Boat Tansom Plug

[Jason B]

Screw that. Let her sink...you see the price of new boats lately? INSURANCE $$$$$!!!!!!!!!!!!!

just kidding

[Ptown]

If you attach the plug to your boat key, that might help in not forgetting it. We have forgot the plug a couple times so this is what I'm gonna start doing.

[philwsailz]

I will second Ptown's thoughts. I have a buddy who has launched his "submarine" a few times. Now he religiously puts the plug on his keychain and has not had issues since he started that routine. It requires a plug that has the little snap-hook attached that is there on some boats to assist in pulling an oil-drain tube out the transom drain.

I will also suggest that keeping a spare bilge pump is a good idea, but wire it up with spring loaded bat clamps or a cig lighter plug for immediate hookup, and do not bother plumbing in an 8000 GPH pump into stock plumbing. Use some shop vac hose and make a temp over-the-side discharge.

Forgetting the plug is not the only time having two pumps will come in handy. Stick a submerged branch thru the hull and see how quickly you will appreciate two pumps.

Another nice thing to do would be to maybe figure out a way to use ballast pumps as bilge pumps in a pinch. Install a "T" and a length of hose that lays in the bilge and do it in such a manner that you can quickly throw a couple of valves and have the ballast pumps working to pump bilge water out.

My 2-hundredths-of-a-dollar...

[Duncan]

I swapped out the stock 500 gph for a 1200 gph. The existing lines handle the flow just fine. I also put in two extra plumbed 1200 gph pumps in either corner to pick up water when heeled over is surf mode (makes for extra stainless hull throughs). Also made sure each line had a riser loop to prevent backflow when heeled over under a surf ballast. The stock config did not have a riser loop. As overkill, I have two more 1200gph for the rear locker 1000lb sacks.

The extra pumps are not just for forgeting the plug. What worries me is taking rollers over the bow in bad weather. The pumps console me (and the quick install snapless front bow cover I had made--fits over the front like a Rankin cover and ties to the add on mid-ship pop up cleats).

[ajholt7]

Sorry to hijack but, where can I get a spare plug for a '08 20V?

[da.bell]

Sorry to hijack but, where can I get a spare plug for a '08 20V?

Any boat dealership should have one.

[Timmy!]

The real question is - why is your boat taking on enough water that you need to pull the drain plug out every time? The few times I've pulled the drain plug, I've gotten nothing out.

[da.bell]

I pull it out every time. I don't get any water in the bilge but unplug it to help it air out. Maybe I should think about keeping it in except when I winterize the boat.

[philwsailz]

I prefer to pull the plug every time. Lots of fiberglass is hygroscopic; it can absorb water. That is where blisters come from on boats that are left in the water. Those blisters are as a result of a chemical reaction that took place between the absorbed water and the fiberglass. I know of lamination layers coming apart in the actual glass as a result of similar reactions. One can assume that blisters are as easily caused inside a boat where water is left to stand.

I trailer, so I pull the plug, and drain. I do not want to take the chance of doing damage to the laminate; I plan on owning my boat in these economic times for quite a while now.... I have always pulled the plug; it has always been routine for me...

[ajholt7]

Another question: Hand tighten or wrench?

[da.bell]

Hard hand tighten is good for me. There has been times that I have had to take a wrench to it to remove. Just don't want to see it come lose while you are boating.

[jake's02-22i]

In the 22i that I have we have never removed the one that is on the back of the boat next to the taps. Should we remove that one and the one that is in the center?

I too have put the boat in the water with out the center plug. We leave it in the cup holder and for some reason I just forgot. Bilge turned on and it clicked in my head. haha freaked out a little. Opened up the engine cover, engine on and put the plug in. Good thing that bilge pump was right next to the plug under the engine, but next time I will turn the engine off. Lol

[Timmy!]

I guess I am used to our super dry climate and everything drying out in just a few hours and forget that some people actually have humidity! Since that is the case, the water in my bilge evaporates in just a few hours.

[rushin]

In the 22i that I have we have never removed the one that is on the back of the boat next to the taps

when I had the 22i I never removed mine either, only the center. No water ever came out of the aft plug.

I think water gets in there from going through floor seems and seats. Kids going in and out of the water, the water brought into the boat has go somewhere

And I noticed with the 22i when on the trailer water would never come out of the aft plug only the center. No that I have a V-drive and on the trailer and pull the aft plug no water comes out unless bow is way up. My personnel opinion is because of the convex hull design that it does that. When the boat is on the trailer the water in the bilge goes to the lowest point which is the center of the boat.

Maybe?

[da.bell]

I agree rushin. Water rushes to the center of the boat (under the gas tank) and stays there. Only going up steep hills or lifting the trailer tongue high enough has let water drain from the RZ.

Thanks Phil, that brings up a good point on why you want to remove the plug.