removing the plug...

[jacuthbert]

When I bought my C-Dory 25 the mechanic showed me the plug at the back. He said it was in very tight and I should just leave it alone. I check to make sure it is there and tight before launching each time, but lately I got to wondering why it was there if I'm supposed to just "leave it alone"...Sooooo, I took it out to see if water would drain out, and nothing...then I was reading about somebody who got an electric jack so they could get the bow high enough to drain water out of that plug and now I am freaked out that I am water-logging my boat from the inside. So my question is this: should I be removing the plug and propping up the bow (somehow) so as to drain the hull after each use of the boat (minimum once a month throughout the year)? Any help or knowledge will be appreciated.
Amanda

[Casey]

Amanda,

I don't really know what the mechanic meant when he said "just leave it alone."

The plug (aka: bilge plug) is intended to be removed after you pull the vessel from the water, so any accumulated water can drain out! "Just leaving it alone" would permit rain water to collect (even in AZ) and have to evaporate-out.

Of course the #1 mistake made by boaters when they relaunch their boat is to forget to put the plug BACK IN !!! Being a bit anal, I tend to check the plug about 2-3 times before launching! ...so far, so good!

As to raising the bow when the boat's on the trailer - that's a good idea as well. It doesn't have to be steep, just a positive bow-up angle, and water will run toward the stern. Neat how that works.

Best,
Casey

[Captains Cat]

Amanda, I don't have a 25 but I think you may be able to see the inside of the transom where the plug is if you look under the floorboards, not sure what you have to lift up. If you do that, you'll see if there's any water in there. Probably not if you took out the plug and none came out (with the bow high).

Charlie

[localboy]

THis has always been an issue since we bought our 25. As it sits on our trailer I have to get the toungue WAY up to get it to drain completely. I've even resorted to parking on a hill near our house w/ flashers on. When I use the boat it's not a big deal. But come winter...

[Sea Wolf]

Pulling the plug is cathartic, both in a nautical and mental sense!

It always feels good to know that you're getting rid of any water that has entered your vessel.

It was particularly important on racing sailboats, to be sure there wasn't any hidden water lurking beneath the cockpit floor or down in the bilges.

We did everything possible to drain the boats of excess weight between race days, even using electric blowers to force air circulation into every last crevice.

Even today, considering the above, i prefer the simple single -hull construction of the early CD-22s over that of the later, and especially larger, boats, that have the raised false floor, and places and compartments for water to hide in and damage hidden components, like fuel and water tanks, holding tanks, various types of pumps, water heaters, you name it.

Joe.

[hardee]

I agree with Joe, Casey and Mark too. Pull the plug, and find a nice hill. I have a nice hill climb route away from the marina, and by the time I'm home, boat is dry. I agree, too that it is nice to be able to look at the cockpit floor, and know if there is water there. That is way I like my "no floor board" version of the 22 Cruiser. On the 25 you may need to go looking for the water hiding places. It should really be drainable with a bit of an up slope in the parking position but ............... all those amenities, holding tank compartments etc that may hold puddles. Probably not a big issue in your warm to hot dry climate, if everything gets a chance to air out. So long as that is done before a freeze comes along, and the frozen water reshapes some of those puddle places.

Harvey
SleepyC

[irlboater]

Some boaters leave their plugs in the boat. Some examples to leave the plug in would be if it were kept in a covered lift on your dock or in a covered rack at your marina. Some boats have a false floor and when rain comes in it mostly goes out the scuppers and the bilge pump gets the rest. Also if the boat has a cover which prevents rain from getting in, there would be no need to remove the plug. My method is to remove the plug but, to each his own.

[localboy]

Our 25 is an '07 so the water tank is in the center of the bilge @ the stern. You can't even see the drain hole from within the boat and there is always water trapped around/under the fuel tank. That water can only enter the bilge via a small hole, bottom/center of the bulkhead which seperates the tank from the bilge. As a result I don't think that the bilge has EVER been 100% dry as long as we've owned the boat.

Harvey, I guess I'll find out about that freezing thing after this past week. I hope nothing is cracked, split or otherwise ruined. The high on Wed @ my house weather center showed 13F...the low 10F.

[hardee]

Mark Sure hope you didn't have any damage. I checked my bilge, all was still dry. (Bilge on the 22 Cruiser is about 6" by14"), usually sponged out right after I get the boat into the barn.

[starcrafttom]

I have pulled the plug as I put the boat on the trailer every time on every boat i have ever owned. do it at the ramp and by the time you get home its dry.

[joefish]

I like leaving the plug out. When I used to leave the plug in I was surprised how much water accumulated even with the cover on after rain showers. Now I keep the plug and the wrench on the front console of my tow vehicle. Its so satisfying to see the last drops of water leaving the hull with the boat backed down the ramp to the water's edge ready for launch. Trim up the motor, remove trailer straps, put in the plug and go.

[jacuthbert]

Thanks for the information. I will pull the plug when I pull the boat out of the water from now on. (I have only failed to put a plug back in once. Fortunately, it was with my little Jon boat and I was able to get it up onto the ramp before it was completely full of water. Although I sure got wet.)Nice hills all the way home from the lake I frequent most.
I will hook it up and pull it up the hill toward the main house this afternoon to empty whatever might be in there.
Temperatures here (south of Tucson) have been in the low 20s the past few days with more of the same expected this coming week.
Thanks so much. You guys are the best!
Amanda

[Sea Wolf]

I'm still in with the plug pullers, of course, but .....

If you regularly pull the plug and don't have a "fail-safe" system, sooner or later you will launch without it!

As someone above points out, you need to put it on the dash of your car or somewhere else that reminds you it's out of the boat.

How about clipping it to the boat keys? You have to unlock the boat before you launch it, right?

Having a second plug some place handy to the drain hole as a back-up is another good idea.

I've only left the plug out of my C-Dory once, the second time I ever launched it, but it sure is alarming to see that water coming into the bilge and the automatic pump spitting the stream out of the side of the transom!

Joe.

[thataway]

"Localboy" makes a very good point--and it is valid on all of the 25's. The lowest point is near the fuel tank/bilge pump aft of the fuel tank when the boat is "level". I always pulled the plug on my 25, and put the trailer jack up as far as possible, yet there was always some water in the bilge. The amount of water will not begin to saturate anything or cause damage (unless there is already an exposure to core material). When running I accepted some water in the bilge aft, and just run the pump and mopped out what I could with a sponge.

[jacuthbert]

I had the plug in my hand this afternoon and as I got back in the truck I was thinking,"now what do I do with this so I don't forget to put it back in...?". Thanks for the suggestions. I will NOT forget to put it in!!!!!
Amanda