Brass drain plug

[ryds-steve]

Hi all,
i have a brass 1/2 NPT drain plug with a tapered thread ( called a Garboard plug I think ) and recently overtightened it as I was worried it may come undone when underway, when I got the boat back on the trailer I could not get it undone and rounded off the square head, this meant I had to drill and cut it out.
How tight does this plug need to be installed?
Also I see there is a stainless steel version available, are there any negatives to installing one of those instead. Presumably the square head will be less easily rounded off.
Thanks
Steve

 

[Scott Danforth]

dont install stainless. installing stainless in a bronze housing would galvanically bond them.

you only need to tighten between 1/6 and 1/4 turn past finger tight, even finger tight would be fine. the plug wont be going anywhere unless fish learn to use wrenches

if you need a whole new garboard drain fitting, get them here on iboats

when you go to tighten, use a 3" long wrench if you think your going to gorilla tighten it again in the future.

 

[dingbat]

What Scott said.... I doubt I even go a 1/4 turn. Just needs to be “vibration” snug.

I have a self bailing cockpit. The plug is removed once a year when I use bilge cleaner. Apply a bit of “blue grease” grease to the threads at installation.

They make plastic garboard wrenches for the job. I use the 6” adjustable wrench from my onboard tool kit

 

[ryds-steve]

Thanks guys....much appreciated