Plug Poll

[WakingMeHappy]

I searched the forums and couldn't find a poll about leaving a plug out so here goes.

Have you ever been in the water and left a plug out. How it noticed and what was the result? I left it out once in my bass boat. It took my 9 year old daughter asking, "Daddy, what's all this water for?" for me to realize what was happening. I turned on the bilge pump only to learn it didn't work. As I jump to the stern to find the plug I got a little worried when I saw the water within an inch or so of coming over the side. Fortunately I found the plug and started bailing before we went under.

Edited June 16, 2009 by Malibudude

[aaudii5150]

I decline to answer the question because of Murphy's Law.......

[MalibuNation]

I decline to answer the question because of Murphy's Law.......

Answered no to the first ? and it looks like it's forces you to answer the next 2 and they didn't apply. Might want to modify your poll.

Since I live on a lake and keep the boat on a lift I rarely pull the plug + I've guess I've been lucky.

[JeffS]

An old salt once told me...there are two types of boaters in the world. The one's who have forgotten to put the plug in at least once - and the one's who have not left the plug out...YET.

I love watching launch ramp follies - way better than cable especially on a busy afternoon. Such a common thing.

I've done it. Took on quite a bit of water while trying to get the boat to start first time out one season.

But...luckily I popped the engine hatch to check that the choke was choking - and voila - lots and lots of water. Boat wasn't off the trailer yet though - so I just threw it in to 4low and pulled the heavy beast up the ramp. That also took care of needing to check the bilge pump. I knew it worked.

[thethrillofspeed]

Back in the day we had a plug fall out while out in the middle of the lake during the middle of the day on a 17' I/O. The boat had a hard time pulling me up on a ski, but all of a sudden it didn't have to power to do it at all. I stepped in the boat and there was 8" of water. My buddy flew out of the boat and put in a replacement plug. It took forever to get over to the dock with all that water in the boat (kinda like a wakeboard boat ). Put the boat on the trailer, drained out tons of water, but it back in the lake and continued with our day.

[Jojano1]

If you've never left it out, either you don't get out much or your real lucky which I'm not. Not with this boat but a boat prior. Realized within a few minutes, not a big deal. As for the launch ramp follies. Last week after pulling out the boat we saw someone launching a Brand new Wakesetter. The son was on the dock holding a rope attached to the tower while the Dad backed in. The dad took off up the ramp before the boat made it into the water all the way. Didn't even notice the son flying into the water. Half the boat was on the ramp and half in the water. The ground actually shook when it fell of the trailer. Wonder if he will ever forget the plugs?

[Bill_AirJunky]

I decline to answer the question because of Murphy's Law.......

I think by declining you've already answered. Which means you better watch out.

[thethrillofspeed]

I watched one guy put his boat in and discovered the plug was out. His buddy was driving away with the truck and trailer. He panicked and drove the boat up on the launch ramp. That made quite a mess out of a two boat launch ramp.

I do worry about my plugs since I have to remove my rear plug to drive though the California bug stations. I put it in a bag with the key so I don't forget.

[Sixball]

I did it on a bass boat fished all day moving around with the trolling motor. at the end of the day I started the big motor and put the hammer down. The boat was a dog and water started coming up through the Flore locker. I looked at my brother and asked did you put the plug in? The boat would not sink .

I don't think I will ever do it again.

[-BS-]

I've only done this once, but I'm sure I'll do it again. I was lucky that it was the center plug as my driver had already left the ramp. I voted for "someone said where's all this water from", but in reality I realized it when I saw the bilge start running. I was standing on the dock holding the boat and my initial thought was, "Hmmm, that's weird, I didn't think I started filling the ballast." Then I thought," oh, crap.....plug, plug, plug!!". Luckily I never got to that instinctive third thought which (apparently) is, "Drive boat up ramp"

I saw a floating key fob today that simply said "Is the plug in!?!?" on it. Too funny.

[WakingMeHappy]

I decline to answer the question because of Murphy's Law.......

Answered no to the first ? and it looks like it's forces you to answer the next 2 and they didn't apply. Might want to modify your poll.

Since I live on a lake and keep the boat on a lift I rarely pull the plug + I've guess I've been lucky.

Thanks, I modified the answers for questions #2 and #3.

[martinarcher]

We forgot once. The plug used to hang on the ignition key and it fell off and rolled under the dash. She backed the boat in and didn't see the plug so assumed I put it in. I pulled the truck out of the water and went to park while she sat out on the lake in the no wake zone. As I walked down to the dock and she approached in the boat I said to myself, "that's weird the bidge is running and water is coming out - it never runs......oh crap the plug the plug!!!!" I yelled to her the boat is taking on water - get to the dock NOW! This only made things worse and she missed the dock by about 6 feet since I had put her into a panic. Luckily my buddy who has a bass boat was on board and grabbed the plug and asked me what to do. I told him to open the motor box and put the plug in. When he pulled the box up their was a pretty impressive spray of water shooting into the boat. He got it plugged and the bidge pump emptied the boat in a few minutes. What a start to the day!

Needless to say - we triple check now.....

[WEAB]

Just after I bought my Malibu I sold my old ski boat. It was 20 years old but in great condition. The first person to come see it came over twice to look at the boat and since I wasn't getting much action and my wife wouldn't let me keep it he made me an offer and I sold it. When he came over to pick it up I walked through the trailer, starting, launch, spare prop, plug, oil tank, fuel etc. I offered to go to the lake just to make sure everything went well (any excuse to be on the water) but he said that he had owned a boat before back in Michigan so he thought he could handle it, so I sent my old boat to a new home. The next Sunday morning the phone rang early (7:00 AM) we usually wouldn't answer a number we don't recognize but my wife was expecting a call so she answered. She came into the bedroom and woke me up to tell me the guy I sold the boat to was on the phone and he was pretty upset. She handed me the phone and in a angry voice he said "Can you tell me why the boat I just bought from you is in the lake full of water". Without missing a beat I said "Did you put the plug in?". "Plug, what plug?" he said. "Remember the one I showed you in the glove box and the spare in the tool box" I said. The only other sound I heard was the click from him hanging up the phone. I saw the boat driving across the lake last year so I guess he got the water out, he probably won't forget to put the plug in for a while and yes I have forgotten a couple times. How else would I have known what the problem was so quickly?

