OOPs Forgot the plug

[dozerII]

Okay this maybe a stupid question, but I bet more than one person on this site has forgot to put the plug in the boat. It almost happened to me a couple of times and then did. I had a buddy back the boat in as I was in the drives seat ready to start the motor. As the boat came off the trailer I got the motor down and was about to crank it up when I heard what sounded like water running, and it hit me like a two by four. !!!!THE PLUG!!!!! Well first off it was the spring and it was the first time the boat was in the water, I dove to the back of the boat and there is already a lot of water there, I reach in the water searching for the plug and it dawns on me, when I put the boat away last fall I stored the plug in the glove box. Up to the front pull all the crap out of the glove box ( the plug is the heaviest itemin there so its on the bottom, dive back to the transome, now there is a foot of water and I'm soaked with 46 degree C water, it's only now I think to start the bilge pump.
Question is what does everyone use to remind themselves to put the plug in? I was thinking maybe a red flag with PLUG writen on it attached to the saftey chain on the front, because that always gets undone before backin in.
Ideas

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: OOPs Forgot the plug

I'm a new boater here and I have a pre launch check list that includes making sure the Plug is in.

Glad your boat is not at the bottom of the Lake.

 

[dlngr]

Re: OOPs Forgot the plug

There's a huge thread on this,and a lot of ideas for 'plug reminders' under the stupid human tricks section. You're not alone!!! I think almost everyone on here has done it,[or will]

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: OOPs Forgot the plug

I better not become the "will" category.

 

[dorelse]

Re: OOPs Forgot the plug

I better not become the "will" category.

Welcome to the club.

I have a pre-launch checklist that I'm *supposed* to follow. For the most part...I put mine back in once the boat has dried out in the garage, so well before my next trip out.

I have also hung it on the key...it has to be 'in my way' otherwise I'm afraid I'll forget it again.

 

[dave11]

Re: OOPs Forgot the plug

I put a big clip on the left tie down strap to remind me.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: OOPs Forgot the plug

Among the comments at SHT are
There are two types of boaters: those who have forgotten the plug and those who will.

The longer it's been since your last [name your favorite screw-up] the closer it is to the next time.

When I did it, I learned I could put the plug in from the back of the boat by reaching over; just got my lower arm wet.

Sounds like yours is the larger rubber kind you pull from the inside (so you can run the water out); my starcrafts were like that. Because they go in from the inside, they are easier to forget IMO. I left it on the floor in front of the sliding doors for the gas tanks; it tucked in under the track so it was visible but didn't roll away.
Safety chain reminder sounds like a good idea, as long as it doesn't fall off while trailering (hopefully by now you have several spares scattered around).

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: OOPs Forgot the plug

I'm not a checklist kinda guy.

I do however believe that a routine is important. I connect my trailer the same way everytime. I back up, drop the jack, plug in the lights, hook up safety chains, hook up brake chain, ensure the hitch is secure and latched and put a lock on the hitch lever. The lock isnt for theft it's the final hitching step and is never on unless all the above is complete. (In case I'm interrupted...) Plus I think it's safer towing with something locking the lever down.

Then I fire off the hazards, move to the back , check the lights, raise the engines for travel, PUT IN THE PLUG and pull out of the sideyard.

This is a regular routine and while it may read like a 20 item checklist it's not, I just do each thing in order and nothign gets missed. I also dont let people help, it messes up the routine.

I've only left out the plug once, and I saw the bilge pump discharge from the side window of the truck. That was before I didnt let people help.

Happy Boating!!

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: OOPs Forgot the plug

Welcome to the club.

I have a pre-launch checklist that I'm *supposed* to follow. For the most part...I put mine back in once the boat has dried out in the garage, so well before my next trip out.

I have also hung it on the key...it has to be 'in my way' otherwise I'm afraid I'll forget it again.

I do the same. I put my back as soon as any water is drained out. I do not want to get into the bad habit of leaving it out for any reason.

