Does plug get installed from inside or outside??

[kshelly]

I was thumbing through some previous posts when I came across a post in reference to the bilge plug. My bilge plug is the rubber expanding type with the "T" handle for tightening. Am I suppose to install this plug from inside the boat??? I guess it would make sense. If the plug should pop out you know where to find it!

 

[MajBach]

Re: Does plug get installed from inside or outside??

Yes, you would find it in the hull - providing you could find the hull if the water isn't to deep. <br />THINK!! <br />If the plug pops out, where is the boat likely to be when it does?<br /><br />You want to install this on the outside. If you install it on the inside, water pressure on the outside is more LIKELY to pop out the plug. If installed on the outside, water pressure keeps the plug pushed in.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Does plug get installed from inside or outside??

Either way works. On some boats its darn near impossible to get to the inside easily.<br /><br />As far as the plug popping out, I wouldnt even bother looking for it regardless of where I put it in. I'd just grab the spare. I know exactly where it is. <br /><br />You do have a spare plug, right?

 

[quantumleap]

Re: Does plug get installed from inside or outside??

MajBach is right on. The pressure of the water is greater than the pressure of the air in the boat. The plug is installed from the outside so the water pressure can't force it out.

 

[mattttt25]

Re: Does plug get installed from inside or outside??

you just need to look at your boat. on mine, i screw in a solid piece of metal from the outside. once it's installed, you're not touching it without a wrench and definately not from the inside. on my uncle's 13' whaler, you install the rubber t-type plug you describe from the inside. it can then be pulled out when you are running fast to allow water from inside the boat to drain out. if you have this set-up and try this dewatering method, be sure you can get the plug back in before you stop the boat. good luck-

 

[18rabbit]

Re: Does plug get installed from inside or outside??

Installed properly, you would need something like a bulldozer to pop that plug out.<br /><br />A 1” dia plug (times) pi (times) 1” length = 3.14” of plug surface area. Tightened to 10psi there is 31 pounds of pressure holding that critter in there.<br /><br />I don’t know what the actual torque on those plugs is but even as low as ½ lb psi, you have 1½ lbs holding the plug in. water exerts force at .455psi per foot. Your plug would need to be more than 3-ft under water before the pressure even begins to equalize.

 

[quantumleap]

Re: Does plug get installed from inside or outside??

If the brass T happens to fail, and I've seen them strip, I'd rather have it on the outside.

 

[MajBach]

Re: Does plug get installed from inside or outside??

I too have seen these fail, paricularly the ones with the lever, not the 'T'. The brass bolt loosens and eventually falls off then there is no more 'pressure' holding it in place. This happened on my old 14' tin, I used to install the plug from the inside since this thing leaked so bad sometimes, I had to remove the plug to drain the water. One day it did pop out all on it's own (from water pressure) and thankfully I was in the boat when it did. Had I installed it on the outside, it probably wouldn't have popped out.<br /><br />Who cares if you lose your plug on a Whaler? They don't sink anyway and are self-bailing.

 

[kshelly]

Re: Does plug get installed from inside or outside??

I'm glad most agree the plug should be installed from the outside, since that's how I installed mine. I do own a spare plug that I hopefully will never have to install under such desperate conditions! Thanks for all the feedback, as usual!

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Does plug get installed from inside or outside??

Dont ever use the lever type!!!!!! One year i pulled my boat for the season and i usually pull the plug before the trailer ride home.When I went to pull the plug the lever was gone.I took the rest of the plug in my fingers and barely pulled it and it came right out.I cant believe how lucky I was..It could have come out at any time and I would not have known .Charlie

 

[crab bait]

Re: Does plug get installed from inside or outside??

my knuckle head fishin' buddy ..pulled he plug to drain-the-rain one time.. in pullin' ,, it slipped out of his hand..lost..<br /><br />we had to bomb around untill i whiddled down a new one outta an old cork bouy to fit.. <br /><br />he's justa laughin' the whole time..<br /><br />one of these days..................

 

[MajBach]

Re: Does plug get installed from inside or outside??

crab bait: <br />That is actually a funny story. I can just picture it. Good thing you didn't run out of gas too.