29 degrees this morning around Madisonville. Had drain plug out because it's been raing. A little bit froze in the drain hole. Got to the launch. Actually remembered to put in plug. Thought I had scraped what little bit of ice that was in the hole out. Put plug in. It tightened up and seemed to seal. Launched boat with friend driving. Went to park truck. By the time I got back to the ramp, my friend was frantically yelling at me to come quick! Just as I got there, he barely made it up on the ramp (and, on a canal) before the transom went under! Boat went under all the way to the bottom of the motor (PD 36)!!! He sat his fat ass on the bow on the ramp to keep it from going even further while I unhitched the trailer and got a tow strap attatched to the truck and the boat. We pulled it up further and pulled the plug (it was still in the hole) because, needless to say, the bilge pump hadn't been able to keep up and it would have taken forever to drain now that the boat was safe. I thought for sure my day was down, but the motor cranked right up (it had actually stayed out of the water, so I guess I shouldn't really be surprised).
I quess there was still enough ice to keep the plug from seating all the way, it melted once the boat was in the water. I was using plumbing test plugs. Anyone have something better/more secure? Until I find something else, I'm going to put two in each drain hole-one from the inside and one from the outside...and put a burnsamatic in the boat to get rid of ALL of the ice! And I'm going to add a second bilge-still won't keep up, but it'll give me a few precious seconds more time if it ever happens again.

Had a late start, but a good day-a few gw teal, some buffleheads, some dos gris-not the best, but fun.

get some oil plugs

http://www.shawplugs.com/wing-nut-expan ... c-254.html

Perfect! Thanks. You really can't torque those plastic plugs tight enough to suit me.

A builder told me that i shouldn't put those 2 inch plugs in for that reason. My rule 2000 can keep up with one of the standard plugs out.

That's exactly why a big plug is a dumb ass idea

they are nice for washing my boat out

My friend is.

Can't you get a threaded 2" hole and plug? I thought I've seen those in people's photos?

If you can't, I'd likely stick with standard drain plugs.


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Thought so, that's a good idea right there.


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That sounds like a good idea. OA-you got a link or can you point me in the right direction?
Thanks.

Docott post a pic of the test plug you're using. You said its plastic?

Like these:

http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/v ... 5Uo4sHKLFE

Oncall has a link to some good 2" plugs. PM him

We don't use the plastic. We use the galvanized plumbing plugs.

You can tighten the FUK out of them.

Thanks for the help. I got some 2" oil plugs from autozone for now. They'll be an improvement, while I look into other options.

All of us up north guys are laughing at a La guy with drain plug problems. It is 12 degrees outside right now with a foot of snow or more on the ground. I have a jumbo drain hole on my commercial fishing boat. It is about half blocked with ice each and everyday. Add some snow and it makes for a nice start of the day. I do however use the big plugs. One down side is the threads will rust up fairly quick. I have to pound the plug in each morning with my foot.
Docott one way I do my frozen plug is I back my boat down into the water with the plug under the water. Water back fills in and then I pull back out letting the water drain. I then scrape whatever ice is left with a knife for that purpose and then pound the rubber plug in with my boot.
Right now ice and snow on the ramp is my biggest issue. Our ramps are fairly steep and can make for a dangerous costly launch. I have snow shovels and salt galore in the back of my truck.

That's just part of hunting in the north.

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Hell on all that. My bed is warm..

It was so cold the other morning, my torch didn't want to hardly work....

My boat was frozen to the trailer so bad this morning that when I got backed in the trailer was floating. Talk about not knowing what the hell was going on, I blamed myself for leaving the straps on the back at first.

My azz was frozen to bed. So, I didn't get up

What else ya gonna do when it 15 deg outside? Sit inside n play video games?

Keep one of those hand held torch thingy in your boat to melt ice if need be

Nah, Crews, pretty sure it was the ice.