The 'what's this' thread

[gsaps]

I recently bought my first boat so will no doubt be coming across things I'm not familiar with so thanks in advance for the help

I just removed the drainage plug (that I assume the previous owner hadn't done recently) and it had this cable attached... can someone tell me what it's for, I just expected it to be a standard old drainage plug



Thanks (it's a mercruiser 4.3l I/O engine)

 

[fhhuber]

That is a retention cable... supposed to be clipped to a line inside the hull. then when you pull the drain plug you can just let it hang and can't lose it.

When not connected to anything it does nothing.

 

[gsaps]

Thanks for the reply, do you know if it's easy to reattach or just best left as is

 

[Fun Times]

Being a Mercruiser engine, the tether assembly connects to an oil drain hose that takes the place of the oil pan drain plug. It's design is so you can pull out the hose and drain the engine oil out the drain plug hole. Some boat manufacturers or dealers ran the hose to the drain plug for you while others didn't. If they didn't then the hose may be laying on top the engine somewhere and depending on room, it's can be hard work to run the hose through the hole if you don't get creative.

NEW OEM Mercury Mercruiser Transom Drain Plug Plugs Tether Assembly Kit 862827
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=mercruiser+oil+drain+kit

 

[fhhuber]

(not engine topics).... so I didn't expect it to be an engine oil drain.

I'm assuming that's the transom drain "Garboard" plug.

To make use of the tether, you get some stainless stranded wire similar to what is already there (fishing leader) and make up a length that goes to a bolt/screw somewhere convenient near the transom INSIDE the boat, and will run to appx 4 inches out the drain hole. Clip that thing on. Then run it over a cup hook placed to just pull the swivel into the drain hole and close up the hook to trap the line.

Then when you put the plug in, leave it attached and tuck the leader line in through the hole the plug goes in. The swivel on there will keep you from winding up and tangling the leader.

You could also use the plug as a practice casting weight.... (not exactly recommended but it points out how it works.)

 

[redneck joe]

How much water drained out? You stsed previous owner hadnt done in a while

 

[poconojoe]

+1 what Fun Times said. Mine was attached to the oil drain hose for when you change your engine oil. It's supposed to be an easy way to drain your oil. Mine took forever to drain the oil, so now I use one of those pumps to suck the oil out of the dipstick tube.

 

[gsaps]

pretty confusing stuff for a serious noob, the reason i said it possibly hadn't been drained for a while was because it was in when the previous owner took it on the water before i bought it and he didn't take it out at the end, might be being a bit unfair on him

so i guess the question is, is it an issue if it's not reattached, are there implications for oil leakage/engine damage if i don't

 

[Scott Danforth]

its a garboard drain plug with a remote oil drain hose tether (that is not connected to the oil drain hose). my searay had it, so I added it to my current boat.

no, it wont hurt if you dont put it thru the plug on the other end of the hose. however if it was me, I would fish out that handy feature. makes oil changes much less messy than dealing with a pump. a bit slow, however a lot less messy.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Here are some pics to help explain

 

[wrvond]

Are you sure the hole is doing double duty? My boat has a hole with a brass plug that is tethered to the oil drain line. That hole is not on centerline. It has a second hole that is on centerline with a plastic plug for the bilge water. It can be hard to see because it is directly below the outdrive.

 

[southkogs]

My plug has the same thing for the drain hose. I've disconnected mine too as we trailer so much, but it was originally to help pull the hose out conveniently.