What is that plug?

dsherod · #1 03-14-2007, 01:25 AM

By this weekend I hope to be a new proud owner of a '77 SF23 with twin 120's. I have had one inspection and a sea trial coming. During the inspection I saw what looks like a drain plug for the forward fish hold that runs to an outlet in the hull. I was not able to tell if this exited below the waterline, but I suspect it might.

The plug itself looks similar to the transom plug, but without the hinged lever that compresses the rubber plug. It looked like a strange setup and was wondering if this was common to other 23s. The owner claims that it is indeed a drain plug for the fish hold and he often would add water to the hold to add ballast forward. Sounds like a strange story to me, but not impossible I suppose.

Your assistance is appreciated. I will supply pictures later.

Dennis Sherod
Alglas 25' Custom Flybridge Sport Fisherman, Never Ending

caper · #2 03-14-2007, 09:28 AM

Story is true, the plug is a fish box drain - I leave the plug out all the time - put the plug in only when I put water in the box for ballast.

wavelength · #3 03-14-2007, 09:52 AM

I've found the "fish box" is not insulated enough to hold ice here in the warmer waters of Florida. I leave the plug in and have put Dry Deck planels down and use it for life jacket storage. When I wash the boat a little water pools up and I pull the plug when I'm on plane to drain it.

oldfielder · #4 03-14-2007, 10:07 AM

Make sure you inspect it carefully when you get the boat home. If it is very old, get a new thru-hull in there. It is definitely a drain and will definitely allow water between the hull and liner if it has any cracks in it. Mine was original and it was brass and very thin and brittle-out it came.
I never need to plug that box unless I'm trying to keep some ice cold water in there for fish.-I think you may be better off leaving it open even if you do use it for storage, as it will always drain the rain water then.

FELLOW-SHIP · #5 03-14-2007, 10:09 AM

Ha Wavelength;

We are on the same wavelength on how to set it up and what I use it for as well. I did buy some Taco gasket material as well and now it stays dry even when I wash the inside of the boat.

FellowShip

_______________________________________________

My motto: Just for the Grins

eggsuckindog · #6 03-14-2007, 02:36 PM

I use mine the same way also, as matt mentioned they don't hold worth crap. It will let water in at rest on mine but will drain on a plane. I just put a piece of weather strip along the front of mine to try and keep it dry, the water will not run to the sides for some reason and it would get wet. On my 18 when it was pretty new that thru hull was leaking, drove me nuts trying to find the leak since it only did it with a big load.

wavelength · #7 03-14-2007, 06:02 PM

When we got our boat I replaced all (9) of the brass sleeves.

ocuyler · #8 03-14-2007, 07:45 PM

You have the drift by now. My 23CC had a crack in that through-hull and it leaked big time - 50 gallons in a couple hours.

dsherod · #9 03-15-2007, 05:09 PM

Thank you everyone for the info. Also great, being new to SeaCraft, to know that this is a very active forum.

One question remains. Some of the comments lead me to believe that you are plugging this from the inside, e.g. removing the plug when on plane. Could be tough if plugged from the outside. The plug on the boat I saw is plugged from the outside. Does this plug keep water in the fish hold, or out of the boat? My guess is the former since so many of you indicated that you run your boats normally with the plug out.

And, since you mentioned it, do these boats have filled liners or open? What is the core material? From some of the photos I have seen on this site of the transom repairs/refits it looks like wood core with hand laid lamination on both sides. Correct?

I'm sure some of these questions are in this forum somewhere, and I will be making my way through the threads in the coming days and weeks.

Again, thanks for the responses.

jerryjc · #10 03-18-2007, 07:06 PM

If the previous owner has the plug on the outside of the hull there is a pretty good chance that the brass thru hull is already cracked and would be leaking into the bilge without the plug on the outside. Normally the plug would be on the inside to keep water in the well, you should check that out carefully if it is cracked and you remove the outside plug you could sink the boat. Good Luck.