Non existant drain plug installation

[shovelhead82]

I have a 12' Appleby MFG rowboat aluminum that I have restored somewhat and am using with a sears 5hp. Pretty feeble set up but the price was right IE free. I would like to install a drain plug on this beast, any input on doing this the easiest and best way?

I appreciate any input out there

Thanks, Art

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Non existant drain plug installation

Personally, I wouldn't drill any holes in a hull that has none to start with but if you must, you have two choices, either have a 1" tube welded in place through the transom to accept a common drain plug, or try to bolt on a garboard style drain with some stainless nuts and bolts and some 5200 sealer.
See these choices: http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Parts-Ac...298223--submit.Search--submit.x.0--submit.y.0

A small bilge pump and battery would be the easier answer though. If storage is your concern, a 12' boat is light enough to just flip upside down.

 

[rwidman]

Re: Non existant drain plug installation

Your problem will be with dissimilar metals and corrosion unless you can find either a non-metalic garboard drain fitting or an aluminum one.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Non existant drain plug installation

for that set up you want the 1" drain and plug inside, so that you can pull the plug while running and drain the boat.
Since you do not have a 12 volt battery (unless you also use a trollnig motor) a conventional bilge pump is not what you want.
First choice, you could get a hand pump--cheap and efficient. You can even mount it to the transom.
Second choice, get a pump that runs on D cell batteries; it's all you need. My mother used to use one on her 14' rowboat, rather than bailing after a rain. I took it and rigged a float switch to it.
If you are using a trolling motor and don't want manual, rig up alligator clips to a small bilge pump.

 

[shovelhead82]

Re: Non existant drain plug installation

Sorry for multiple posts, I'm new and as far as I could tell they weren't posting...oops!
I see the point of not molesting the transom with a hole, a small bilge or hand pump might just be the answer. The boat is not worth much as it was damaged and I used marine tex to seal damage. it's holding up very well.

 

[Pez Vela]

Re: Non existant drain plug installation

Over engineering a simple desire to drain and/or dry your boat is probably not a good idea. Here's Sponge Bob to the rescue!

 

[robert graham]

Re: Non existant drain plug installation

I've had an aluminum canoe for years and often thought of adding a transom drain. If I ever do it, I'll most likely have a 1" aluminum pipe welded in my transom with a 1" plug. My large aluminum jon boat has that for a drain, only it's a 2" diameter pipe/plug. You WILL remember to put that 2" plug in at launch or it WILL sink in a hurry! Good Luck!

 

[Outsider]

Re: Non existant drain plug installation

A small bilge pump and battery would be the easier answer though.

Jeez, it's a 12' boat, cut a quart milk jug into a scoop! It don't get any cheaper than that, nor would it get much better ...

 

[rwidman]

Re: Non existant drain plug installation

A small bilge pump and battery would be the easier answer though.

Jeez, it's a 12' boat, cut a quart milk jug into a scoop! It don't get any cheaper than that, nor would it get much better ...

And it could also be used for an MSD.