Plastic drain plug woes

[dandba]

Hi All. I have a 01 Crestliner Fishhawk 1650 and beginning to think my drain plug is starting to give me grief. The boat has always been a dry boat, resulting in an empty bilge when pulling the plug. Here in Colorado, the DOW is starting to require plugs to be pulled before and after launching due to mussel inspection.

Here's where the problem begins. I have the plastic type plug which impossible to screw in and out without a wrench. The plug is really flimsy and really doesn't seem to be built to be taken in and out all the time as it doesn't hold up. Here's what is on the boat:

Last weekend, after fishing for a few hours, I pulled the plug as requested and roughly 2 gallons or so of water came out! Completely shocked, I can only assume at this point that is the source of the problem. I have not checked for leaks on the baitwell/livewell intake yet. When I reinstalled the plug, I had to turn it well beyond contact of the o-ring for it to fully seat. This seems like it has gone too far.

Anyone have any thoughts or experiences with these cheap plastic drain plugs? Next outing, a new plastic plug will be installed as well as some teflon tape wrapping. Hopefully that will curb the leaking.

Thanks for reading.

 

[nlain]

Re: Plastic drain plug woes

I would change to a brass plug set up, you have to use tools on the plastic one might as well go brass and have no more troubles if it is the plastic plug leaking.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Plastic drain plug woes

I installed that same plug on my aluminum boat. What I've found is that you don't have to screw it in until it needs a tool to remove it. The o-ring does a very good job of sealing.

You do, however, have to keep things clean, on the internal and external threads, or it doesn't seal well. Wiping the inside threads with your finger, making sure to clean the place the o-ring bears against, and wiping the plug with the tail of a shirt does the job.

It isn't the threads that seal that plug. It's the o-ring.

I also keep a spare plug in my tackle box. If the old one gives trouble, you can simply bend the retaining tabs and remove it, then bend the tabs slightly on the new one to install it.

 

[dandba]

Re: Plastic drain plug woes

That's really great information, thank you!

In your case, do the threads turn hard before the o-ring seats? In mine, it seems the very small grooves left from when the plastic was molded keep it from threading easily so I can't get the o-ring seated without a tool (typically, a crescent wrench.) Hope that made sense.

I think you hit the nail on the head though, turn the plug until the o-ring presses snug against the housing, not until it's squished because you had more threads to turn.

I had the plug housing replaced in the beginning of last spring and never had an issue the following summer, however wasn't taking the plug in and out as much because there weren't mussel inspections. It would get pulled every few outings just to see if there was water , and every time the bilge was dry. Proper installation and perhaps yearly plug replacement will keep the water out.