Purpose of Drain Plugs

[Capt Chuck]

OK Peter, Lets see if I can help ya [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Assuming your 78 was initialy set up like my 78......

Am I correct in assuming that I should always have the three in the back plugged (that is whenever the boat is in water)?

Bottom hole below the water line is your main bilge drain. Of course, it should be plugged anytime your in the water.
The second hole up should be the drain for your live well. This one also should be plugged in the water. The next one up is the live bait well overflow. Is should be plugged until you run the bait well. It's a bad setup, but everyone else has had to live with it unless you abandon the well all together. You also have drains in each side ice/bait boxes on the transom. Those do not need to be plugged but May I suggest you remove them and reseal as those two babies are the main causes of transom rot. The two drains in the engine splash well should be unplugged all the time.

Which drain plug feeds my saltwater wash down (the bottom drain plug up front or somewhere else)?

Your saltwater washdown should not have a plug but a brass "Pick Up" thru hull fitting. Where it comes through the bottom of the boat (aft not forward) there needs to be a "SeaCock" then the intake hose to the pump.

When I leave the boat at the dock unattended should I have the two drain plugs up top (and in the stern) unplugged, in case it rains?
While underway should I plug the two stern holes or not

The deck hold just forward of the console has holes in the gutter around it. Those holes drain deck wash and rain into the bilge. The main plug in the bottom of this well also drains into the bilge.

The fish box all the way forward under the step up/casting platform drains to the outside with a thru hull. Any water in this area will self drain when underway. I would keep it plugged when in the water while sitting. Also you need to remove and reseal this fitting as leaks will allow water between the outer hull and the inner liner [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

The 23' does not have "wet feet" issues, so the self bail drains thru the deck at the transom should remain unplugged all the time.

WHEW!!!! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]