R-27 Bilge drain plug

[knotflying]

In prep for our trailer trip to Canada I pulled the boat out of the water today. One of my standard procedures is to remove the drain plug for the bilge. Long story short it isn't out. I started with a standard crescent wrench and a bit of one end chipped off. Went for the standard open end wrench and the other end chipped off. Resorted to a pipe wrench and no dice, it won't budge and now I have a rounded nub. For now I will leave it in and I removed the fuse from the stern pump since when on the trailer if water gets in the bilge during a heavy rain the pump will never turn off. I did leave the high water fuse in for safety.
So anyone have any suggestions on how to get this sucker out or if I can't get it out what I should do??

Thanks,
Mike Rizzo

 

[LADYBUG TOO]

Mike,

If it is the same as the brass plug for the R-29 you have some choices. Drill it out starting with a smaller bit and getting as near centered as you can. Increase bit size to just under thread diameter. It will chip out fairly easily if it is a hollow plug like mine. Another possibility is to remove the entire fitting. Mine is installed with four screws and I am sure something like 3M 5200 but removal should be a last resort. The threads are NPT so they taper ever so slightly so when I reinstalled ours I used a flush fitting plug (Allen Wrench) and marine grease instead of any compound. It will still seal nicely but more importantly you can remove it easier.

A question for you: Does your plug completely drain your bilge. Mine leaves about 1 1/2 inch of water around the aft bilge pump.

Pat
Ladybug, Too

 

[knotflying]

Thanks for the reply. I am going to wait till I get back from Canada. I may have enough material left and I may try drilling a hole through the side and use a hardened punch and try turning it with that before I do the drill out method. As far as what is left in the bilge after I remove the plug, I never really measured, but it did not seem to be 1-1/2 inches.

 

[Levitation]

With the 25 I just crank the tongue as high as it will go. Let it dry out and when I remember to stick a finger in there I don't feel any water. Of course I don't know what the geometry of the bottom of the bilge is on your 27's so it may or may not help.

 

[Irish Mist]

Vise grips not an option?

 

[knotflying]

Vise grips not an option?

Been that route, keeps coming off and chipping more with it.