Stern Drain Plug

B

bridma

New member
I leave my boat in the water for 3 seasons of the year. When inserting the plug on launch day, should I grease or vaseline the thread to make it easier to remove at the end of the season. Or will it be risky that the boat vibration may make the plug start to unwind itself.

Martin.
 
It sounds like you have a threaded plug (vs. the rubber type that expand in place). What's it made out of? The threaded ones I've used are bronze, and they usually just get tightened as-is (bronze on bronze).
 
Martin,

You might check to see if it can be inserted from within the boat, if the threads are there and you have room to turn a wrench, the plug doesn't really care. Also, you might put some anti-seize lubricant on it liberally, that's a greyish goop you can get at most auto parts stores. You can tighten the plug with no danger of its being "welded" in place by corrosion. And..the stuff is really good for your trailer lug nuts, they too will not "weld in place". Thanks to Bob Burks of SeaPal and owner of a tire store for that info. We keep a spare push-in expandable plug on a velcro leash right by the plug hole so we have one available in case of emergency.
 
The threaded garboard drain plugs (which this is most likely an example of--and one of my C dories had that) are a tapered thread, so can only be put in from the stern. I just put a turn of teflon tape around the plug and crank it down--no problem removing it. I am sure that some grease would work about as well. Lanolin is often used for this purpose on boats--especially on sail boat turnbuckles. (then the turnbuckle wrapped--but they may also have cotter pins put in place to keep them from backing off)
 
Oh my goodness, we almost got to the "inny-outty" thing. Wheeeuu :wink:

Hmm, they are threaded to only go in from the outside. Didn't know that. Mine always goes that way, and I keep 2 spares on board -- just in case. :oops:

Harvey
SleepyC:moon
 
Yep, I screw mine in from the outside. On the inside I put in the expanding rubber plug as back up. A tip from George Hone.

Back to the original thread (my pun, groan) :roll: Two suggestions for the teflon tape, two for a dob of vaseline or something similar, one says use nothing when bronze on bronze. I appreciate your help but it is confusing.

Pulled my boat out of the water on Friday. A little sad, it means I have admitted defeat about winter cruising in Desolation. Roll on April.

Martin.
 
Martin,

Truth is, any one of the 3 would work. Question is, What works best for you? and for your boat.

For me, I like the Teflon tape. it is clean, easy and no mess. The goop, whatever you use, has a chance to spread. Not my idea of fun. The bronze on bronze will do too, may take just a bit more tightening.

That is the beautify of these boats and this sight. Options, alternatives and opinions. Definitive answers are available, as are white and black, in the cases where it matters. In the cases where there are multiple choices to get the job done, it is nice to know we have some wiggle room. Enjoy. And think spring. I am winterizing my water system today. Boat goes to the mechanics this week for the engine work and we will be ready for early March.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

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