Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Posted by Grubbster on 06/09/14 - 5:51 PM

My first Boston Whaler & my first post here. Recently picked up a 2004 Boston Whaler 180 Ventura. Awesome boat, we love it!

The question is about the drain plug, the rubber stopper with the T-handle screw. I installed it from the outside. Seemed reasonable.

A friend suggested that it be installed from inside the bilge. His reasoning was that debris on the Ohio River where we operate could pull it loose. Also, said that if it came loose, it would be in the bilge vs. outside. Third reason was that if it came out we could drain the bilge by running on plane.

Friend is a well-respected delivery captain. Sounded a little funny to me. Was wondering what the consensus was from the Whaler experts.

Posted by gary0319 on 06/10/14 - 1:02 PM

Well......,

On my Dauntless 15 the bilge access is really crowded and a pain in the hand to get into. I use a flip handle plug and install it from the outside with the handle flipped to the rear. So far, so good in the last 2 years, don't even have any weeds on it when drifting the skinny. For the first few months I owned the boat I ran it with no plug at all and the only problem was getting some water in the stern with 3 people back there, so if the plug falls out, no big deal.....Whalers are sink proof!

Gary

Posted by Whalerbob on 06/12/14 - 8:08 PM

After 19 years of owning the same 17 Montauk about 2 years ago I changed to plugging from the outside and I'm very pleased.

When I had my 13 I could reach the plug from the helm to drain if needed but I don't think I've ever needed to do that in the Montauk. I trailer so the benefit for me it's easy to visually inspect before launching and pull when I'm done without climbing into the boat. I have it tired to my steering cable via a small line so it will never get lost. In a pinch I think I could reach over the transom to pull it but after 2 years of doing it this way I've never needed to.

Why not plug from the outside? You never see larger boats plug from the inside, besides, it's an unsinkable legend :)

Posted by northeastern on 06/13/14 - 5:25 AM

I'd be worried of something hitting the plug on the outside. I keep my Montauk on a dock in a river with a fast current and I know every time I'd return to the boat the plug would have stuff caught around it. My transducer almost always does. Also when under way you're movement is working towards pulling the plug out and away from the boat, not seeing it'll happen but over time you never know

But I did have buddy knock my plug out trying to pump train out before I installed a bilge and even with two people standing back there not much water entered.

Posted by Grubbster on 06/18/14 - 1:37 AM

Thanks for all the replies. As it turns out, the geometry is such that I can't insert the plug from the inside. We're in a protected marina, so I can't see it coming loose at the dock. I suppose I'll carry a spare in case we lose it while running.