Drain Plug?

[Bigsteve51]

Just had my 26 tournament Express removed from the water for the winter and noticed what appears to be a drain plug on the keel. Was I correct assuming that this is in fact a drain plug, thanks for any info that can be provided.

[joe.baar]

Steve,
See West Marine at http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... assNum=698 for a small selection of these, which I believe are "garboard drain plugs". My plug, like yours, has a square "hole" to insert a wrench, unlike these which have raised square ends to accommodate crescent or adjustable wrenches. I think the plug functions the same either way, probably the raised-end ones are intended for installation in a transom and in boats that spend more time out of the water than in it.

Every year I check, scrape and paint mine but so far I've stopped short of trying to unscrew it. Last year I measured the diameter and if I can find the right size replacement plug I might go for it next haulout.

[Tuxedo]

If your boat is out of the water for the winter, ice could form in the bottom of the skeg and do bad things. Pulling the plug will allow water to drain before it freezes.

[jcollins]

Previous owner of my boat never opened it up. The first year I did and had oil, grime, and remenants of a rag come out. We chalked that up to sloppy oil changes. Since then just some oily bilge water. I always open it up at the end of the season.

[Anthony1013]

Hmmm.... I've never removed our plug. Is the skeg hollow? I'm guessing the fluid would get down there throught the shaft seal, no?

[DougSea]

This is in fact your drain plug and, when your boat is on the hard in a normal slight "nose up" position everything that drains to the bilge should drain from this port.

A standard 1/2" drive ratchet should fit it. I pull mine every year or the yard does it for me when the haul it. Just don't lose it!! Makes it very easy to give the bilge a good scrubbing when it's out.

[Bigsteve51]

Thanks to all for the info. I hope to get the boat put to sleep this weekend and pull that plug out and see what comes out of there. Once again thanks.

[zinbaad]

After reading this post, with my first year up on dry I decided to take a look. Feeling a bit squeamish as to what might pour our & the fear that I might break the plug (an outy) or crack the housing attatched to the fiberglass I was pleasntly surprised. It came out easily & had no drainage discharge at all, bone dry. Now thgis is a job I can do, lol