New member of the "I forgot the drain plug" club, bilge float switch not working

[RobA]

I went out yesterday and about 1/2 mile from the ramp I realized I forgot to put in the drain plug.  Ouch!  It all ended well but it turned out the auto bilge float switch isn't working.  I know it worked when I first bought the boat 3 years ago (Ranger RT178).  The switch is not plugged up and the wiring looks ok.  More investigating to do.

[slowworm]

There are 2 types of boaters.

 

Those who have launched without the drain plug, and those who are going to launch without the drain plug.

 

There are no others.... 

[Tennessee Boy]

Welcome to the club. 😊

[Bird]

Ha Ha it's gonna happen and may even happen again.

2 weeks ago I forgot to remove one of the rear straps and thought it was weird that the boat was trying to climb up on the dock as I was pulling forward. 🙄

 

 

[king fisher]

Every year, right before the king salmon run started on the Nushagak River, the Native corporation which owned the land along the river would have all the guides get together for a meeting and a barbecue.  One year I drove myself and three other guide to the meeting.  There was some water in the bottom of my boat, so as usual I pulled the plug to drain the water while making the run up river to the meeting.  Normally I would hold the plug in my right hand while running in order to not forget to place it back in the boat before coming off of step.

 

For some reason I didn't abide my my safety rule, and set the plug down on the bench seat while I motored to the meeting.  We pulled the boat up on the bank through the anchor and jumped out to say hi to everyone, and get a burger and hotdog.  About half way through the meeting one of the guides from a different lodge yelled hey Tim you need to get your boat.  The boat was completely full of water, and the tide had come up.  The current was strong, and the anchor couldn't hold with the boat full of water.  I got to the boat before it washed to far out in to the river, and had to bucket gallons of water out of the boat while all of the guides on the river, laughed and ate hotdogs.  Of all the times to make that mistake, I picked the very worst.  Every year after that, I always had someone ask if my plug was in my boat.   Everyone but me always got a big laugh out of that.

 

That was the first and only time I ever made that mistake.  After that I always held the plug in my hand while running the water out.

[airshot]

Most of us have " renewed" our "forgot the plug" more than once !  Welcome !!

[TOXIC]

I’m thinking on installing the remote drain plug on my Ranger. I’m not liking having to do the ninja crawl under the back of the boat to put the plug in.  Because I hate it so much is why I never forget to do it.  😂

[Susky River Rat]

I have two drain plugs to worry about. 

[Tackleholic]

A couple years ago Arkansas passed a law that whenever trailering a boat the drain plug must be removed.  I bet that caused countless incidents the first year;  got me once too.

[DaubsNU1]

11 minutes ago, Tackleholic said:

A couple years ago Arkansas passed a law that whenever trailering a boat the drain plug must be removed.  I bet that caused countless incidents the first year;  got me once too.

 

Nebraska, and I believe South Dakota, have the same laws. Preventing spread of the dreaded zebra muscle. 

 

I am in the "have not forgot the drain plug...YET" group. I know my time is coming...soon...

 

[J._Bricker]

Thanks to a Flow-Rite drain plug switch for the bilge, there’s an easy to read “in-out” display. In the event I launch the boat and I forgot to put the switch towards the “in” setting, I‘ll just say to myself “bilge pump operational, check” as water is being pumped outta my boat’s hull. My old boat I hardly ever took bilge plug out cause I just didn’t want to climb under the stern and mess with it.

[Craig P]

Proud member!

[MN Fisher]

I got my membership card.

[gim]

On 7/4/2024 at 7:29 PM, DaubsNU1 said:

Nebraska, and I believe South Dakota, have the same laws.

 

Minnesota did it before those states.  You cannot leave the access without removing your drain plug and emptying your live well and bait well/bucket/container.  The first year they mandated this, it was warnings.  The second year, citations.  I want to say it was nearly 10 years ago already.

 

Nowadays there are a number of interns, student workers, and other summer DNR workers at the accesses to remind people.

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, gimruis said:

Nowadays there are a number of interns, student workers, and other summer DNR workers at the accesses to remind people.

And to quick-inspect your boat and trailer to make sure you're not dragging weeds and other things from one lake to another.

[GreenPig]

Got the T - Shirt years ago. I'm sure I'll do it again around the time I forget doing it the first time.

The inside of the hull needs a rinse occasionally. 😄

[Skunkmaster-k]

I saw a group of kids forget the plug and sink their Dad’s boat last weekend. 

[volzfan59]

Welcome to the club! I'm laughing with you, not at you. It's happened to me.........twice.

[Junger]

Two time member here.

[airshot]

6 hours ago, Junger said:

Two time member here.

Not sure I have enough fingers and toes to count for me !  However, a number of years back I made a routine of touching the drain plug when attaching and removing the transom straps.  Didn't take long to become a habit....no more forgetting !!

[MN Fisher]

1 hour ago, airshot said:

However, a number of years back I made a routine of touching the drain plug when attaching and removing the transom straps.  Didn't take long to become a habit....no more forgetting !!

I just gotta remember to put the plug in when I close the valve to the livewell drain...make that a habit.

[nso123]

I’ve been there too. Of all times, I decided to fish Chickamauga on Memorial Day. The ramp was crazy and I was in a hurry to get the boat in. Got to my first spot and noticed the boat was sitting a little low in the water and felt a little bouncy. Turned the bilge on and it was a steady stream. That’s when it hit me. Needless to say, that fishing trip became a swimming adventure to get the plug put in. 

[Choporoz]

On 7/3/2024 at 5:36 PM, RobA said:

 It all ended well but it turned out the auto bilge float switch isn't working.  I know it worked when I first bought the boat 3 years ago (Ranger RT178).  The switch is not plugged up and the wiring looks ok.  More investigating to do.

Same here.  I paid to have it installed before I picked up my new boat.  It worked for all of about six months.  I assume the flat is stuck, but I cannot find it.

[Woody B]

So far I've never forgot mine......but once every couple months (including today) I forget to take the tie down straps off the back of my boat.   It's kinda funny watching the back of the trailer float up.   

[Functional]

Joined this club a few weeks ago. Didnt realize until my shoe was floating by the seats. Cranked her up and punched it to beach the boat and stuck my arm in to put the plug in. Anytime I have someone else with me is when I do something dumb. Everyone always gets chatty when I do my pre launch ritual, another reason I prefer going alone.

 

-Wife helped me launch, forgot one hold down strap in the back.

 

-Dad came out fishing, forgot to put the plug in.

 

Both within 2 weeks of each other.