Drain plug out - didn't sink?

[4x15mph]

Went out yesterday on the boat and in the quick launch (excuse), "we" didn't put in the drain plug.

All went well for the 2 hours of boating and docking at a restaurant. I never saw either of my bilges pouring out water. FYI - I had just installed a second bilge with auto float switch and even this bilge wasn't going off that anyone noticed.

Got back to the ramp, pulled the boat out, and did the usual prep (pull cleanout, blow water out of engines, straps, etc). I went to pull the drain plug and it was dangling out already.....

This doesn't make sense to me. I was looking at the engine a couple of times as we ran of which there was never any water in the compartment???

Close call, confused, put those drain plugs in this weekend!

 

[BMF JK]

Hmmmm ... You musta forgot to pull the horseshoe outta your arse too ! Lol

 

[arew~SX230]

While winterizing last fall, I was pulling the plug when the screws ripped out of the hull. Anyway the plug I replaced it with is supposed to be a one way plug. There is a float inside of that "should" seal it off in the event that the actual plug is not screwed in.

I DO NOT PLAN ON TESTING IT!

 

[Speedling]

Could it be possible that it was threaded in pretty loosely by accident and during the day it had pressure keeping it in? Then when pulling it out it has suction and pulls the plug out?

 

[4x15mph]

Speeding, that may be the case... only real explanation. i don't have a special 1-way drain plug

 

[tdonoughue]

While on plane, your boat will actually drain out of the plug. So that explains that part. While parked, if your plug is like mine, it is actually a double plug, with two sets of threads separated by about an inch of metal bar. You don't actually unscrew it all the way out of the boat--only the first set, then you let it hang there. I am guessing that you got lucky and the water rushing in pushed against the plug and pushed it in just enough to cover most of the hole. The rest drained when you started going again.

Hope you bought a lottery ticket, too.

 

[d_coyne1984]

I did the same thing one time. I didnt notice until I opened my ski locker (plug was open in there too) and saw water. OH SH#$ moment. Jumped off the back and was able to get the plugs in, but that was not fun. I opened the plug in the engine bay and pumped out the water, but I was pretty shocked that I didnt take on more water. Luckily I was moving most of the time I was in the water.

Moral of the story is, you aren't the first and won't be the last.