Drains and How to Utilize Them

[Summers420us]

Can someone take a crack at explaining all the drain plugs and how to properly utilize them?

I see the anchor locker has a drain without a plug, then there is a drain with a plug in the ski locker, the gas tank area, and the engine bay. Also two drains with plugs on the outside at the stern.

Are these only for wash out? Are there more plugs? When should they be opened? The fuel tank area is tough to get at, does that really need to be opened much if ever?

I seem to get about a gallon of water out when I drain the stern plugs, is this normal?

Thanks in advance.

 

[captras]

It would be nice if Yamaha explained things like this. I may have missed it, but I dont see any recommendations in the owner's manual about whether to keep the plugs open or not!

 

[arew~SX230]

compartmentalization failures sank the titanic. In the water plugs in.
If I see water in any of the compartments. I open them all once the boat is out of the water, and also when I wash it.

 

[robert843]

Lake and river boating all in is fine as usually only going to get water in those compartments from rain. In the ocean I leave all open incase a wave comes over the bow then I want that water to make it to the bilge. Just my process I'm not saying either is correct or incorrect.

 

[McMark]

I leave all open all the time. When the boat isn't being used, its on a trailer. No slip.

 

[Summers420us]

So do I have all the plugs correct? Are there others?

 

[GiddYupJoe]

Rut row! Some of you long timers will remember this discussion


Grab the popcorn!

https://jetboaters.net/threads/compartment-drain-plugs.1389/#post-19907

 

[BakedZiti]

My boat never gets trailered,only on a lift, how often should I be removing the main stern plugs?

 

[Summers420us]

Agreed, and not trying to stir any controversy. Just thinking about this particular boat and feeling that maybe best is all closed except ski locker when underway. All open for cleaning.

 

[Summers420us]

My boat never gets trailered,only on a lift, how often should I be removing the main stern plugs?

I remove mine after each trip on the water and get at least a gallon out of them.

 

[BakedZiti]

I remove mine after each trip on the water and get at least a gallon out of them.

Uh oh I may have several gallons in there then.....!!

 

[Harshhobgoblin]

Adding to the drain plug thread. I asked my dealer what the flap area was to the left of the jet nozzle on my sx190. He said it was part of the self-draining deck. I'm beginning to think they had no idea what they were talking about.

Is this the exhaust port or deck drain area? (flaps to the left of the jet nozzle)

https://jetboaters.net/attachments/2016-07-10_165552672_8d359_ios-jpg.41433/

 

[RiverRat]

That's your exhaust. The scupper (self draining deck sysyem) is above the pump behind a plate.

 

[danclemo]

Was just about to start a thread on drain plugs and ran across this.....Thought I was going to ask a stupid question, but looks like I'm not the only one. I was wondering if these should be left open or closed while on the water. To me, when storing boat it seems very logical to just leave them all open...still undecided what to do while in the water though (other than ocean, I would close them then as fear of sinking and being stranded...but I've never on big water so it don't apply).

 

[mraz72]

I have always left mine open and I wet slip. I am not saying that is the best idea, that is just how I have it. I expect whatever water that gets in the boat to make it to the bilge and pumped out. I don't want stagnant water hanging around if I am not around for a week,

 

[haknslash]

For me if I'm on the water all of my plugs are in. Only time I open mine is when I wash the boat and want to drain the compartments. It takes the boat being at an angle to get water to the bilge from the ski locker and such so consider that if you wet slip with plugs out.

 

[Julian]

Lots of discussion on this before....I posted what Yamaha says in the manual on this thread:

https://jetboaters.net/threads/internal-drain-plugs.13141/#post-228879

My opinion on this (one of many):

• Yamaha has to test these boats and how fast/slow they sink. They may also be required to compartmentalize the boat (I've hunted for regs on this and couldn't find any).
• One main purpose of these drains is to allow you to drain water out of compartments not attached to the bilge.
• Another purpose is to slow down incoming water -how effective this is remains to be seen.

I leave the engine plugs in and if I see water in there I investigate.
I leave the ski locker plug out.
The anchor locker doesn't drain to the bilge it goes overboard and has no plug.

 

[scokill]

I leave e them out as I want all water to drain to bilge. The only way one of these boats will sink is in a catastrophic event or major failure. Plugs in or out will not make a difference from what I have seen under the deck. These compartments are not sealed . There are cracks, gaps, and voids where water can flow over and around. They are sealed to a certain degree with the gas tank compartment the least capable of containing water. There is a thread where someone says "these boats
Won't sink, ask me how I know". Might be an interesting read.