removing the plug...

damason · Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 10:41 am Post subject: Removing the plug

I have a 2008 CD-25. I always remove the plug at the steep ramp and make sure any water drains out, usually none. I cover the back of the boat with a 10 foot by 16 foot tarp held down with bungee cords. When it rains the water does not get into the back of the boat and into the bilge. With the cover in place I open up the hatches, leave them open and let the bilge dry. You can order the tarp from "TARPS PLUS" online.

If you leave water in the bilge area and it is shut up the water will cause much corrosion on the wires and batteries. So you want that area to be dry. Laughing

hardee · Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 10:49 am Post subject:

Clipping the plug to the cabin / boat keys is a good idea, or on the tow vehicle dash is a good idea. Mine stays hanging from the ashtray in the Pickup. It is the first thing that goes into the boat at the stop at the head of the ramp. It just needs to be where it is SEEN Before the Launch.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

DaveS · Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 11:36 am Post subject:

Like others I pull the plug after removing Sea Shift from the water. Usually, I do it while the boat and trailer are still on the inclined ramp, so the salt water flows immediately out. After washing the boat and trailer at home, I sponge up all the water out of the bilge and at the base of both bilge pumps.
Prior to departing on a cruise I then install the plug while the boat is still in the shop and then double check its' presence when performing a "walk around" prior to towing the boat out of the shop and again prior to the actual launch.
I keep a spare plug on cordage next to the transom in case there is ever a need for it.
Of course it is easier to install a plug when the boat is in the water if you are an "inny" instead of an "outy"......which brings us back to the age old thread on this site about "innies and outies"..... Rolling Eyes

hardee · Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 11:47 am Post subject:

Oh no, not again:

JamesTXSD · Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 12:42 pm Post subject:

Amanda has a 25... it's an outie.

jacuthbert · Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 2:34 pm Post subject: pulling the plug

I cover the cockpit with a good tarp I have and I also open the hatches. The problem here in the desert is that wasps will move in to open hatches, so I open them and then cover them with this woven outdoor shade material so none can find their way in. I also have to cover the bilge plug hole...boy would the wasps go for that!
The plug I have does not have a way to clip something to it for hanging. Did you drill a hole through yours? Mine is not the standard type of plug I used to use on other boats I have had (the kind that has a little handle). Mine is actually a sort of little bolt. I have 2 extras that I keep on the boat.

I tried raising the tongue to get an incline on the boat so anything in the bilge can find its way out, but I can't get it high enough. I think I am going to have to put it back on the truck hitch and put something under the hitch foot so that when I remove it from the truck hitch it will be at enough of an angle to do the trick.

I have been looking at getting an electric jack. I found one at Overton's but it is rated for 1500 pounds. I suspect that is not near enough. Any thoughts?

Amanda
I really enjoy talking with you guys.

Yellowstone · Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 2:44 pm Post subject:

When I bought my first 22' fourteen years ago, it had a flapper kind of plug in it. I never trusted it with no good reason to support my feelngs. The thing had a split slender duck bill kind of thing protruding past the hull. Does anyone have experience with that kind of plug? John

Sea Wolf · Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 2:57 pm Post subject:

Casey · Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 3:42 pm Post subject:

RE the electric jack from Overton's.

If it's rated for 1500# that is probably well over what is actually needed (but that doesn't hurt anything in this case).

Trailer manufacturer's and boat dealers usually try to have about 10% of the overall trailer load on the hitch. This seems to give a good, non-swaying ride. (Less than that and driver's will find their trailer swaying, sometimes dangerously.) Since you've trailered a good bit, I suspect your trailer is properly fit to your boat, and the trailer weight is probably just fine. All this is a round about way of saying - I suspect the Overton electric jack would work just fine.

Best,
Casey

Spike · Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 6:47 pm Post subject:

Amanda
I cant imagine that you have 1500 lbs tongue weight, even on a 25'

jacuthbert · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 3:15 pm Post subject: electric jack

Casey and Chuck:
You are indicating that I don't need to purchase a jack rated at 1500 pounds. The other jack listed at Overton's is for 1000 pounds. Does that seem do-able to you guys?
Thanks for the info.
Amanda

Casey · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 3:31 pm Post subject:

Yes.

Your boat probably weighs in the vicinity of 5000# (including the trailer) the 10% tongue weight should be around 500#; well below the 1000# jack rating.

If you get an electric jack for the trailer you will need a power source. I think you'd want to have someone who does that sort of thing wire it for you. He/she will probably run a pigtail off the plug for the trailer wiring.

Good luck!

Best,
Casey

hardee · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 3:34 pm Post subject:

Not Casey or Chuck here, but for me it would probably due the trick, although I tend to like both a belt and suspenders, or glue and screws, so I would probably opt for the 1500 pounder, and consider the extra margin as safety margin.

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

Captains Cat · Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 3:39 pm Post subject:

Casey · Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2010 9:00 am Post subject:

Charlie,

...yep, I'll be you're right.

Best,
Casey