It finally happened (plug blowout)

[Murf'n'surf]

After 10 years I experienced my first plug blowout today. Cruising around all day at various speeds and suddenly at 9800 RPM... POP! It got really quiet and the boat started to slow, the next thing I knew, my back was getting soaked. As I turned around to look, all that I saw was a wall of water coming at me! It was quit freaky as I didn't know what happened, I briefly thought somebody ran up onto my stern or the aft section of boat fell off. The wall of water cascaded down into the entire boat from stern to windshield. Some of the water shot up onto the underside of the deployed Bimini and spread throughout the cabin. To top it off my bilge pump failed and did not pump any water. Thank goodness for the deck scupper as it got rid of most water.

After getting back to my warehouse and thoroughly cleaning the boat, I looked into why the plug blew. All I noticed was that the plug that blew has a sticky/hard release button compared to the other plug. This must be the issue.

So, I have many things on my to do list after today's excitement:

-Rebuild plugs
-Order Jeff W's plug fix
-Replace the stock bilge pump
-Adjust the clean out hatch to latch tightly.
-Change my vote in the "Have you had a blow out" thread/poll.

 

[OCMD]

It's like being a motorcycle operator...there are two types. Those who have wrecked, and those who are going to have a wreck!

 

[sysinu]

Suggest adding a second bilge pump , for those just in case moments.

I have a secondary ballast pump (in addition to my somewhat fixed bagged ballast pumps). I've never had to bail water faster than the stock one can handle (forgot to put the plug in once), but I'm pretty sure my 3700 GPH pump could bail pretty quickly in a pinch.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

I have plans to add the secondary pump but my free time is non existent. My secondary pump is sitting on the "dream" bench right next to my scupper and JL amp.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Remember the EZ locks are included in my sale, https://jetboaters.net/threads/cool...steering-e-z-locks-for-yamaha-jet-boats.7672/ .
It takes only a minute to install them, It's the best insurance you can have to prevent a clean out plug from releasing like yours did.

 

[RightStuff]

So is the conclusion still that the newer plugs don't have blow-outs or it happens with much less frequency?

I try to take note when I see someone make note that they had a plug blow and what year boat they had. Not sure I have heard too many people with boats approx. after 2011/2012 having a blowout that wasn't user error...

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

I do not see any difference in the newer plugs other than the plastic the housings are made of, and that just looks like a cost cutting measure for producing the parts. I do not see any difference in the internal latching mechanism.

This video is the best way I can explain how the plug locks or fails to lock completely.
I have never believed that operator error was causing these to release aside from just totally forgetting to put the plug in . Simply put the plug is either in and the dogs deployed or it isn't.

 

[RightStuff]

I have watched your video Jeff, and have always known that there is a chance of it happening. It just seems like it happens more on older years (I know that's pretty anecdotal).

On the other site I remembered a "survey" someone did for 2012+ owners about plug failure. I haven't been over there in some time now so I looked it up to see if he had a final count and he came up with the following conclusion:
"116 plugs with no blow out (discounting any votes where EZ locks/Tru locks where installed)
6 plugs with blow out, various or unexplained reasons"

Would be interesting to see a more exhaustive survey containing all boat years, just so hard to get had facts on plug blowouts...

Here's the post for reference: http://yamahajetboaters.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=63324

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Obviously the older the clean out plug the more dirt can buildup inside plus also the weaker the locking spring gets, especially since people leave their plugs unlocked when not in use, it is better to leave them in the locked position even if they are not in the tubes since unlocking them keeps the small spring compressed, and it allows the dirt to collect forward of the locking tray, both can contribute to plug failures however I am aware of several boats having clean out failures even on a test drive with the dealer . It all boils down to a personal choice, is this your lucky day? did I fire 5 shots or was it 6 !

 

[RightStuff]

That is good info, thanks @Cobra Jet Steering LLC!

 

[txav8r]

So is the conclusion still that the newer plugs don't have blow-outs or it happens with much less frequency?

I try to take note when I see someone make note that they had a plug blow and what year boat they had. Not sure I have heard too many people with boats approx. after 2011/2012 having a blowout that wasn't user error...

