New boat - confused w dealer advice

[Scottintexas]

The best aspect of the EZ locks for me is that I know they are in correctly, yes they will stop a mechanical failure and prevent a blowout but they also stop a mental failure of me not installing the plugs correctly.

 

[Michael Strutton]

So what do you do with your wet ski ropes after being done???

I moved them to the rear seat storage.

I believe that our different few points come from where we boat in what type of water we use. For me my biggest concern is corrosion due to salt water exposure.

My boat is in freshwater lake so I'm not dealing with Salt however I would like to occasionally take it to FL.

Curious if anyone has compared plug blowouts by salt vs freshwater boats?

Has anyone ever had a blowout while using a 3rd party locking device like EZ Locks? - according to the tech the blowout would be bigger and more damaging due to the lock holding out longer. I'm not sure I buy that theory as if some mysterious pressure is building infinitely waiting for a breakpoint. Seems like a blowout is strictly failure of the dog to hold the plug - i'm sure there's variability in pressure blasts that can cause this but I'm not seeing how this would actually "build up". Maybe a theory of a smaller blast causing failure sooner with opportunity to correct, vs a larger blast later - but that would assume anyone actually has failures with 3rd party locks.

 

[Bennie]

- according to the tech the blowout would be bigger and more damaging due to the lock holding out longer. I'm not sure I buy that theory as if some mysterious pressure is building infinitely waiting for a breakpoint. Seems like a blowout is strictly failure of the dog to hold the plug - i'm sure there's variability in pressure blasts that can cause this but I'm not seeing how this would actually "build up". Maybe a theory of a smaller blast causing failure sooner with opportunity to correct, vs a larger blast later - but that would assume anyone actually has failures with 3rd party locks.

It's raining and holding back work so let me see if I can answer this (to the best of my limited knowledge).
Disclaimer - I am by no means an engineer!

Two different scenarios - loose plugs, loose plugs with locks (of any kind).

• Loose plugs - you turn your engines on - base pressure. Plugs may blow. As you get into higher RPMs the pressure increases. The pressure will increase as fast as you rev your jets/engines. The loose plugs or dog failure may occur at any point.
  • Now usually (from what I read on here) the majority of blow outs are from user error and not true part failure. SO.. you should have that "blow out" at lower speeds. (taken from experience)
• Loose plugs with locks - same as above. Plugs may become loose at any point during the RPM spectrum. Obviously pressures are higher in direct relation to higher RPMs. However as a loose plug (or incorrectly installed plug) would become loose and you would instantly know it (feel the loss in power) with the lock it wants to mechanically hold the plug in place; requiring a more intense pressure to blow the plug. Now not only do you have the hydraulic pressure input but also the mechanical potential pressure from a now stressed lock. This combined pressure can cause the potential blow out to release much more kinetic energy. IE - a busted swim deck.

I hope this helped. This is why I like the Nerf football mod. It's not a lock - it an energy absorber.

 

[mraz72]

I guess I will remove and clean my plug after each outing. I have left it in for almost 2 seasons and never had an issue. I remove the plug probably 10 times a season, I make sure they are seated correctly before moving the boat. I yank on the T-handle to see if I can pull the plug, if I can't, I suspect they are fine.

I should start lubing the seal though....

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Ok once again lets see why the cleanout plugs blow out and the thing about a worse blowout with a lock just cracks me up. Go do some reading of first hand plug blowouts that were posted on the old board.
The worst type of a blow out is the one you don't know happened until your boat if filling up with water and your engine has ingested it and guess what, it will NOT be covered by your warranty.

 

[BigN8]

It's raining and holding back work so let me see if I can answer this (to the best of my limited knowledge).
Disclaimer - I am by no means an engineer!

Two different scenarios - loose plugs, loose plugs with locks (of any kind).

• Loose plugs - you turn your engines on - base pressure. Plugs may blow. As you get into higher RPMs the pressure increases. The pressure will increase as fast as you rev your jets/engines. The loose plugs or dog failure may occur at any point.
  • Now usually (from what I read on here) the majority of blow outs are from user error and not true part failure. SO.. you should have that "blow out" at lower speeds. (taken from experience)
• Loose plugs with locks - same as above. Plugs may become loose at any point during the RPM spectrum. Obviously pressures are higher in direct relation to higher RPMs. However as a loose plug (or incorrectly installed plug) would become loose and you would instantly know it (feel the loss in power) with the lock it wants to mechanically hold the plug in place; requiring a more intense pressure to blow the plug. Now not only do you have the hydraulic pressure input but also the mechanical potential pressure from a now stressed lock. This combined pressure can cause the potential blow out to release much more kinetic energy. IE - a busted swim deck.

I hope this helped. This is why I like the Nerf football mod. It's not a lock - it an energy absorber.

