!%*-+ invasive species

[PACMEN]

Location Strawberry Res.
Date.     Wed. 8/22/25
Time.     7:15 A.M.

Forgot to put in the drain plug.  Ran boat up into the mud ashore.  I was laying on the back of the boat hanging over the transom.  I slid head first into the lake.
I spent next 2 hrs fishing with no pants on. Finally it warmed up enough that I figured I could put my wet pants on.  When we got home at 6 P.M. my feet were still wet in my shoes.
Air temp. was 37 degrees 15 minutes earlier when we got to the lake.
Up until the laws were changed about drain plugs, I always left ours in.  When they required us to remove drain plugs while in transit, I started putting the ignition key in a cup holder as a reminder about installing the plug, when I went to start the boat. I guess this year I had gotten out of the habit. Just as a side note when we loaded the boat the key got put in the cup holder.

[steelhawk]

I know how you feel. I forgot mine once, two years ago. Had my wife, mother, daughter and grandsons in the boat. We started off from the dock, got about 1/4 mile out when daughter says, "There is water coming into the boat."

I immediately knew what happened. Flipped on the bilge pump and headed for the dock at top speed.

Once docked, I gave the plug to my 12 year old grandson. He jumped in and plugged the hole.

Now I am extra careful.

[BURLEY]

I launched at Willard south this morning. Ran over to look at the work being done in the southwest corner. By the time that I put out the 2nd rod, I noticed my feet were wet. Yep, forgot the plug. Turned on bilge pump and headed back across to the marina. Backed the boat up to the bank with the motor up. Stepped out in 18 inches of water to put the plug in. 20 minutes later, the bilge was empty. I really hate the new law of removing the plug. I went back out for another 2 hours without a bite trolling cranks.

[RockyRaab2]

You need a "Lund Drain Plug"

It comes with a 12" steel cable that you attach inside the boat so the plug dangles out of the drain hole. You can't miss seeing it when you undo your tiedown straps, but if you ever do, you can reach down into your motor well and pull on the cable to insert the plug without the need to beach.

It's one of the first things I bought for my Tracker Classic.

https://jerrysboatscatalog.com/product/l...e-turntite

[PACMEN]

You need a "Lund Drain Plug"

It comes with a 12" steel cable that you attach inside the boat so the plug dangles out of the drain hole. You can't miss seeing it when you undo your tiedown straps, but if you ever do, you can reach down into your motor well and pull on the cable to insert the plug without the need to beach.

It's one of the first things I bought for my Tracker Classic.

https://jerrysboatscatalog.com/product/l...e-turntite

It must not be a thread in plug.  Would sure slow the flow till a fellow could get the thread in one in.

[RockyRaab2]

No, it's an expansion plug. You couldn't use this with a threaded plug because the cable passes through the drain hole.

[BURLEY]

This is what I just did so that I won't forget next time. Simple, but it should make a difference.

[RockyRaab2]

That's almost as smart as the Lund plug, good sir. Kudos.

(But keep a spare in case some gas station moron thinks stealing that one is funny.)

[Crimson]

All I could think when reading your posts, was thank heaven the bilge pump worked! It is something you don't use often, or test if you are me. Don't like to run it dry so I guess turning it on for a few seconds to at least hear it run has to suffice.

I have a little different story. I use a centering plastic pieces on the mercury steering rams to keep the motor centered while transporting. Once I launched the boat by backing off the trailer and tried to steer to the dock. Could not turn the wheel and panicked for a few seconds before realizing that I hadn't removed the centering pieces from the steering arms.

Lesson, if it is something that can be overlooked or forgotten, sooner or later it will bite you. All seems to be part of having a boat.

[RockyRaab2]

Old Coot and his detailed checklists don't seem so silly, do they?

[BURLEY]

Tracker claims that the boat will stay afloat even when full of water. That is something that I don't want to find out. Rocky, I do carry a spare. I used to carry 2, but I gave one away to a newbie boat owner who launched on the snake river without his.

