1st post, celebrating 1st day with boat in hand.

[dmhallene]

Had the boat out for 6 hours total this weekend. Got the Oil Press alarm in (comming from throttle assembly) on each cold start. Alarm stayed in until cowl lifted and cover removed from aux oil tank on engine and then replaced. Had over two gallons in main tank (under seat) and aux tank almost full. each cold start this happened and would only clear by the process mentioned above. I suspect a vacum leak but not sure. BOAT RAN GREAT otherwise. Up to Bush Compound (Kennebunk and down to York. Great time.

[dmhallene]

Along with Trailer lights, Safety Chains, Hitch, Boat Tie Downs, Fuel, Oil, Water (drinking), Fishing Equip, All the standard on Board Safety Equip, Batteries Charged, I should REALLY remember Handle for my winch, and The BILDGE PLUG. Had the boat out last weekend and all was GREAT, in shop this week, Vacum leak on Oil Tank, and did NOT check bildge Plug... Got 10 minutes from DOCK,delayed at dock as I forgot handle for winch, and had over 400 gallons of water in boat. Made it back to dock to discover cause. I am making a check list NOW.

[macojoe]

We have all forgot the plug at sometime!! Those that say no are telling lie's!!

[Destroyer]

Originally Posted by macojoe

We have all forgot the plug at sometime!! Those that say no are telling lie's!!

Like MJ said, we've all done it....I'm thinking that we could start a thread just about our experiences with that silly little piece of rubber and how costly it can be. I know I've forgotten it... said so in a different thread a while back. It's one of those things you never forget twice.. So welcome to the "forgot the plug club"
It's a great lesson in how important it is to remember the safety things.. (Amazing how much water can come through that little hole in so short a time, isn't it)?

BTW, I've never seen it mentioned, but speaking about the drain hole, a great tip is if you see that there's a lot of water in your bilge from not putting the plug in, and you're out on the water and not at the dock, throw your motor into forward gear and get up on plane in a hurry.. the speed of the boat thru the water creates a vacuum that acts like a syphon and actually pulls the water back out through the drain hole.. It's like a last line of defense bilge pump, but it gets the water out in a hurry. Obviously, once the water's out put the plug in.

[dmhallene]

Here's my first shot at a list, any help is welcome
Trailer lights

Safety Chains
Hitch
Boat Tie Downs
Fuel
Oil
Water (drinking)
Fishing Equip
Life Jackets
Horn
Flares
Whistle
Fire Extinguisher
Navigation Lights
Charts
Battery for winch
Batteries Charged
Handle for my winch
BILDGE PLUG.
Port & Starboard Transom Plugs
Anchor
Dock Lines

[macojoe]

Get a Orange Amo box put all safety equipment in it and leave in boat at all times.

If you don't have the trailer hitch you won't have to worry about the boat!

Any how once you get set up most will be on there all the time any way.

One thing I did not see was a First Aid kit?? Also a nice clean pair of cutting pliers in with that kit. When some one drives a hook thur there hand (and they will) nothing like a nice pair of rust free pliers that can cut the hook for easy removal!

I also add some gauze, tape, and wrap for any large cuts that a band aid will be to small for.

[Monkey Butler]

Two other things I always have on the boat are sunscreen and a balnket. It always seeems someone is either getting roasted or is suddenly chilled.

[Lamont270]

I second the drop the hammer and siphon the water out cure for forgetting the plug. It happened to a friend and myself not to long ago (his boat) and while he was on plane I put a plug in on the inside of the boat. We laugh now about it but when your boat is filling with water it can be a hairy situation. I personally carry a plug in my transom compartment, cabin, tackle box and the center console of my truck(cheap insurance)....

[dmhallene]

Thanks, Added to my list