Drain plug - internal or externala?

skiptowns98033

I have [i]always[/i] put the transom drain plug on the inside of the boat. Until last year, a neighbor and very experienced boater, suggested it go on the outside. That way if anything happens to it, the water pressure will keep in in place.

"Something could hit it and knock it off" was my initial reaction
but I went ahead and put it on the outside of the transom anyway.

I'm glad I did!

Plan C sits in salt water 7 months a year. The metal fittings in the drain plug - one that had been used for 'a while' - had corroded enough the plug just dropped right out when i pulled the boat for the winter.

Saved me this time!

My solution now is to pay close attention to the plug when it's on the trailer and probably get a new one every year or two.

Larry H · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2018 6:07 pm Post subject:

I would suggest that if you put the plug in from outside, that you keep a spare plug handy near the transom.

If a stray stick or pot warp pulls the plug from the outside, your spare is handy inside the boat.

thataway · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2018 7:37 pm Post subject:

As Larry, we keep a couple spare plugs in the boat--one close to the transom. You should be using the ones which are made for salt water, if leaving the boat in the water.

South of Heaven · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2018 8:14 pm Post subject:

My 16 and 19 had the rubber plugs. My 25 had a screw on bronze type. They were all installed on the outside. I didn't even know putting it on the inside was a possibility.

breausaw · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2018 9:06 pm Post subject:

I don't think it really makes a difference what side you put the plug in, as long as you remember to put it in.
All the fishing skiffs I've worked on had the plug inside, so you could pull it and run the water out.
It boils down to what works for you.

Saxe Point · Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2018 11:31 pm Post subject:

I don't have a C-Dory yet and my current boat leaves me no internal option as the drain hole is deep in a recessed bilge under the motor well. So outside is the only option.

Because of this I use the stainless steel version of this plug. You can twist it in very tightly. So tightly that I cannot imagine anything pulling it out. The worst that could happen would be that the twist part of the plug would break off, but I don't think that would cause the plug to release.

https://seasense.com/collections/marine-plumbling/products/twist-drain-plug

colbysmith · Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2018 12:36 am Post subject:

I have a brass screw in type plug, from the outside. I also carry a spare expanding type plug that will fit on the inside. Just in case... Colby

jer2 · Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2018 11:16 am Post subject: Transom Plugs

C-Brats-
Just curious, from a 'belt & suspenders' perspective, why not use both an 'inside' & 'outside' plug sort of a 'fail' safe measure (if they will both fit)? Anyway, you'll always know where the 'spare' plug is in the transom!

Just saying...

John Roark
R&R
2008 CD-16C
Upper Potomac River (VA)

Ordutch1975 · Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2018 12:31 pm Post subject:

30 years ago I had a very small open 13’ fiber glass boat with an outboard I’d take out fishing on a lake - at the time I kept the plug on the inside the beauty of this was that when I got water in the boat I could get on plane remove the plug and it would suck out all the accumulated water. I don’t suggest this on a c-dory lol. My 23 has a screw-in type plug from the outside. I would suggest the exterior inserted plug is the safer option.

Robert H. Wilkinson · Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2018 3:11 pm Post subject:

I did have a drain assembly years ago that had a cage with a small ball in it. When the boat was in the water the pressure of the water from outside would push the ball in and seal the opening. If you left the boat at the dock and it started to fill up with water from rain, when the water inside the boat was higher than the water line outside the pressure would push the ball out and allow the water pressure to equalize inside and outside the boat. You could also screw a regular bronze plug into it. I guess it was for small cottage boats left in the water without a bilge pump.

Regards, Rob