Hull Plugs

[shade2u2]

While I have my 28 on the hard, should I remove and clean up the hull plugs? I assume that they were pulled in the past but I don't know for sure.
I believe that there are 2 in my boat - does that sound right?
The bilge is dry.

[carl]

[jralbert]

On my 1988 32' FBS, there was a plug a little aft of midship, near the keel and one under the fwd v berth on the stbd side. It's easy to check when the boat is out of the water

[javalin390]

I say YES ! Pull them, clean them up, re-seal them. On my 37' there is one in between the engines and one in the forward birth, both on the starboard side of the keel. I leave them out the entire winter when in dry dock to drain out any condensation that may accumulate during the spring. I bought a tap to clean the threads out, much better than a brush, and the previous owner changed it over to to stainless steel plugs. Seal them up before launch with that white liquid Teflon pipe goo, and don't wrench them down TOO tight, as the aluminum threads in the hull could strip out !

[meltonhill]

28 should only have one plug. Just aft of the v-berth.

[GB49]

28 should only have one plug. Just aft of the v-berth.

28' can have 2 plugs. Our 1989, 28 had another plug in the engine room by the bulkhead. I think plug placement and quantity depends on the year. The later models had 2 physically separate bilges.

-Karl

[bcassedy]

Just a note, which may be silly to add, but ensure any brush that you use to clean up the threads of either the plug or the plug hole is stainless steel. Carbon steel brushes (like some of the more inexpensive battery brushes) can set up corrosion.

Bill

[Fastjeff]

A smear of anti-seize on the threads would be a good idea.

Jeff

[jralbert]

This query is way off the boating topic but is related to threads so while you're in a thread frame of mind, I'll ask: I am screwing some galvanized pipe together (to mount my my backyard weather station) and want to freeze the fitting in place once I've adjusted them. Would that be pipe dope or something else???

[carl]