Preflight those drain plugs!
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Boat Maintenance
Forum Discription: Discuss maintenance of your Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=50561
Printed Date: January-15-2025 at 7:05pm
Topic: Preflight those drain plugs!
Posted By: ultrarunner
Subject: Preflight those drain plugs!
Date Posted: April-13-2022 at 5:27pm
| So, after a number of years NOT owning a ski boat with the transom plug, we head out this morning for the second ride in the ‘new to us boat’. I drop the boat in at the ramp, My son ties it off. I go park the rig, get organized and we launch. We get on plane, go about a mile, turn the boat off and just enjoying the Sun, discussing who’s skiing first. The previous day I had noticed I need to adjust the packing as the drip was too much. Bilge kicked on. And did NOT kick off. I lifted motor box, water about up to oil pan. SIT DOWN, we’re outta here. I hit it. I had initially thought the packing had failed then as I neared the dock, I remembered the transom plug….the one I failed to check from yesterdays outing after I pulled the boat. Reached over platform and done. TEN minutes later, bilge dry! Whew! Rookie mistake, I know! |
Replies:
Posted By: gun-driver
Date Posted: April-22-2022 at 8:49pm
| I never pull that one out. |
Posted By: ultrarunner
Date Posted: April-22-2022 at 10:12pm
| Good thinking. Once I get back in there to clean it what might be some more organic material, I’ll do the same. |
Posted By: Jonny Quest
Date Posted: April-22-2022 at 10:21pm
|
Roger that. I have a Velcro set-up for my garboard drain plug that I hang from the steering wheel. It's pretty obvious when the plug is not "IN". I came up with this "remind me" device after a stop-in-the-middle-of-the-lake panic when I realized that the boat was quite low in the water. I got the plug in and was grateful that the bilge pump worked well. The laminated "pre-flight checklist" isn't a bad idea... JQ ------------- Current 2003 Ski Nautique 206 Limited Previous 2001 Ski Nautique Open Bow 1994 Ski Nautique Open Bow Aqua skiing, ergo sum |
Posted By: MrMcD
Date Posted: April-22-2022 at 10:34pm
|
The heck with cleaning the bilge. Squirt some dish soap in there, let al ittle water in and go ski all day. When you drain it you will be spic and span clean. I used to get down there and bust my hump cleaning. No longer and it looks the same after the boat wash technique. All the turns, starts and stops do a great job of washing. It does not take a lot of water but maybe a couple gallons, enough to put a 1” or so in the bottom of the boat parked. ------------- |
Posted By: gun-driver
Date Posted: April-22-2022 at 10:37pm
Or don’t take it out😁 |
Jonny Quest wrote: