The infamous drain plug.

Unless I get water in the boat i never take the plug out. I always check the hole when i am taking down the motor-toter

Darrell

I usually put the plug in at home right after I tilt the motor for transport, I store my boat with the motor vertical to reduce water pockets, and double check it just before launch. The plug comes back out after I raise the engine for transport back home. Visually checking my bilge isn't the easiest task, pulling the plug is more convenient.

I always put it in at the ramp the first day I fish and take it out the last day. If I forget it my auto bilge pump will remind me before I pull my trailer out.

The thought hit me after i posted. ....when I rent a place for a week and my boat is docked for a week....I dont take it out then. But, I clearly remember....since it was only last December I got it. ....being told not to leave the plug in for extended periods of time. It would leak. Haven't had the boat long enough to experience that. Anyone?

My plug is tied to a piece of string on my transom, and a spare lays in the transom tray. When I get to the ramp I do a walk around, down the drivers side, winch clip unhooked, straps off, plug in, ropes ready for docking, launch. Always follow the same routine and it becomes habit. When I load, I pull out of the way, do a walk around, check for things that might blow out, add winch strap, secure ropes, pull plug, strap, check tires and ride.

i dont think there is a best way other than being sure you do it the same way every time (develop a habit, when you change from your routine, things go wrong) and always have the habit of double checking.

I never take my plug out. One less thing for me to forget, lol. I have done it in the past like most all boaters. Usually once is enough!

I keep mine screwed in the end of my Yamaha engine support. When I install the support to trailer the boat I install the plug.

Being the last boat I had leaked the plug goes in before launching and comes out when I pull back up the ramp.

I put my boat with wife in a few years back. When driving to park the truck I remembered I failed to put the plug in. Returning to waters edge I found my wife hollering "The boats filling with water , what do I do , what do I do?" "Put your life jacket on". I figured first things first.

x2 on getting in the routine and make it a habit. I used to have to tell people not to help because it messed up my routine. Sundrop made good points about checking for things blowing out on the way hope etc.

I launched, parked and came back to a sinking boat. That's where the extra drain plug on the transom comes in handy. I hopped in and stuck it in from the inside. fired up and ran aground on the ramp,pumped her out and went fishing, embarrassed, but fishing. I know on some hulls you cant easily do that but mine you could.

How many here put the plug in from the outside? It would be much easier on my Tracker, but I have always been nervous about it being on the outside. With the old Jon it was as easy to do it one way as the other.

Darrell

My plug is always on the outside. I make sure the handle is up so it doesn't hang on something and snatch it out which would be hard to do but not impossible. It will not just pop out because water pressure will hold it in. If it is on the inside water pressure can pop it out if the handle is released accidentally.

no problems with the handle I have always used the ones that screw in to swell up the plug.

Darrell

I have some of those also.

dbeam said:

no problems with the handle I have always used the ones that screw in to swell up the plug.

Darrell

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If you are already motoring slowly down the lake and your feet get wet, you can accelerate the boat to near-plane speed and it will pull the water out. Then slam on the brakes and jam the plug in quick. If you are lucky you won't have to suffer the embarrassment of the other guys watching the bilge pump blow water all over the lake. If you are really good , you will also remember to test your bilge pump once in a while while still on the trailer. Stick a hose into the bilge, let it run for a few minutes with the plug in, hit the bilge switch or depress the auto float switch, and see what happens. If nothing does, shut off the water, pull the plug to drain the bilge, then start checking fuzes, switches, electrical connections, and so on. Water in the bilge is never a good thing, particularly in salt water and sooner or later even in fresh water, something is going to corrode or just quit. Best to find that out on the trailer or at the dock.

The last time I put my boat in at the haystacks and I got to the other side of the bridge and noticed "she was sitting a little low in the water" was when I got a small carabiner clip and just kept my drain plug on the chain with the ignition key. No matter when I do it, I'll always see the huge honking drainplug on the dash by the throttle if I forgot.
Luckily with my little skiff it was simple enough to just reach over and put it in and let the bilge pump do it's thing.

The next time we went out my dad pulled one on me. The drain plug in his bayliner is the brass screw-in kind with the square head on it and since it's way under the swim platform, you'd literally have to jump overboard and swim under to put it in. He brought an old spare drain plug with him in his pocket and about 500 yards from the ramp he pulled it out and held it up and his eyes got real big and he said, "Oh ****'!

He said the look on my face was priceless.