• Registered: 2012-09-05
  • Posts: 165

Topic: Garboard Plug Safety

My garboard plug is a standard plumbing drain plug.  It makes me uneasy though because the square part that you put a wrench on to turn it sticks out quite a bit -- its easy for me to imagine some sort of debris being able to give it a pretty good knock and then having a leak issue that could potentially sink the boat.  I'm considering cutting it way down and then cutting a screw driver slot in it.  I'd appreciate some other garboard plug opinions.  thanks

  • From: nyc toronto
  • Registered: 2012-01-04
  • Posts: 163

Re: Garboard Plug Safety

I wouldn't worry. The plug is usually way back on the boat and most things would just bounce off. Besides, the propeller makes a way better target if you plan on hitting something.

Make sure that "standard plumbing drain plug" is bronze, and bolted into a bronze plate with bronze screws, Teflon tape and lots of 5100 sealer. You don't want a galvanized steel plumbing bolt and you don't want dissimilar metals because of galvanic action.

Slotted screws can be hard to remove if left for too long without the Teflon tape.