Beginner Question

[Sean Troy]

Stupid question to most but I have a 2011 Targa V-18 combo. I just want to be sure which is the drain hole before setting in water. I see there are two screen covered inlets for the live wells and one drain between them. Under that is a recessed area with a drain hole. Is that the boats drain the plug goes in? Told you it was a beginner question. Thanks, Sean

 

[Texas Transplant]

Okay, the drain plug for your boat, should be the lowest drain/opening on the back of the boat. It should have a plug (either all the way screwed in, or 'hanging out' with a safety connection). It is threaded, and accepts a male 'stopper'.



The drain (on the inside of the boat) is always in the lowest possible position in the inside transom area, to allow for complete draining of the inside hull area.



On some boats, there is a higher drain that allows 'overwash' that comes over the transom area to drain out - just in front of the engine. It generally has no 'plug' and also no threads in it.



If you are a first time boat owner; and especially if this was a new boat; the dealer should have gone over all of this with you. Likely should have taken you on a 'maiden voyage' also.



Don't worry about asking seemingly 'stupid or first time questions here' - we all have. And some of us continue to do it. Enjoy your boat and welcome to the site.



Tex

 

[Greg Meyer]

Any liongering doubt.... post a pic of the transom area and we'll all give you some more info. Congrats and welsome to the board

 

[Sean Troy]

Hope this pic helps you answer my question. Not a threaded hole though. Thanks, Sean

 

[Jim in VA]

Bottom hole (same color as rest of boat) is your drain. You need a T-stopper like the one pictured below to fit into it prior to launch.

BTW - get two. They're cheap insurance in case you lose one on water! Then that second one becomes priceless!!

 

[Sean Troy]

Is that type better than the ones with the lever that you flip over? Thanks so much for the help. I'm sure I'll be asking more questions as soon as we get it out on the water in a few weeks.Is the black ringed hole for the Live Well discharge? Thanks, Sean

 

[Greg Meyer]

Be sure to open that drain immediately after ou come off the water and immediately before you launch. I keep my plug in the passenger side cup holder so I can instantly tell if its in and prevent misplacing it. As far as having two, I probably have four in the boat... way cheap insurance!

 

[Jim in VA]

T-screw will hold more firm. I would consider the flip over type more for jon boats or other lower powered craft - or at the very least, for mounting on the inside of the boat. Too easy for that lever to flip open and disappear on high speed runs.



As for as the black hole - yes, likely its the drain hole for the livewell. The only other option I can think of is the outlet for your bilge pump. Either way, it is not the drain for the boat!

 

[Sean Troy]

Thanks all for the help. I'll grab a few more of the T type next time by the Marina. Thanks, Sean

 

[Richard Ehlers (SevenPin)]

Sean,



If you have access to a hose and spigot, you could fill the livewells and then watch for the water when you drain the livewells. You could probably do the same thing with the bilge and it shouldn't take much water to determine where it comes out. If nothing else, your will clean out the bilge a little bit in your testing



SevenPin

 

[Richard Ehlers (SevenPin)]

Sean,



Call it "Oldtimer's Disease" :lol: but I just thought of something else. If you have the right plug for the bilge, you could also test the bilge pumps using the garden hose as above. Which reminds me, I should do that on by boat too. Replaced the bilge pump a couple of years ago and never tested it to make sure it would work when I needed it



Welcome to NTOWS.



SevenPin

 

[Sean Troy]

I think I will do some testing when it warms up a bit today. Thanks, Sean