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@Julian , again, just another one of the many scenarios you can face. I have read of a few that have blown a plug and filled the bilge, but it stopped once the engines stopped. I have not read of a single post where the bottom of the clean out tube was completely dislodged, and the water was flooding into the boat via that opening and sinking or attempting to sink the boat. You may know of an instance and have record of it, if so, I would love to read it! Most of the time, these blowouts that have been documented as damaging to the engines or flooding the boat, have indeed forced water past the clean out tubes into the bilge and filled the engine compartment...while the boat continued to move. But the ones I have read about, stopped flooding once the boat was stopped. Again, I repeat, I have not read of any that have had the potential to sink the boat. And that absolutely doesn't mean that it hasn't happened or that it hasn't been written or posted even...it just means I haven't read it, but I would love to if you know of documentation of that scenario. Should I go back and alter my post to conclude that in certain situations that a plug blowout may break the seal of the clean out tube below the waterline of the boat, and could possibly open a 6" hole in the bottom to sink it? Yes, that could happen, but even my wordy post didn't describe all scenarios, just most. I have read many posts of a plug lodging in the tube sideways and water being forced out under the tube and flooding the boat. But again, when the boat was stopped, so was the flooding, in most cases.
I agree that the clean out plugs leave something to be desired. But hell, airbags in your car leave something to be desired too. Does that mean that they are flawed? They can deploy at times when you don't want them to, they can blind you, they can break bones in your face, they can kill a child. I am not arguing this, just pointing out that some wording might be changed to be more appropriate, other than flawed. I also believe that the plugs have issues locking and not blowing out and that Yamaha could possibly fix this. I suspect they have tried to revise the plugs, but don't know. It wasn't long ago, that they denied all claims relating to them stating...operator installation error. Maybe one day we will have a clean out plug or clean out system that won't ever flood or blow out. Until then, I would choose to use it the way it was designed, and attempt to share the "why's and why nots" with the group.
I think all of this just comes right back to what we have known for years and how we have adapted to limit the possibilities of having one of these events happen to us. Let me be clear on how I would handle these situations. First off, clean out plug blowout can be reduced 99.9% by installing EZ Locks. And the bilge pump that is installed stock from Yamaha handles "most" situations you will encounter that are not catastrophic in nature. And if you have a castrophy, even a bigger or secondary pump isn't going to cover all catastrophes. Just do what makes you sleep better at night and feel secure guys. It isn't about being right for me, it is about educating all of us as best possible to enjoy these boats...and yes, I don't have one currently, but I love them, and enjoy sharing that with all of you!
I agree that the clean out plugs leave something to be desired. But hell, airbags in your car leave something to be desired too. Does that mean that they are flawed? They can deploy at times when you don't want them to, they can blind you, they can break bones in your face, they can kill a child. I am not arguing this, just pointing out that some wording might be changed to be more appropriate, other than flawed. I also believe that the plugs have issues locking and not blowing out and that Yamaha could possibly fix this. I suspect they have tried to revise the plugs, but don't know. It wasn't long ago, that they denied all claims relating to them stating...operator installation error. Maybe one day we will have a clean out plug or clean out system that won't ever flood or blow out. Until then, I would choose to use it the way it was designed, and attempt to share the "why's and why nots" with the group.
I think all of this just comes right back to what we have known for years and how we have adapted to limit the possibilities of having one of these events happen to us. Let me be clear on how I would handle these situations. First off, clean out plug blowout can be reduced 99.9% by installing EZ Locks. And the bilge pump that is installed stock from Yamaha handles "most" situations you will encounter that are not catastrophic in nature. And if you have a castrophy, even a bigger or secondary pump isn't going to cover all catastrophes. Just do what makes you sleep better at night and feel secure guys. It isn't about being right for me, it is about educating all of us as best possible to enjoy these boats...and yes, I don't have one currently, but I love them, and enjoy sharing that with all of you!
I too think that the level of the water is not "up in the tube" but only inside the aluminum neck of the clean out or possibly equal to the top of the neck. In either case, water would slosh into the bilge with the movement and bobbing of the boat. When I have removed my clean out plugs on the water, I can't remember it being up the tube itself farther than the locking ring on the aluminum, not up on the rubber. 
