Clean out plug actually filled with water?

[Weeb]

I've pulled my starboard side clean out plug a few times straight up to empty the water out. I've never had water in the port side I always figured my weight tilted the boat to the starboard side. I brought the boat home to do a few things and when I pulled the plugs to spray some silicone on the rubber I turned them sideways and a bunch of water poured out of the bottom of the plugs themselves. I have the newer twist in plugs can anyone tell me if this is normal? I'll be leaving my boat in year round and I'm know wondering if this water could freeze in the plug and crack it. I do leave the plugs in all the time. Thanks for any info.

 

[haknslash]

I don't normally have a lot of water on my plug after a day's use but sometimes I have.

The plugs need to be removed from time to time or they can swell and either will be a bear to remove or will not seal once you reinstall them and would need a rebuild kit.

I wouldn't leave these boats in the water all year as you will can develop growth on your hull affecting performance. You should be pulling it out periodically to clean the hull and inspect things and during that time the plugs need to be out so they aren't sitting in water to swell. I also would not leave a fiberglass boat in the water during a winter where freezing is a concern. Good way to lose a boat.

 

[Weeb]

I'm in NC so the lake doesn't freeze, but water in the plug it self could. I do pull it to clean it. It had crap on it after a month.

 

[haknslash]

How much water was on top of the plug? If it was a little then I wouldn't sweat it. If the whole tube was filled then I think your plug likely wasn't seated all the way. Some people think water gets on top of the plugs from the upper swim platform while coming off plane abruptly but unless you're toting thousands of lbs of ballast then I've never had mine splash back on top of the upper swim platform. The bottom swim platform of course gets soaked but never had the top soaked coming off plane on an empty boat. I don't know of the exact water amount I have when I pull mine out at the ramp but it's a relatively amount and never the whole tube. The only time I did have a bunch of water was when I didn't seat the plug real good.

 

[Weeb]

There is usually 5 inches or so on top of the starboard one. But I actually have water inside the plugs themselves which is more of a concern I think.

 

[haknslash]

Inside the plugs.....hmmm I can't say I've ever notice water inside the actual plug of mine but I have the older style.

5" seems a bit much. Mine has maybe a 1/2" of water at most ever. Usually if I've been hot dogging it all day doing spins and stuff. Only time mine got a lot of water was from me not seating the plug good. Does yours twist and lock in fine like the other side?

 

[renrab]

I've noticed a 3/4 full tube of water once and a while, no ill performance, or anything else to note, didn't bother worrying about it...

 

[buckbuck]

@Weeb I have the older style plugs and have water inside them all summer long. At the end of the season I bring them inside and empty the skunk water, clean and lubricate them. Not sure what the inside of yours look like but it may help some guys if you take one apart and post some pictures.

 

[Weeb]

@Weeb I have the older style plugs and have water inside them all summer long. At the end of the season I bring them inside and empty the skunk water, clean and lubricate them. Not sure what the inside of yours look like but it may help some guys if you take one apart and post some pictures.

I probably should at some point because I can't see where it would get in there. My eye sight isn't what it use to be lol.

 

[Stevepro172]

2018 AR240 and I have plenty of water on both plugs as well as INSIDE the plugs. I just let them drain once i'm done for the day. I'm assuming normal.

 

[robert843]

Totally normal on the newer and older style plugs.

 

[Alan Adams]

mine has had water since day one (only have one). The boat is brand new. I figured it was normal.. Do I need to do something about this?

 

[Bruce]

Totally normal on the newer and older style plugs.

Robert, he is saying he had water inside the plug. My cam lock style plugs have never has water inside of them.

Water on top of the plugs is normal.

 

[W3bexec]

2018 AR240 and I have plenty of water on both plugs as well as INSIDE the plugs. I just let them drain once i'm done for the day. I'm assuming normal.

Same here. Whole plug "tube" full to the top, and water dripping out of the plug itself, quite a bit actually.

 

[robert843]

Robert, he is saying he had water inside the plug. My cam lock style plugs have never has water inside of them.

Water on top of the plugs is normal.

Yes I understood this. I have heard the water inside my 2017 plug and when I did the rebuild on my old 2011 cam style plug there was definitely water in same as @buckbuck mentioned. When I took it apart it probably was the worst smell I have have ever smelt was that water from inside the 2011 plug.

 

[Lpennington]

I usually find a little water in the plug itself, but the tube never has any significant amount of water sitting on the plug. I usally pull the plug and open the hatch and let it air dry for a day after an outing.

 

[Seadeals]

I get some water inside the plugs too. One more than the other. The boot around the button is old and water leaks in when collecting on top of them. I store them upside down at the top of the tubes when in the garage so they have a better chance of draining. The clean out hatch still closes. Separate, drain and lube occasionally as mentioned to avoid any issues.

 

[2kwik4u]

I have the new style rotating plugs. Every single outing has the plugs themselves full of water. I pull the plugs before leaving the ramp to drain all that water out. Every single outing, regardless of how fast/far/long I'm in the water.

As to water on top of the plug in the "tube". I've nailed this down to high speed runs. I've NEVER had water come over the upper portion of the rear deck. I've gone from 42mph and literally jammed the throttle into reverse to stop as fast as possible (practicing a panic stop situation) and couldn't get water over the upper portion. If I make a high speed run (38-42mph or higher) it will completely fill the tube. If I keep it below about 35mph for the whole outing then it might be only 3/4 full or so. A little above the natural water line at rest.

This seal between the clean out plug and pump intake will be my next focus of sealing the pump intake. I'm not 100% convinced that some of my cavitation problem isn't caused from pulling air past the seal on the clean out plug. It's just a theory at this point, but I intend to verify at some point.

 

[Wisefam22]

Sounds like I'd purchase the rebuild kit for lower half that had the seal on it. Could be seated in the locks correctly but the seal have a crack in it or bent back and not sealing this causing after a certain amount of pressure for the seal to break and water to leak through into the tube.

 

[Weeb]

Sounds like I'd purchase the rebuild kit for lower half that had the seal on it. Could be seated in the locks correctly but the seal have a crack in it or bent back and not sealing this causing after a certain amount of pressure for the seal to break and water to leak through into the tube.

My boat only has 15 hrs on it I bought it n December so it shouldn't need a rebuild kit unless Yamaha is putting out new defective parts and that is what I'm wondering. I don't want to talk to the dealer yet because they'll tell me it's normal. That's why I posted this to try and find out if t is normal on all or just some.