Did it

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

I went sailing yesterday. I brought a buddy along with me who has never been on the Hudson. So I back the jeep and trailer into the cove in one graceful cut and curve just like a pro. pull her off the trailer and start rigging. Talking all nautical to my buddy arrrrrrrg I'm mighty Joe the sailor man. Hmmmmmmm looks like we got a lil ol problem. Boat is taking on water. YUP you got it ONE thing I SWORE to myself I would NEVER EVER do. LEAVE THE DRAIN PLUG OUT !!!!!!!! :rolleyes: :rolleyes: :rolleyes: redface.gif

Quick thinking and screwed the plug in place and a few minutes with the bilge pump and we were off.

I swear I will never ever do it AGAIN :D

[Noah]

I give you 3 weeks until you say that again...It's a fact of life. Everyone leaves the plug out a few times a year.

[Matt J.]

Ah, Joe, quick thinking would have been to put the drain plug in in the first place... ;)

This from the guy who, about once per month, would forget the drain plugs in our Hobie 14. Once we made it about a mile offshore before we realized why she was so slow (and daarn low in the water). Took forever t get to the nearest shore to drain the water and plug her.

Being human's a bit@h, isn't it?

[Figment]

Lash the plug to the mast somehow so that you'll always stumble across it and remember to install it as you rig for sail at the ramp. Back in my beachcat days I used to capture the plugs in the tiller extension's pin.

Like hanging a powered boat's ignition key on the handle of the engine intake seacock, so you always remember to open it at the start of the weekend and close it at the end....

[Donn]

I trailered boats for 30 years, and never forgot the drain plug. I clipped it to one of the stern hold-downs.

[Memphis Mike]

Yep, I've never done that before either and if I ever did I sure wouldn't tell anybody about it. :D

[cs]

Best way to fix that so it don't happen again is to take some epoxy and thicken real thick with wood flour and than fill the hole. :D

Chad

[Gresham CA]

I've always just left the plug in. But I always leave the key in the ignition too.

[Joe ( Cold Spring on Hudson )]

Ya know if the boat didn't seep water in because she is not kept in the water enough to swell up I would leave the plug in. But she fills up a bit when you sail her hard on her chine and well an open lapstrake sailboat will always get wet. So the drain plug is a good thing after she is on the trailer and the water just pours out. I will be placing it in a more identifying place, I had kept it in my "junk" draw under the mid thwart.

[Gresham CA]

Oh, I always take it out AFTER I use the boat but I stand there and put it right back in.