It Finally Happened To Me

l008com

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 14, 2007
Messages
751
Hectic boat ramp today, filled with a bunch of newbs that all have to take 30 minutes to put their boat in. I'm always in and out in 5 minutes or less. Except today it took me 6. I put my boat in... and.... oh crap I forgot the plug! In I guess 4 years of trailering now, this is the first time my boat ever hit the water without its plug! Luckily I remembered as soon as the boat hit the water, so I pulled forward, jumped out, put it in and then tried again. I was still way faster than everyone else, but man :laugh:
 

bruceb58

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
30,589
Re: It Finally Happened To Me

i did it last year for only the second time in over 30 years of boating. Main reason was I needed the plug out this year because of the zebra mussel inspection. Messed up my whole routine.
 

l008com

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 14, 2007
Messages
751
Re: It Finally Happened To Me

I may have forgotten today, but I was smart enough to have a spare in the boats glove box, plus a spare spare in my truck's center console. And two cheap adjustable wrenches that live with the spare plugs :)
 

java230

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 18, 2013
Messages
295
Re: It Finally Happened To Me

I didn't forget mine today! But I did last time I was out. But it's a whaler, so it's a bailing hull... Just get a little wet feet until out of the no wake zone.
 

l008com

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 14, 2007
Messages
751
Re: It Finally Happened To Me

I didn't forget mine today! But I did last time I was out. But it's a whaler, so it's a bailing hull... Just get a little wet feet until out of the no wake zone.

I don't know what this means??
 

MTboatguy

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Jul 8, 2010
Messages
8,988
Re: It Finally Happened To Me

I did it on the 4th of July, my Buddy was guiding it in and yelled, "Hey you have a big hole in your boat"! Talk about embarrassed! Pulled the bugger out and got it back in the water in no time!
 

etracer68

Ensign
Joined
Oct 11, 2009
Messages
906
Re: It Finally Happened To Me

DEEE PLUG, DEEE PLUG! As I knock on wood. Knock, Knock? Whos there? DEEE PLUG-------MAN.
 

angus63

Captain
Joined
May 20, 2002
Messages
3,726
Re: It Finally Happened To Me

Whalers are unsinkable.

JB- After the carnage I saw after Hurricane Sandy, I can say firsthand that Whalers (Outrages and Montauks anyway)are not unsinkable. Lightly and evenly loaded they do just swamp in calm waters. Add an uneven larger load and wave action, and they too find the bottom.
 

bassman284

Commander
Joined
Jun 24, 2006
Messages
2,840
Re: It Finally Happened To Me

i did it last year for only the second time in over 30 years of boating. Main reason was I needed the plug out this year because of the zebra mussel inspection. Messed up my whole routine.

Same thing happened to me last week. I was at a state park last Sunday and there was a DNR summer intern doing the invasive species survey. He told me about the new Iowa law that requires you to arrive and leave with the plug out, so I pulled my plug. My boat is garaged so I NEVER pull the plug. Wednesday I went to a different lake, backed her in and took off up front running the trolling motor and casting for bass. Caught a nice one and after unhooking it, I looked back saw about 2 inches of water on the floor. Ding dong.
 

java230

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jul 18, 2013
Messages
295
Re: It Finally Happened To Me

I don't know what this means??

Floor drains to splash well, pull the plug while under way and it all drains. By no means are they unsinkable, but it makes getting the water back out pretty easy IMO
 

MH Hawker

Vice Admiral
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Jul 13, 2011
Messages
5,516
Re: It Finally Happened To Me

You now have qualified for the golden plug tie tac or lapel pin. :D
 

bruceb58

Supreme Mariner
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Mar 5, 2006
Messages
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Re: It Finally Happened To Me

There is no such thing as an unsinkable boat.
 

jkust

Rear Admiral
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Aug 2, 2008
Messages
4,942
Re: It Finally Happened To Me

I did it a few years back when they started requiring boats be trailered without a plug here in MN. I was just about to push it off the trailer when the bilged kicked on. It had previously never been run so at least I know it works. I've never repeated yet.
 

kenmyfam

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
14,392
Re: It Finally Happened To Me

Never done it yet but came close a few times !!!!
 

robert graham

Admiral
Joined
Apr 16, 2009
Messages
6,908
Re: It Finally Happened To Me

My Jon boat has a 2 inch diameter transom drain hole, so without the plug the boat will start to fill with water and/or sink almost as fast as you can get it off the trailer!....My boss-lady helps the geezer here to remember the plug and to zip my pants up after a break!:)
 

bassman284

Commander
Joined
Jun 24, 2006
Messages
2,840
Re: It Finally Happened To Me

It doesn't matter if you forget to put the plug in on some boats:

Lund Boat Floatation Video - YouTube

Yeah, that's pretty much what mine did. It's a 1675 Explorer and it seems to hit equilibrium with about 2 or 3 inches of water on the lower deck. I thought I got the plug in but when the bilge wasn't gaining much I figured it was in the wrong hole (live well drain). I kind of old and gimpy and wasn't up to trying to replace it, so I drove it (no wake) back to the launch and dragged it out.
 
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