Boat Drain Plugs

If you are new to owning and using your own boat, you may wonder why you even need a boat drain plug in the first place. Before you can understand that, you need to understand first why your boat needs to have a drain hole to plug.

It may seem a little surprising to find out that some boats, particularly those that are not self-bailing, have holes in them. The drain hole is crucial as it helps to get water out of the boat after it has been out on the water. When you are out on a river, sea, or ocean it’s virtually impossible to prevent any water from getting into your boat. Even when storing your boat, without a drain rain and moisture can settle in the boat and cause issues. That’s why many boats have drain holes.

While we are on the subject, it’s important to discuss just some of the ways water can get in your boat. Obviously, as a contentious boater, you will always do your utmost to keep the amount of water getting into your vessel to a bare minimum. However, stopping any water from getting into your boat at all, is just not possible. Even if you are extremely careful.

Every responsible boater has multiple spare boat drain plugs. Boat drain plugs often have silicone O rings or components that can disenegrate and cause the plug to fail, this is why having a spare is  so important. Having a spare boat drain plug on board is aslo a good idea because boaters often forget to put in the plug before setting sail. If you have a spare boat drain plug on board you can quickly install it and prevent your boat from taking on water! 

This is perhaps the most obvious way water gets into your boat. It comes over the gunwales, or sides, of your vessel. When you maneuver your boat through choppier and rougher seas or the ocean, there is a greater chance waves will splash into the boat. The best way to get rid of this water is with a bilge pump and drain system.

One of the most common causes of water getting into a boat is over the transom. The transom, for beginners, is the section at the back where an engine motor can be installed. Water will often find its way into this area of the boat if it hasn’t been sealed properly or there are holes left there from when a swim platform or another modification was made or removed. This is why it’s important to seal all holes in your hull with a marine-grade sealant. Water can also be splashed into the boat by the engine.

Whatever the cause, it helps to have a boat drain plug to get rid of residual water and keep unwanted water out.

Another common way for water to get into your boat is via the bilge or the very bottom of your vessel. Scuppers and deck drains often lead water to the bilge to keep the deck dry. The bilge is actually designed to collect excess water. However, when too much water builds up in the bilge it can interfere with your boat’s balance and buoyancy, which can happen if there are a lot of waves or heavy rainfall.

While it’s important to drain all water from your boat as a matter of safety and to help the boat dry properly, there are other reasons why you need to do it, that have nothing to do with your boat per se. 

New laws have been passed recently that state all boat owners should unplug their boat drain plug before their vessel leaves the body of water. This is to stop invasive species from spreading that could cause damage to other areas on land where your boat might be stored. The requirements will be different from state to state, so it’s always a good idea to check them out before launching.

Perhaps you are thinking “why can’t you just use a bilge pump?”. Well, bilge pumps are only designed to tackle small volumes of water, and besides, they rarely get rid of all the water anyway. Many who rely on bilge pumps then need to use sponges or towels. As you can imagine, though, this is a very time-consuming process. 

A boat deck drain plug, on the other hand, is one of the easiest ways to ensure all water has left your boat.