How to seal drain plug sleeve?

[superharmonix]

Hello y'all.

:facepalm:Last fall I forgot to pull the plug and after a month or so when I pulled it of course there was water in the boat, and when I puled it the sleeve that's mounted to the hull started to come out with it. I slid it back in, but I am a little nervous to take it out until I seal it.

What's the best way to do that?

Thanks a bunch!

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: How to seal drain plug sleeve?

3M 5200 is the "go to" sealant for below waterline applications. That should work so long as the boat's transom core material isn't wet and or rotted. If it is ... let's not go there just yet. Good luck.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: How to seal drain plug sleeve?

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but there's a very high liklihood you're transom is starting to rot. First off, those don't just come loose, whether there's water in the bilge or not. Furthermore, since there was water in your hull for some period of time along with that loose fitting, it's had plenty of chance to soak into the wood around that fitting.

Before you do anything pull that fitting all the way out and probe around with a sharp piece of metal. It should not be able to penetrate the wood at all.

I've done two complete rebuilds now, and on one of them what you described was the very first indication I had of problems.

 

[superharmonix]

Re: How to seal drain plug sleeve?

I just went out and tried to pull out that sleeve, and it is in there tight.. I can not pull it out with my fingers... It came out about a quarter of an inch that day, and the drain plug was brand new and awfully fat on the rubber end. (or so I think now) It did not try to slide out until I really yanked on that plug and I was slightly shaking it from side to side while pulling since I was so terrified at the fact I left it in by mistake and was in panic mode.

 

[250Gimp]

Re: How to seal drain plug sleeve?

I used 5200 sealant last year on my bother in-law's plug sleave and it took care of the problem all summer.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: How to seal drain plug sleeve?

I'd get it good and dry, both sides, and seal both the inside and outside; there's often more water sitting in than out that can get in the transom and cause the rot.

 

[superharmonix]

Re: How to seal drain plug sleeve?

That's kind of where I was thinking- using the 3m 5200 after getting it all nice and dry. The baot originally had an under deck 15 gallon fuel tank, and the original owner took it out. It makes it really nice for me because there's all kinds of room for me to get down into the bilge and right up on the inside of the transom.