[RockyRaab2]

I have a spare, also, but the chances of losing this Lund one are pretty slim as it is attached to the boat with a steel cable.

I have it installed so the plug dangles about six inches out of the drain hole. Hard to miss seeing it when I undo the safety straps, and easy to remove when I install the motor brace for towing.

This link shows the Lund plug with the cable to better visualize what I'm saying. The cable goes through the boat drain hole and attaches in the motor well with a small screw. The plug dangles outside the transom.

https://shop.hamiltonmarine.com/products...34486.html

[Troutster]

Dang that’s spooky. I have come close to forgetting on a couple of occasions. Vexus has a cool system that can be plugged from inside the boat and I’ll never lose the plug.

[Dirt Bag]

Thank you all for all the good ideas. May the Plug Be With You.

[chubby chaser]

Location Strawberry Res.
Date.     Wed. 8/22/25
Time.     7:15 A.M.

Forgot to put in the drain plug.  Ran boat up into the mud ashore.  I was laying on the back of the boat hanging over the transom.  I slid head first into the lake.
I spent next 2 hrs fishing with no pants on. Finally it warmed up enough that I figured I could put my wet pants on.  When we got home at 6 P.M. my feet were still wet in my shoes.
Air temp. was 37 degrees 15 minutes earlier when we got to the lake.
Up until the laws were changed about drain plugs, I always left ours in.  When they required us to remove drain plugs while in transit, I started putting the ignition key in a cup holder as a reminder about installing the plug, when I went to start the boat. I guess this year I had gotten out of the habit. Just as a side note when we loaded the boat the key got put in the cup holder.

Pontoon boat for the win!   sorry about the miventures, hopefully you caught enough to make it worth it.

[Redrebel]

Location Strawberry Res.
Date.     Wed. 8/22/25
Time.     7:15 A.M.

Forgot to put in the drain plug.  Ran boat up into the mud ashore.  I was laying on the back of the boat hanging over the transom.  I slid head first into the lake.
I spent next 2 hrs fishing with no pants on. Finally it warmed up enough that I figured I could put my wet pants on.  When we got home at 6 P.M. my feet were still wet in my shoes.
Air temp. was 37 degrees 15 minutes earlier when we got to the lake.
Up until the laws were changed about drain plugs, I always left ours in.  When they required us to remove drain plugs while in transit, I started putting the ignition key in a cup holder as a reminder about installing the plug, when I went to start the boat. I guess this year I had gotten out of the habit. Just as a side note when we loaded the boat the key got put in the cup holder.

My plug can be installed from inside the boat and even my little T. rex arms only get a little wet. Takes my bilge pump approximately 4.5 minutes to clear the boat once the plug is installed. Don’t ask how I know!
You aren’t alone my friend. I have a pretty strict routine but we all slip every now and then. Be honest with yourself and learn from it.

[Mildog]

Most boats will drain while on plane so you can run with bow up and bilge running to get water out pretty quick! But when you slow down off plane it will rush back is so better have a plan to get plug in!!
My Crestliner has the plug with cable just like Lund ( both Crestliner and Lund owned by same company) they share some features.
I had a buddy years ago run from bullfrog at Lake Powell all the way to dangling rope! He thinks someone stole his plug and he didn’t check, because he left it in all the time. He only stopped two or three time to fish so not enough water showed up and it would drain out when he ran, he was sitting at the gas dock filling up when his feet got wet! He pulled out the pump and took off, then thought he was trying to skip on the gas bill , he yelled his boat was sinking!! He ran around on plane and turned on bilge to drain it. They did not have a plug at the marina!! He had his buddy find a peice of driftwood and pound it in with a rock and they headed back to bullfrog non stop!!
Got TWO new plugs there! All was good , scared him pretty good! What if he would have had engine trouble and could keep it on plane for 2 hours of running back, if the wood plug failed!