Your first bullet point is not correct. The plugs are forward of the pumps so the pumps do not put pressure on the plugs. It's the force of the water being scooped up through the intake that puts the pressure on the plugs. Many on here can attest that if you forget your plugs at the ramp and turn on the engines, nothing happens. Basically the boat won't move and you don't have a big water spout coming out of the back of the boat. The worst blow outs are at high speed when there is a large force of water being scooped into the intake grate and past the plug hole.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

bign8 is correct the clean out plug is in front of the pump and the bottom of your plug is actually the bottom of your boat so it pounds directly on the water the forces on it are very intense.
The violent blow outs are a bit unnerving but they do shut down the engines immediately thus avoiding any engine damage from ingestion of water

 

[Evil Sports]

You dont need to be anal about it like if you leave your boat over night you need to take the plugs out, thats excessive. Think about it this way, every time you go out some water and sediment land on the top of the plugs, after a number of uses a significant amount of material can get between the plug and the tube and really lock it in there. I dont remove mine every day if Im using it multiple days, I just pull them when Im done with it for the week. Leaving them in for a few days is not gonna kill it, leaving them in for a season is another story.

 

[Bennie]

Yes, yes and yes. (hence the numerous disclaimers) I am by NOOO means the smartest guy on this forum.
(Favorite saying - You can't always be the sharpest tool in the shed, but you can always be the hoe)

However in relation to above, as the RPMs increase you go faster = more pressure. It is just my personal opinion (on my boat) to not use a lock that forces a plug to stay seated. If I FUBARed the install ( I have) it will do as you stated above, engines rev - nothing happens. (which has happened). I do not care for additional pressure to build up due to mechanical resistance.

My personal opinion is to go with the NERF football as it will cushion any violent action and does not require any drilling.
Just me. My boat - my money - my opinions. Thank you @Cobra Jet Steering LLC for you input - you know this system much better than I ever will!

 

[Matt Phillips]

I wet slip my boat. Yesterday I removed the plugs and laid them crosswise across the top of their respective holes. When I go back to the boat in about 10 days, I'll put the plugs back in. I use silicone grease on them when they are dry to keep them lubed.

I use a third-party locks on my plugs and THE ONE time I had a blow-out, was because my old plugs were getting sticky and not seated correctly. it wasn't the fault of the locks not holding, but my own fault.

The last time I launched the boat I also forgot to put the plugs in. I noticed an immediate power loss and had difficulty getting the boat off the trailer. it wasn't until I had gone about 150 yards and I realized I forgot to put my plugs in. I stopped, popped the plugs in, and it was good to go. the boat was able to move about the marina OK without the plugs in and it didn't swamp the boat.

On a side note, I finally realized why there is ALWAYS water on the top of the plugs on my boat. I always thought it was the wake rolling up on the swim platform when slowing down too fast...but that's not always right. Well about three weeks ago I put the plugs in, idled the mile out to the lake and needed to stop and clear the weeds from the tubes (have I mentioned how much I hate milfoil yet). Anyway, while out there with a little wave action on the lake, I noticed that water was back-flowing up the drain for that compartment every time there was a wave. Now I know on my boat, this is how water is getting on top of the plugs all of the time.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

The issue I have with a nerf football or other piece of equipment intended to cushion the shock of a cleanout plug blowout is the fact the it can allow the plug to cock sideways and leak water into the hull, That is the worst situation you can have especially with new boaters that may not immediately realize the boat bow is pointing up and the boat is slowing down because it is TAKING ON WATER! The original poster was correct in questioning the so called advice he was given. I also question the actual position this person who gave the advice holds at the dealership .

 

[Bennie]

@Cobra Jet Steering LLC - I completely agree. That would be a terrible situation, especially for those of us that like to venture out into the open water.

Your locks are a great product and I am by no means knocking your knowledge or offered equipment.
The Nerf option is just my personal pick - it works for me.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

That's cool I just wanted to give any new people the info so they did not get a false sense of security using a nerf football, that was a thing people did to reduce the damage caused by a blowout not for preventing the blowout in the first place.

 

[buckbuck]

I can attest that the Yamaha plugs DO indeed come unlatched on their own, even when installed correctly.
I have the EZ Locks on my boat and their design assures that you have to install the plugs fully engaged. The only way you can get the visual and audible confirmation from the Locks is by having the plug fully inserted and latched. A couple times a year I will have the plugs release and the only thing preventing them from blowing out is the EZ Locks mechanically preventing the dogs from disengaging. I have to push down on the handle to relatch the plug just to be able to remove the EZ Locks due to them doing their job.
I strongly recommend that you install these on your boat and ignore the dealer that tells you otherwise.

 

[Evil Sports]

I use EZ locks as well, simplicity is great