Drain Plug and Nav Light?

cabochris · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 12:47 pm Post subject: Drain Plug and Nav Light?

I need some advice. Most of my past boats have had screw-in style drain plugs. My new to me 16' 91 Angler has a 90 degree rubber plug. Should I insert plug from outside or from inside of the hull? If from outside, is there a risk of plug being knocked free, by something?

Also, my roof mounted staff light is missing. On the mount cover is says Perco and has 3 pins. The boat has bow lights and a stern running lights. Is the missing hardtop light an all-around light? Or is it just white for running and at anchor? Where is best place to purchase a replacement and at what height staff?

Thanks, Chris.

tsturm · Last edited by tsturm on Tue Oct 09, 2007 1:19 pm; edited 2 times in total

Captains Cat · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 1:13 pm Post subject: Re: Drain Plug and Nav Light?

flapbreaker · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 2:38 pm Post subject:

First off you can buy different plugs. Mine came with that arm you fold down. It's made of weak metal and bent pretty early. I now purchase the kind with a little T-bar that you tighten by twisting. I also keep extras in the boat. I like to put mine in from the inside but there's no right or wrong. The reason I do mine from the inside is if it's not quite tight enough and is slowly leaking I can easily give it a turn. Can't do that if you put it in from the outside.

cabochris · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 4:17 pm Post subject: Thanks all...

I think I'll put my plug in on the inside. And will look in the oners manual online for the light. Thanks for the help.

Kent Richmond · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:27 pm Post subject: Drain Plug and Nav light

Drain plug: always from the inside. You can see it if you stand in back of the transom and will know that it is in place. As for the nav. light, mine stores in a pair of brackets on the port side of the v-berth, toward the rear of the berth. The screw cap for the mount stores on a screw mounting located low on the electrical panel, starboard side. Good luck.
Kent

JT · Posted: Tue Oct 09, 2007 9:34 pm Post subject:

Sounds like you have (Had) the same light I do. I think you can get the replacement at West Marine. (Anchor Light).

JT

thataway · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:03 pm Post subject:

In the CD 25 it is difficult to place the plug from inside. So I put it in from the out side--(Most boats I use the inside). I do use the "T" handle, not the lock down level type.

The light most likely has an angle where it is attatched--you want the light lense to be on a horizontal plane, so you need a tube which is bent, to give this proper plane, if you have an angled socket (which most of the C Dories have).

The light is used for both anchoring--and navigation. You must have a 360 degree white light--just the red and green are not proper or legal. (we spent a weekend moored near the entrance to Marina Del Rey--fully 50% of the boats had illegal navigation lights--amazing!). There is no reason to have the two bulb type of light--and I really wonder why they install this. (there are a few instances where the two bulbs make some sense --such as where you you have a separate stern light, or separate foreward steaming light)--lacking these, you need the 360 white navigation light. The two bulbs will use more power and no more light.

Page 420 and 421 of the current West Marine Catalogue has Perko and some other brands, which should be able to fulfill your needs.

cabochris · Posted: Thu Oct 11, 2007 9:23 pm Post subject: Thanks All...

I called C-Dory. They were very helpful and advised me the Perko all round light I needed was #1125DP4 and that I could purchase one from Fisheries Supply- their #47897. So I did.

I was told CD no longer uses this 3 contact light. I guess since my boat has a white stern light, the mast type light serves as forward white navigation light in conjunction with white stern light, then also as all-round anchor light. I guess when anchor light is turned on, navigation lights are turned off. I will have to confirm that when I get the new light. Since all lights are wired, I decided not to change lighting, and purchase the rather expensive Perko light.

Bearbait · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 12:19 pm Post subject:

Years ago I had a boat with one of the fold down type plugs. While underway my daughter asked me if there was supposed to be water in the boat, I looked back and we were taking on water. The plug had come out so I replaced it and 10 minutes later it came out again. I later found out that the plug was broken inside and did not expand when the lever was down. It cammed over and felt normal but wouldn't hold. Last weekend I bought another used boat and it came with 3 fold down plugs. All 3 went in a dumpster yesterday.

thataway · Posted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 5:54 pm Post subject:

Cabo Chris--You are correct that if the boat had a dedicated stern light (135 degrees arc aft, white), that the foreward steaming light (225 degrees arc foreward, white) is the foreward bulb in the Perko light. You could have either gone to the 360 and done away with the stern light, or as you wisely chose, went to the two bulb Perko light. The red green and stern light should not be on when the switch is in "anchor" position. I am not sure if those boats had a dual switch--"navigation" "off" "anchor", or separate switches.

Sure makes you wonder why they are so expensive!

Jack in Alaska · Posted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:03 am Post subject:

I put my lever type plug in from the outside and have for many years. I do have 3 extras inside ready to go if needed. Lost the plug once and that was a "dumber" on my part. Rolling Eyes

Wife said: what is that water gushing sound?
I said: what water gushing sound (bad ears)???
she said: that water gushing in between the fuel tanks!!!

A knarly old branch had floated under my boat and caught on the motor while we were anchored & fishing. I hooked it with the gaff and gave it a yank. Threw the branch over board and continued fishing. Then started the above dialog.

The 1st and only time the plug came out.