Hypothetical question.

Buoy

Founding Member
The hurricane got me thinking...
If you had a boat out there prior to the hurricane hitting, obviously you would want to get it on the trailer and to higher ground - preferably indoors.
But, in the event you have to leave it outside, on the trailer, cover on...
Do you put the plug in?
My thinking is if the surge hit, the boat would float.
BUT....
If you were dealing with that amount of rain, even covered, the boat will fill like a bathtub (water would have a way of getting in, even with a cover).
I guess it's a 50/50 gamble.

A lot of things to consider...

Rain water filling the boat would be "fresh"
Seawater coming in from an open drain = salt
Rain water would weight the boat, and possibly sink it if it was worse case scenario (storm surge AND filling with rain water)

So, plug, or no plug??
Thoughts?
 
I Read over on THT where a guys boat (no plug) floated off of his trailer and sank. That's a tough call, during Wilma boats that were high up on Lifts got washed off, and hung up on half of the lift, and either sank or were stuck awkwardly.
 
A lot of people in Cleveland got their boat tossed around. :(

That would be a hard call on a plug. Especially in a place with a surge potential.
 
When I was in Toledo, I docked my boat.

When I moved to Pittsburgh, I docked the cruiser, and trailered the baja and the runabout .
I recall leaving the plug in on the baja, and then didn't make it down to the boat for a week (boat on trailer). Had heavy rains that week, and the boat filled to the oilpan.

I'm just thinking in a hurricane situation , what is the lesser of two evils? Or, what would you do under the circumstances ?
I guess it's kinda like "do you put $10k on black, or red?
 
Plug in and shrink wrap!!!!

Shrink is only practical for winter storage.
And, I'd leave the plug out.
Just my opinion.
Even with shrink, I'd want vents to allow the boat to "breathe". And allow it to drain, instead of holding water.

But, my original question is in regards to the hurricane , limited time to secure the boat, and uncertainty of what will happen weather wise.
It's a gamble however you look at it
 
Freight train

Use a Forespar safe-t-drain plug; lets water out but not in.

Safe-T-Drain™ Plug

Simple genus,a check valve ,that settles the plug issue.

I for one never take my own advice, the old do as I say not as I do.


Honestly,if there is a freight train headed your way, board up the house, and the family ,get your favorite toys in a box ,on a trailer, get the fluck out of dodge if you have the option./ drive away from the hurricane. just sayin.
 
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My solution would be yo leaved the plug out and when the storm surge comes in go out and put the plug in. When Hurricane Isabel hit us in 2003 I had to go swiming and tie off my floating section of the pier to keep it from floating away. The surge raised it up over the pilings.
 
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