98 Sunsetter Drain Plug leaking

[Arick]

First day out with the new boat and noticed the drain plug was leaking.  On my old boat I could just snug up the plug and it would be good.  In this case, I snugged up the plug before we went out.  When I found water leaking in, i cranked it about a full turn more, it still leaked at about the same rate.  It leaks enough that I need to kick the bilge on ever half hour.  Fast forward to this morning (would have pulled it last night, but got caught in a major storm and while in a rush I forgot to pull it),  I pulled the plug and looked at the threads, they look good.  I have yet to investigate the threads in the hull.  I've done some reading and am unsure what I should do in this scenario.  My thought was to get some teflon tape and wrap the threads on the plug.  Then get some "pipe dope" and apply to the female threads in the boat.  I'm hoping this works.  However I'm hoping someone can speak from experience.

*Mods I know I should have posted in troubleshooting, but I was trying to get some quick traction as I plan on taking the boat out again today.

 

Obligatory picture of the new boat 

[Sixball]

I use Teflon tape all the time on all my plugs.  One you don't need to crank on them to seal and they come out nice. That would be my first try. 

[tvano]

some of the drain plugs have an o-ring groove, some don't.

yours isn't missing an o-ring, it it?

[formulaben]

You didn't say if it was a transom plug or inboard...if it's just a missing o-ring then get a new one.  But I would consider a new assembly just to be done with it.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/perko--garboard-drain-plugs--P006_181_003_503

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/perko--garboard-drain-plug--161458

[Arick]

Turns out, the water box was leaking....