Whoops - that ws embarassing!

[JUST JOHN]

Probably 4 years back I forgot to put the transom plug in...my first and only time. By the time the footwell started filling, we were in the bay and when we hit a swell... my iphone slid off the dash into said footwell. LOL, I didn't realize that it was the plug initially and the boat got lower and lower... until I hung over the stern and installed the plug... the motor was LOW! We were in another canal at that point of our trip from launch ramp to home dock. Join the Facebook group 'Nauti Boat Fails' and I'm pretty sure you'll never ever forget the plug again!

[Capt Terry]

Hey John-
I realize in a panic mode folks can do some miraculous things, but am surprised your arm was long to install your drain plug. With my Hermco splashwell tub, I don’t think I could have and would have wanted a string on the plug to keep from dropping it. I probably would have done like SailorChlud and leaped in.

Another drain plug story when was I was about six years old, our family were snowbirds spending the winter in Ft Pierce, Fla and summers in Bergen County, NJ where Dad was a bricklayer. One winter he bought his first, very well used boat- about an 18’ straight inboard. During one of our summers north he left the boat in a neighbor’s orange grove with a canvas over it. Dad got a report from his neighbor/friend “the canvas had ripped and the boat filled with rainwater- but it’s dry now, I drilled a couple holes in the bottom to let the water drain.” I don’t know if the boat had a drain or the wingnut neighbor didn’t know about, but Dad was real PO’d.

[fishingproblem]

I did the plug install dive once too. After that the plug was attached to the helm immediately after removal so as not to miss when next launching.

I like those threaded plugs.

[JUST JOHN]

Originally Posted by Capt Terry

Hey John-
I realize in a panic mode folks can do some miraculous things, but am surprised your arm was long to install your drain plug. With my Hermco splashwell tub, I don’t think I could have and would have wanted a string on the plug to keep from dropping it. I probably would have done like SailorChlud and leaped in....

Despite having long monkey arms, it wasn't easy! My torso was completely over the stern, and head about in the water as I recall. The boat was LOW in the water! It physically hurt as I recall, but I was able to get it in somehow! I would have jumped in if/when I failed! I flipped canoes in that river dozens of times as a kid and haven't yet lost a toe to a snapping turtle! LOL

That's funny about your dad's boat!!

[SailorChlud]

Good funny stories, all. And good suggestions too.

[Capt Terry]

As I recall Bushwacker on his Seafari always had dock lines at the ready, cleated at the bow and running along the top of the gunnel inboard of the stainless rail. He clipped the drain plug to the starboard line so he could see it when he started to launch.

[jtharmo]

Originally Posted by Capt Terry

As I recall Bushwacker on his Seafari always had dock lines at the ready, cleated at the bow and running along the top of the gunnel inboard of the stainless rail. He clipped the drain plug to the starboard line so he could see it when he started to launch.

A practice still carried on today. When I uncleat the starboard bow line the plug falls right to hand. Before I leave the ramp the plug goes right back on the line before cleating. I am more of a big picture guy so I need all the help I can get.

[strick]

done it once..could not reach the plug had to run back to the truck and load the boat back on the trailer to install...bilge was to the deck full of water...good thing for a bilge pump while I was doing all that running around lol...with a bracket it's even easier to forget about the plug because it's kinda hidden under there but then again the bracket should have a plug that is easy to see and then help remind you of the boat plug....backwards thinking is how I do things....attach my truck keys to the dog lead while I'm working so I do not forget and drive off with my dog tied to the truck...

strick

[flyingfrizzle]

Originally Posted by Capt Chuck

There was a reason I built the Gucci extended T-handle stainless drain plug in my 23'. I'm sure the new owner is enjoying the ease of pulling & inserting the drain plug while on the trailer or the lift.

That's a sweet design on the tee handle, I may have to remember that one

[abl1111]

My near-sinking experience was when I invited (2) friends to fish with me - one of them is known as ' Big Guy'. He's a BIG GUY - must weigh close to 300 lbs. I have a 23' Tsunami i/o. We were fishing out in the ocean for stripers and each time I'd stop to drift and then restart I'd hear a funny 'chirp' in the engine. I know my boat, as I rebuilt her bottom-up back in 2003/4. I didn't think much of it and I had a 35 gallon livewell loaded with bunker on the i/o box and I didn't want to move it.

When I zipped back into the bay, I anchored, tossed the bunker, emptied the livewell and tilted the i/o box to find that saltwater was up to my flywheel ! The noise had been water on by belt ! And of course, the auto bilge failed. I put the manual Water Puppy bilge on and dumped her !

What had happened ? Big Guy was fishing in the aft corner of the boat. We all had boots on and the aft had water pooling near that #@$#^%* thru-floor scupper. Water was not only pooling - BUT, without me knowing, it was going under the i/o cover, over the 3" lip to the bilge and filling my hull !

Ugghh !