[enelson]

I did one time when I was about 8 years old. I was taking the boat to our house. It was a Friday night about 10:00 my dad had backed me in and I was letting it warm up, I was not off the trailer yet open the hatch to check everything one time and saw water flooding in threw the plug hole luckily I only had been in the water for a minute so not much water came in. 20 years later I have never forgot that moment I will double check all the plugs every time even if I know I put them in before we left for the lake. But as far as others, whether they admit it or not I think it happens more times then not. I know we see it at least once a weekend.

Edited June 12, 2009 by enelson

[liljohn]

We forgot once. The plug used to hang on the ignition key and it fell off and rolled under the dash. She backed the boat in and didn't see the plug so assumed I put it in. I pulled the truck out of the water and went to park while she sat out on the lake in the no wake zone. As I walked down to the dock and she approached in the boat I said to myself, "that's weird the bidge is running and water is coming out - it never runs......oh crap the plug the plug!!!!" I yelled to her the boat is taking on water - get to the dock NOW! This only made things worse and she missed the dock by about 6 feet since I had put her into a panic. Luckily my buddy who has a bass boat was on board and grabbed the plug and asked me what to do. I told him to open the motor box and put the plug in. When he pulled the box up their was a pretty impressive spray of water shooting into the boat. He got it plugged and the bidge pump emptied the boat in a few minutes. What a start to the day!

Needless to say - we triple check now.....

That sounds just like me only I pull the transom plug. my better half pulled in to the dock and i looked like a frog leeping into the lake and under the boat. when I finaly surfaced for air every one around was looking at me like what the ??? ... needless to say I have a plug in my center console were i see it every day to remind me it is not in the boat..lol..

[aaudii5150]

I decline to answer the question because of Murphy's Law.......

I think by declining you've already answered. Which means you better watch out.

Ya had that discussion last night.... It's bound to happen this weekend...

First time out this year we saw some proud new bu owners launching the boat with the temp lic in the window.......

Of course they forgot the plug. Once they got the boat out of the water I can see one of them looking at the back of the boat(with that plug in) going "I don't know, the plugs in".......

I think they figured it out later......

Edited June 12, 2009 by aaudii5150

[DooKoo]

On the 23 LSV I never take the plugs out. I've dove into 53 degree ocean water more than my fair share to put a plug in. Lost keys and a boogered cell phone were the only casualties that I can recall. The wife laughing her head off each time was the best part. The boat sure goes slow with all that weight!

[MalibuTime]

I am pretty good about checking the stern plug (yes I have left it out a long time ago, I think we just put the boat back on the trailer, may have just jumped in and screwed it in, don't recall), but the through hulls are new, so if I take them out I have a hang tag for the wheel that is a reminder to put the plugs back in.

My dad used to pull the plug when the boat was planing to drain the water out of the inside (from climbing in wet after swimming etc.) Since it was an outboard the plug was pretty easy to get to in that particular boat while underway.

Edited June 13, 2009 by TheBlackPearl

[Chia]

i wasn't going to tell this story here, but since you asked...i will preface this story with this comment; I was very happy and impressed with the service i received from malibu and their techs on the so called "make it right" program for '08 malibu boats. this story is not being written in a critical way at all, stuff happens.

so they come out, do their thing, i take the boat out. Well the speedo isn't working and the wedge is in the full down position and won't come up. phone the tech on his cell. He suggests that maybe somehow the speedo sending unit (the spinning wheel under the boat) is facing the wrong direction and to look down by the tranny and check if the arrow on the plug was facing in the forward direction. So I look and the plug is totally out and water is pouring into the boat. I tell the tech I have to go, my boat is sinking and hang up. Plug in the speedo sending unit, bilge pump pumps out the water, speedo now works and wedge comes up on request. All is good, I don't think water ever got to any motor part, carry on.

Apparently they take the plug out so they can spin the wheel by hand to bring the wedge up after calibration, guess it works pretty slick...

I was surprised though, that i never received a call back asking how everything turned out.

[spinxt]

There are three groups of people that boaters belong to:

1) Those who have already left the plug out

2) Those who have not, but will eventually...

3) Those that have a dripless packing and never remove their plug

[mellen_mpz]

If I take my plug out, it goes on my boat key ring....kinda hard to miss a big T-handle

[CRASH]

Knock on wood i have never left the plug out on the bu But this weekend i had a bass tournament and had the ranger out was running late like normal launched, drove the truck up the hill and parked it walked down and saw the sucker peeing turned around went and got the truck man was i mad at myself Luckily shastas only down 50 ft or so

Edited June 16, 2009 by CRASH

[Jimmypooh]

I always thought a funny name for a boat would be "Remember the Plug"

You're only allowed that name if you have a fun story about it.

[mtaylor]

Years ago...

We launch the boat, cruise around for a few minutes and dock it. It's an old boat, without a bilge pump.

Someone goes back a half hour later and notices that the boat is basically gone-just the motor was sticking out of the water.

We've never had issues since then

Edited July 2, 2009 by mtaylor

[kutchi C]

The first thing we i do before we go out is that i ask my dad if he put the plug in.