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Jonboat plug leaks

cipollinajcipollinaj Member Posts: 3 ✭✭
edited July 2010 in The Fishing Hole!
New to site and to jon boat fishing.
Just bought a used jonboat
for the Croton Reservoir here in NY.
My son wanted to try it so I figured it was
a "good bonding thing" [:)]

Problem is...the plug leaks.
Not alot...just annoying.
Pipe seems to be in the round.
I sanded the pipehole,even put teflon tape
around plug. Still leaks.
Is plug adjustable or are there other sizes?
Dont even know if they make other style plugs.
My plug has a bolt thru it and a nut on other side.
YOu pull up on a metal extension from inside boat
and it tightens up on the rubber plug.
Any advice would be helpful.

Comments

  • wpagewpage Member Posts: 10,201 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Sometimes you can tighten up on the tensioner...
    May be best to replace the plug. Old rubber gets hard and lets water in.
  • MMOMEQ-55MMOMEQ-55 Member Posts: 13,134
    edited November -1
    Most times you simply replace the plug with a new one. I once had a jon boat that somehow the hole had gotten out of round just enough that a plug would not seal properly. I took a new plug and covered it with wax. Then I took some emery cloth and roughed up the drain hole. After that I coated the drain hole with the thickened epoxy and inserted the plug. Wiped all the excess off and waited for it to dry. The wax prevented the plug from sticking and the epoxy gave me a nice tight hole for the plug.

    No leaks after that. The same jon boat is still going strong for a friend of mine. Just so you know, jon boats are famous for leaking somewhere. Hopefully yours is not a riveted boat. Never buy a riveted boat unless you love leaks.[:D]
  • PelicanPelican Member Posts: 1,061 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If you change the plug and it still leaks it may be seeping around the tube itself. You didn't say what the construction is but it occurs with wood boats if they have been out of the water for an extended period of time.

    Pel
  • cipollinajcipollinaj Member Posts: 3 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Thanks for your replies.

    The jonboat is an aluminum riveted boat,
    but just leaks around the plug (so far).
    I bought boat from a dealer who buys auctioned
    DEP confiscated boats and resells them.
    The plug appears brand new.
    I will try tightening up on nut at end and see if
    there is a difference.
    After that, I'll try the epoxy idea.
    Maybe somehow the hole got out of round
    and the epoxy would fix that.
    John
  • fishkiller41fishkiller41 Member Posts: 50,608
    edited November -1
    Put the plug in from OUTSIDE..[;)]
  • MMOMEQ-55MMOMEQ-55 Member Posts: 13,134
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by fishkiller41
    Put the plug in from OUTSIDE..[;)]


    LOL I lost a plug in the middle of the lake once with it on the outside. Damn near sank before I could get back to the dock.
  • CgullCgull Member Posts: 13 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Tighten the adjustment nut on the plug, that should create a tighter fit. If not get a new plug with adjustable nut.
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