take up to this beautiful lake every year. I launch and retrieve and replenish my supplies of food, bait, gas, and beer and re-launch in the morning. I do everything by myself(unless someone joins me, obviously...). Well, there I was, on the last day of my trip, at the boat ramp, sliding ol' Nellie into the water and then tying it off to a nearby tree. I then parked the truck and made my way back to the boat. I started to jump into the back section when something struck me as quite odd, not right...Why were my gloves floating??!? I thought. The entire rear section was covered in water, up to about an inch or so from the top of the transom. If it had spilled over, the boat would have sunk and become a salvage operation. I got my truck and winched the boat back on the trailer and hauled it out just in time. Sure enough, no plug. The water was above my fuel tank and battery. It took quite a bit longer to drain than to fill up because of lack of pressure. Well, I checked everything and PUT THE PLUG BACK IN and re-launched. I tried the starter and it ran for about 30 seconds before dying when I put it in gear. It would not restart. Since it was only about 7:30 in the morning, I paddled out to a tree
near where a creek runs into the lake and started fishing, tying up to the tree. I tried to restart about every 15 minutes or so until about 9:30, when it finally started again. I t ran for a while til I put it in reverse to back away from the tree and head out. When I put in in forward, she died again but would not restart. The old motor is designed to give you no throttle if in neutral so that you do not over rev the motor. Knowing this, I put it back in gear , gave it some gas and held the starter on. This technique propelled the boat for about 25 yards before the engine caught and ran, but only on the bottom 2 cylinders. Then the 3rd cylinder fired and finally, all four were humming beautifully. No problems the rest of the day.
I will not forget to make sure that the plug is in before launching.
In answer to your survey, there are two types of boaters...Those who have forgotten the plug and those who will.
 
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