Crestliner drain plug leaking?

[newbiedmv]

Hi. This is a very stupid question but I have a 2005 17' creastliner that been sitting in my garage for it's life. I've done some work to it and had it out three times so far this year ( stupid Virus). Ok

1st. Took it to river had some issues t fix, when I got home there was at least 10 gallons of water in it.

2nd. tightened the screw in plug with an adjustable wrench( narrow to fist slot). Took it to an electric only lake.NO LEAKS

3rd took it back to river, had about 5 gallons in it in 2 hours, not enough for the pump to work, but a lot drained out. also yes it was tightened the same way.

 

Came home checked everything I could, even had the livewell pipping under pressure, no leaks.

 

Now for the really dumb part. this thing does screw in very nice and has a new o ring on it as of today. I put marine grease on threads and o ring. 

 

I apologize but that used to be a expandable rubber seal ( like the live well). Is it normal for these thing to partial leak sometimes?

 

It's just a black plastic threaded plug and receiver, very cheap looking and feel.

 

Thanks.

[@reelChris]

I don't know anything about your specific boat, but I had the same issue with a different one.  I thought it was the old drain plug, and it was, to a degree, but it was also leaking elsewhere.  A new drain plug is usually cheap insurance, but I'd also look the whole boat over for other potential leaks, like bad rivets or welds.  

[newbiedmv]

thanks.

what's perplexing me is

use OUTBOARD IT LEAKS twice in each time.

DON'T USE OUTBOARD, NO LEAKS AT ALL.

[HenryPF]

Since you mentioned outboard, you think it could be the water pressure line from the speedo?

[Ski213]

I know nothing about your specific boat but I had a leak similar to that when I first bought my current boat. Kind of the same deal. If I ran around and stopped and started a lot with the OB I got quite a bit of water. If it was only one or two runs with the big engine it was a lot less water. If it was no running the big engine it was no water. Ended up being the seal on the lower side of the rub rail.  
 

Being that you only get water when using the OB I’d look at things that only see water when you’re getting up on or coming off plane. I wouldn’t necessarily think the drain plug is the issue.  

[Hower08]

Water line from speedo or backwash when coming off plane are my two guesses

[WIGuide]

I'm thinking like has been mentioned before, coming off plane you might have water washing over the transom when you slow down. Second possibility is the mounting bolts for your motor could possibly be a little loose causing it to let water in. My thought is when under power at idle the back of your boat will drop down some causing the bolts to maybe drop below the water level. Another possibility for leakage would be not the drain plug itself, but the seal between the drain plug and the hull. The drain plug is held in with the 2 screws, but there is silicone that seals the outer part that may have degraded over time. The last possibility I can think of is the angle of the landing you're launching on. If either ramp is overly steep it's possible your stern/or some other opening dips below the water line (bilge pump hole, splash well drainage hole, etc etc). I know on my boat on overly steep ramps, when it's all the way up on the trailer the pass through for my cables dips below the water line and you can actually hear the water pouring in. 

The other thing you might want to try is letting your boat dry out, put the plug in and then start filling with water. If there's a leak somewhere you should be able to find it with that trick. 

[newbiedmv]

I've got a friend coming over to the ramp next week to check out a lot of what you guys are saying. I can't twist due to a back injury. So I've ordered a clip on mirror. Been wanting to anyway as the steering trim seems off, but I can't see the motor

 

Also yes during launch the water is high enough it comes in at the holes at the top of the motor, then drain out. It's reasonable to expect some is getting down into the boat. I have plugs for these and I will try it in the driveway.

 

I thought about backwash also but like I said I can't see it happen.

 

I'll have my friend video it all. He's NEVER been on a boat before.... oh man is he going to complain about the life preserver.

 

Thanks, been having bad dreams. Spent 14K on it in 2006 new, sat in garage due to family and health issues, the outboard has only been used 3 times, electric about a dozen...now a major hull fix...nah don't think so.

 

Thanks for all the info it's appreciated.

oh. I did fill it up enough that half the bilge pump was covered. nothing leaked out in 4 hours.

 

I guess now worst case is to put a float switch in on the bilge pump and bypass the main switch ( or not?).

 

Looking more and more like this boat will stay local for this year anyway, no VA, AL, TN, NC with it and stupid COVID-19.

 

Yep B.O.A.T. Bust Out Another Thousand   

[Hower08]

Don't stress much about it. It's likely going to be something super simple. Especially if it only happens when running the outboard

[newbiedmv]

Thanks to all.

I did some measurements and it looks like it's coming in on. the bilge pump outlet. I haven't tested it yet, but a doubt there is flapper value on it. it was under water for about a minute before the boat floated up. and yes it is a very steep ramp ( short too).

[newbiedmv]

Ok new year that ISN'T 2020 YEAH!!!!!!

It's  better already as most of my dumb questions were answered ( I do apologize for their inepititude) and figured out in the past month and the last year from space. The Boat slides off the trailer now without a loaders push, the trolling motor works consistently, the outboard purrs like a kitten, there is no water in the boat after a day out anymore.

Just one annoyance and probably a fuse , Garmin fishSomething 125 died on me today in the Potomac. Probably something has taken loose on the thing or mice in the wiring. Now can I brag a bit. did my fist power load by myself today. No big deal right, for me it is ,disabled everything. Now to not get skunked out this year like 2020..does three minnows, some bluegill and a catfish count?

[newbiedmv]

The water was coming in from the bilge pump exit. I've stopped going to that ramp and all other super steep ones around. This is so steep you have to tie your line to the trailer a foot out to be able to get the bow hook off.

 

Thank you for all the valuable input