 

[BTMCB]

Re: OOPs Forgot the plug

I too have a routine I follow at the house getting the boat ready and hooked to trailer. Plug goes in at that time. Also have a routine I follow at the launch which includes double checking that the plug is in. I also ask the admiral to check the plug is in, when she is with me, before I back down the ramp. I have a checklist in my iPhone with the various routines - home-launch-retrieval. If ever my routine is interupted, i pull out the phone and checklist to make sure I didn't miss anything. Sounds like overkill but it works.....so far!

I would bet money the OP will never forget the plug again!

 

[labguy]

Re: OOPs Forgot the plug

Before I go to the lake, I hook it up to muffs and fire it up in the driveway. Once I verify that its gonna fire up, I put the plug in and off I go. Don't feel bad, everyone has done it. I remember when I launched my first boat (in March, water still freezing) I went to park my vehicle and was walking back while my nephew was holding the boat. When I rounded the corner, I noticed the back sitting low in the water and hit me like a ton of bricks..."I FORGOT THE PLUG!!" I broke out in a full sprint (I am 6"1' 280 lbs, lolol) screaming at my nephew, "THE BUTT PLUG, THE BUTT PLUG". I can only imagine what everyone was thinking. Jumped in the boat, grabbed it out of the glove box, had to dive into the water and screw it in. Ran the bilge for about 30 minutes until it was dry. Thats when I decided to change up my routine....

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: OOPs Forgot the plug

I LEAVE the plug in during the summer.... pull it for winter

 

[jetmart]

Re: OOPs Forgot the plug

drill a hole in the plug and hang it on the tongue of the trailer so you cannot hook to hitch with it in the way. As you hook the trailer to the hitch it is the perfect time to put the plug in the boat.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: OOPs Forgot the plug

We have plugs all over the place. On the lock on the trailer hitch, on the boat key ring, on the lanyard, in the boat toolbox, in the glove box, in the motor well when traveling, in the car and on my car key ring during the season.
Makes it real hard to forget.

 

[rjwoodrome]

Re: OOPs Forgot the plug

Last time I was in the local bass pro shop found a plug flange that has a rubber ball inside. if you forget the plug the ball would float up and stop the intake of water when you pull the boat out it rolls back down. "Friggin like magic". it also uses the standard thread plug. I think it was under 15.00 snaped it up installed it and havent forgot the plug since not to mention the extra ones scattererd between boat and the truck..

 

[roscoe]

Re: OOPs Forgot the plug

The plug is the first thing I do when prepping the boat.
But I have an old plug zip-tied to the winch handle, just as a reminder.

 

[5150abf]

Re: OOPs Forgot the plug

I never take mine out so it is isn't possible to forget to put it back.

Unless you store it outside uncovered there really is no reason to remove the plug unless it is taking on water and you should certianly fix that if it is.

I forgot mine once and almost sank the boat, I had about 2'' of transom left when I caught it, before I went out again I had an alarm on the bilge pump.

I have 2 pumps, one low for rain water and another a bit higher, the alarm is on the second one, if it fires I get a peircing alarm that lets me know there is a problem right now.

 

[Bucks45]

Re: OOPs Forgot the plug

The plug is the first thing I do when prepping the boat.
But I have an old plug zip-tied to the winch handle, just as a reminder.

That's a great idea Roscoe. I think that's what I'm going to do.

 

[Bob's Garage]

Re: OOPs Forgot the plug

Leaving the plug in depends a lot on the part of the country you live/boat in. Here in central Florida, I park the boat on my trailer, with a cover. However, when traveling I prefer not to have the plugs in (catamaran) as we are subject to quick downpour rains that can accumulate a lot of water fast. I prefer not to trailer my boat and a load of rainwater the 50 miles to the coats.

Therefore, I also maintain a routine to assure myself that I don't forget. Still, after 20 yrs I decided to join the FTP club

 

[stubbsboogie]

Re: OOPs Forgot the plug

We have all done it. And even with checklists ect the chances are we will all do it again.

As we launch the boat I walk around and call out each and everything I do to the Admiraless and crew. Then ask if there is anything anyone can think of that I have not done. The plug stays in the swimladder compartment on the platform, which is how the Admiraless and crew board before I back her down the ramp. So if by some chance I overlook it and she doesnt think of it, when she boards she will see it still in the compartment and remind me again.