A dream...those that have and those that will is the reality. You can take the blame and call it user error if you wish, but the plug shouldn't be hard to install or lock, and you should know it is locked. With EZ Locks, you know it is! I have only about 25 hours on my 2012, and I have found a plug unlocked and the EZ Locks preventing what would have been a blowout. The truth is, vibration, cavitation, and impact can cause the inner mechanism in the plug to unlock. The Trulocs can change that locking mechanism, but they have still had blowouts and I don't think every fix can correct every possible reason they can blowout, just like some blowouts are violent, and some are fairly tame. The one thing that @Murf'n'surf 's blowout confirms, is that even a seasoned and knowledgeable veteran of jet boat operation, can have a blowout. Rebuilding the plugs helps, as does the newer plugs that have more taper, but that won't prevent a blowout permanently. Just my opinion.

 

[MrMoose]

I've always pulled my plugs and rested them on the clean-out apron next to the clean-out ports, but I've always left them in the unlocked position. Thanks for the insight @Cobra Jet Steering LLC , I'll store them in the locked position from now on.

 

[swatski]

Great thread, and a useful reminder!
I ordered my locks from Jeff. Along with the steering system. Did not plan on getting the fins, but his "Cool sale" was just too cool to resist .

 

[Murf'n'surf]

EZ Locks are ordered!

 

[McMark]

First thing I bought were the EZ Locks.

 

[scot71]

I went the cheap route. Drilled a hole through the latch mechanism and just use one of these.

Sometimes it can be a little bit of a pain to get them in and out, since there isn't a lot of room, but it's not that bad and it was cheap insurance against a blow- out.

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

That is known as the PIN FIX. Those require a rather large hole in the clean out plug ,usually 15/64ths.
They also need to be installed and removed while the clean out plug is down in the tube.
Most people find they need a very long pair of needle nose pliers to do this .
If you are out on the water bouncing around the level of difficulty is increased.
Interestingly enough those and the purple plug fix were the reason I designed the EZ locks and the reason for the name" EZ LOCK".
In comparison the EZ LOCK uses a small 9/64ths hole to avoid unnecessarily weakening the original parts.
The design allows you to place the lock on the clean out plug while it is out of the hole, when you install the plug and push down on the T handle to lock the plug dogs, the EZ LOCK closes and tells you the plug is set.
The lock is designed so that you can compress the top half and open the lock to remove it from the plug when you need to remove the clean out plug. Both the pin fix and the EZ LOCK perform the same function preventing the plug from releasing while the boat is in use.
"Note we do have a modified EZ lock to replace the pin fix if you get tired of the inconvenience of those pins."
The idea is to secure the clean out plug , with the least amount of inconvenience.
The purple plug fix was an entirely different system, the big drawback beside the price was that you replaced many of the original factory parts and you needed a ratchet wrench with a long extension and a deep socket to remove or install the clean out plug .
There is an entire history of all the clean out plug fixes both pros and cons over on the dark side since these were conceived, designed and implemented prior to this web pages existence.
You really should have a clean out plug fix added to your plugs just for insurance, if you read some of the accounts of people who experienced the full blown launch of a clean out plug, blasting open and damaging the rear hatch, or a partial blowout where the engine compartment was flooded before they knew what was wrong. It certainly can ruin your day in a hurry.

 

[jlcj7]

I have tempted fate long enough... I just placed an order for some EZ Locks from Cobra Jet. I know my time is coming for a blow out if i dont get some "insurance"

 

[Cobra Jet Steering LLC]

Just a reminder the EZ LOCKS are still on sale for the ridiculously low price of $29.99 a set to do both plugs or $15.99 for a single, this include domestic shipping.
Remember just email me jeff@cobrajetsteering.com with the request for the sale price please include the state you live in for any of the sale prices shown in this thread
https://jetboaters.net/threads/cool...steering-e-z-locks-for-yamaha-jet-boats.7672/ Ultimate steering, Magnum AK steering and EZ LOCKS are included in that sale.
A condition of the sale is that you MUST email me directly and ASK for the sale price on your order. I did cover the last few people who FORGOT but it is a bookkeeping P.I.A. issuing refunds with pay pal.

 

[jlcj7]

oh perfect... was not aware, but i did see a refund come back to me...Perfect, thanks!