Been itching to work on the boat - have some upgrade plans for a few areas that I will post about as I get underway. Last winter I was building the boat - now I can concentrate on doing some little things to make the boat better. Drain plug was my first idea.
I committed to installing a drain plug today... drilled a hole in the boat. I opted to install it in the rear of the boat near the transom, so it will drain out while on the ramp/loading the boat. Picked up a Garboard style flange and plug - like the one in this link.
Drilled the hole for the plug to fit through, used a 2" hole saw and a chisel to install the flange flush. I soaked the exposed wood in epoxy, so tomorrow I will seat the flange in place with some 5200 and screw it in for good.
Jason: I used the same drain on my DB. You may want to grind off the "tube" on the bottom side of the flange such that it is flush with the bottom of the boat. A minor point but a rock might snag it and rip the drain out of the boat. Get a spare plug and keep it in the boat. I have seen people push a boat off the trailer and start up a motor only to find out they haven't installed the plug- and the plug is on shore. Not much fun
Here are a few pics of the install.
I ended up just drilling the screw holes straight through, goobering up the flange with 5200, then screwing in it nice and snug. Cleaned up the excess 5200, wiped the areas clean, then took my belt sander to the exposed flange and screws on the bottom. After everything was ground nice and flush I gave it another wipedown with spirits. I sanded the area on the bottom a bit more, and after the death paste is all cured, I am going to mix a small batch of epoxy and graphite and skim coat that area where the flange and screws are ground down to smooth everything out and make the surface level and even with the block sander. All in all not too bad of a little project.
Atta boy. Finally leave the bail bucket at home. My first 16' has two drain plugs- one near where you put yours and one in the middle of the boat off to the right near the chine. The one near the transom never gets taken out. The one in the middle always gets used. The boat drains on the trailer on the ride home, as it is installed in the lowest point. My second 16' and my old trapper both have one plug in the middle near the right chine. Either will work. Good stuff.
Jason, the plug system you have installed looks like the ones in the Steele boats built in the Willamette Valley by Keith and Steve Steele. I carry a wine cork in my boat seats, and it works well as an emergency plug. Unfortunately, I have enough of these to supply all wooden boat owners for free!