Clean out plug info

[Tailwaters]

Just a little FYI from personal experience last weekend. Local river is about 4ft higher than the norm due to all the recent rain so there's lots of debris in the water. After about a half an hour of running we stopped to take a look at an eagle sitting in a tree. Started the boat back up and placed in gear. Engine would rev but would not go forward or back. Shut it down figuring there must be something in the jet. Nothing? Started the boat back up and everything was fine, until I had to slow down for a couple boats that were anchored. Every time I would slow down the jet would cavitate and I would lose power at the yet. Every time I would pull the plug with the same results, not fining and obstruction. Later that night I did a little research and discovered its recommended to remove the plug while in storage as the seal can dry out causing the jet to suck air which in turn causes the jet to cavitate. I pulled the plug and sprayed it with silicon as well as the inside of the cleanout sleeve and re-installed the plug. Problem solved. I was not aware nor was ever told by the dealer to remove the plug while the boat was in storage. Hopefully this will someone else out down the road? Or maybe I'm the only one that was not aware of this??

 

[MidnightRider]

I use this on the clean out plugs. Was recommended when I first bought the boat. (I also use it on the drain plug O-ring).

Amazon.com : 4oz Lube Tube - Pool Gasket Lubricant : Swimming Pool Pump Parts : Garden & Outdoor

Amazon.com : 4oz Lube Tube - Pool Gasket Lubricant : Swimming Pool Pump Parts : Garden & Outdoor

www.amazon.com

 

[Arcadyus]

I just use Marine grease around the oring. Works great. My advice is always open the clean out port right after you remove the drain plugs. There's always water to the top of mine anyhow.

 

[Tailwaters]

You are correct and good advice.

 

[Scottintexas]

I always pull my plugs at the end of the day just so they don't swell and get "frozen" in place but I never use a lubricant on them,

Engine would rev but would not go forward or back.

were your buckets moving up and down when you couldn't go forward and back,
with all the debris in the water something could have gotten caught up in your buckets and then washed out,
I would assume with you impeller also and then it just worked itself free,



are you using any sort of plug lock? if not it might be a good insurance policy

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Just remember there are 3 different types of clean out plugs 1st up to 1999 second from 2000 to 2016 and third began 2017 to date.

 

[Tailwaters]

I always pull my plugs at the end of the day just so they don't swell and get "frozen" in place but I never use a lubricant on them,


were your buckets moving up and down when you couldn't go forward and back,
with all the debris in the water something could have gotten caught up in your buckets and then washed out,
I would assume with you impeller also and then it just worked itself free,



are you using any sort of plug lock? if not it might be a good insurance policy

No blockage that I could see. It would move forward just not much thrust. No plug lock and not even sure what that is?

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

http://youtu.be/KhsnPrWt7nU

 

[Scottintexas]

Or maybe I'm the only one that was not aware of this??

somehow we allowed you to slip through and even with 400+ posts, our apologies,

your symptoms do sound like the cleanout plug was seated/working properly,

normally when people don't remove their plugs they end up with all the minerals/crap in the water evaporating time again turning into concrete around the seal and freezing the plugs in place.

I left my boat in the water once for 4 days and the plugs swelled and were difficult to get out,

check out Jeff's product in his signature, it's a cheap, easy and effective insurance to make sure your plugs are installed properly and won't blow out under pressure.


.

 

[Tailwaters]

Will do and thank you. Just figured I would make mention in the FSH forum for anyone else that maybe new to the jet thing like myself.

 

[Bubblehead]

I have a lawyer sticker by mine that tells me to remove after use.

 

[adamncincy]

Probably a stupid question, so forgive my ignorance (I'm new to jetboating), is it a bad idea to remove cleanout plugs while boat is in water (kept at a slip for days/weeks at a time, i.e. not running obviously), or should I keep them in while boat is in water?

I understand that some water will get in due to the waterline, etc., but will it sink it if unattended?

 

[Tailwaters]

Yes you actually should remove them after your outing. I normally install mine Friday and pull them Sundat evening when we are done for the weekend. I keep mine on a lift but you should remove as well.

 

[Scottintexas]

Probably a stupid question, so forgive my ignorance (I'm new to jetboating), is it a bad idea to remove cleanout plugs while boat is in water (kept at a slip for days/weeks at a time, i.e. not running obviously), or should I keep them in while boat is in water?

I understand that some water will get in due to the waterline, etc., but will it sink it if unattended?

if I was wet slipping for a few days or even longer I would remove the plugs,

as long as you don't have any other failures, the cleanout tube leaking, large waves causing water to come up thru the cleanout tube washing onto the cleanout tray and if it's not sealed leaking into the bilge,

take them out while you're on the water just to see what is happening and where the water level is,

If you do wet slip think about a bilge pump that is activated by water instead of the OEM pump that "searches" for water every few minutes and will drain your battery,

I would also consider and alarm/flashing light to go off if my bilge pump is on at the slip to alert you or others, the pump is running and it's not an "expected" occurrence,



.

 

[adamncincy]

@Tailwaters @Scottintexas thank you! Yes, it is wet slipped and in the water. It's just that last time I took out a plug when in the water, water came into the tube about 2-4" but that's it. I just want to make sure that it's ok to leave out overnight or a few days - unattended?

*No heavy wake or waves will occur. Please confirm.

I didn't realize there was a bilge that came on automatically only when water was present. Do you guys have a good recommendation?

 

[Tailwaters1]

They make a couple different bilge pumps that are automatic. One has an internal float and the other is auto sensing. These will be a 3 wire bilge with the 3rd wire (brown as I recall) goes directly to the battery. That way it is always on but if you wanted to turn it on manually by the switch you can still do so. Check your current and confirm its not an automatic before you order. Also check the model number that you have and you may get lucky and the replacement may snap into the current mount?

 

[adamncincy]

@Tailwaters, that's helpful .... thank you. I'll try to snap a photo here in the next day or two

 

[dzeppos]

So I’ve had my boat wetslipped now for a few days and decided to pull The cleanout plugs out everyother night to allow them to dry. I leave the house battery on so to ensure the bilge is on- Just in case. (Always do when i wet slip). anyone see any risk leaving cleanout plugs out at night. - no?
im just doing everything i can to take care of the plugs Is this overkill?

 

[anmut]

So I’ve had my boat wetslipped now for a few days and decided to pull The cleanout plugs out everyother night to allow them to dry. I leave the house battery on so to ensure the bilge is on- Just in case. (Always do when i wet slip). anyone see any risk leaving cleanout plugs out at night. - no?
im just doing everything i can to take care of the plugs Is this overkill?

No risk except for forgetting to put them back in!

I pull mine out when we store the boat for the week. However when it comes to big boating weekends (we trailer 7 miles to the ramp and back), I'll leave them in overnight.

 

[mark_m]

So today I had issues getting the dog ears to engage on the plugs and it was driving me crazy. I thought maybe we would have to just sit at the dock. Then I got smart and grabbed the table post which I have a noodle inserted just in case and was able to use that to apply enough oomph to get the plug fully seated and the dogs engaged.

I may leave them in and address the plugs with a rebuild in the off-season.