2011 R27 - Where is the drain plug?

[GaylesFaerie]

I've heard "drain plug" mentioned a few times with regard to spring commissioning and fall winterizing in some posts. Where exactly is it located? I can't find any references to a keel drain plug in the manual.

GF

P.S. Boat is still floating.

 

[knotflying]

Go under the boat and look on the starboard side about in line with the raw water pickup near the bottom of the keel. If you never removed it, it may be a job getting it out. Use force, but not too much. The screws are not machine screws going thorough the hull with washers and nuts on the inside. If you can't turn it out, first try a little heat with a torch and try again. If no joy unscrew the assembly and put it in a vice. You can heat it liberally and remove the plug. My assembly had no bonding and deteriorated so I had to replace it. Make sure you use bronze if you do. I reinstalled it and through bolted it and bonded it. I used life seal for sealing it to hull. I use anti-seize on the plug and remove it regularly.

 

[GaylesFaerie]

Thanks for your reply Knotflying. And what exactly might an open plug be used for? Is it literally just a drain if the boat is stored out of the water, open to the elements with no electricity to operate the bilge pumps? GF

 

[scross]

It’s literally just a low point drain for your bilge. With it out you should not need the electric bilge pumps - saving your batteries over the winter if not on SP.
Also, several states (UT, CA, MN and CO amount others) now require you to pull the drain plug whenever trailering to avoid spreading fresh water invasive species.
As mentioned above, if you ever need a replacement plug be sure to get bronze, not brass!

 

[GaylesFaerie]

Thanks scross, makes sense.