OK, this may be a stupid question but I trailer my boat ('98 Nautique SS) in the lot of my cabin during the week while I am not there and was wondering if I should leave the drain plug in (after draining it of course) or should I leave it out?
I always left it in on my old boat but I never really thought about it until I heard some other boat owners saying they always stored their boats with it out. I just don't want a bunch of earwigs getting into my engine compartment. Thanks!
I'd say out, it will allow any extra water you may have missed or that is still dripping down from somewhere to drain out. But always check it when it's time to put it in!
The only time in 2 years that I have removed my plug is when I was performing service in the driveway and got extra water in the boat when changing the impeller and draining for winter, I never remove the plug after being in the lake. If I pulled it I would put it back in when drained so that I wouldn't forget before next trip.
Take it from someone who is now in the process of replacing a steering cable. Residual water left in the bilge is the #1 cause for premature cable failure. Also the condensation on your alternator, starter, etc.. The dryer you can keep it the better
You definitely want to leave it out. There's just no sense in leaving it in. If you're afraid you might forget it next time out, leave it in your glove box on the boat.
If it rains a lot where you live and you park the boat outside then leave the plug out. I have known several people that have "swamped" their boat on the trailer because rain water filled the bilge high enough to cause damage.
Gettin it back in is part of my pretrip routine. Tower up, plug in, cooler filled, asses in truck. lake time. pretty straightforward. Never had to worry about it...
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