Tapered Plugs

Vic H. · Feb 11, 2012

I got the tapered plugs years ago from West, I think. Someone suggested Nerf footballs; I'm going to throw a few of them in. They will fit multiple size openings! Hope to only use on the beach though!

Vic H.

Squidd said:
So where does one find the "tapered plugs" we're all suposed to have tied (in the appropriate size) to each thru hull/sea cock...?

I looked (searched) the store here and didn't find any, (not that they are not there, search feature didn't find them) So where else to look...?

Also how are they "sized"...? I asume to match the outer hole in the boat hull...

And then how is the plug matched..? to end diameter, or further up the taper...?

I hope they just sit and rot in my bilge, but can see where they might come in handy...

MrUnix · Feb 12, 2012

Nerf footballs get my vote!

West has a set of wooden plugs for about $20, and a foam rubber one for about $22.. the foam one is described as "A tapered circular cone-shaped plug made of a proprietary foam formulation, TruPlug is a spongy solid, coated with a flexible sealer, suitable for holes up to 4" in diameter."

Sure sounds like a nerf football to me

Cheers,
Brad

seadaddler · Feb 12, 2012

West Marine

Got a whole bag of assorted wood sizes for my thruhulls on my H-36
Nick

MrBill_FLL · Feb 12, 2012

I saw a new product that looked like a nerfball, red cone with a stopper at the end.

compresses and expands. looked good.

from what I read, you should have the desired plug wired to the thru hull, so its right where you need it, when you are fumbling under water.

a toilet bowl wax ring crumpled into a rag and stuffed in a hole will work almost as good.

mrUnix lined to it:

http://a248.e.akamai.net/f/248/21700/1d/content.westmarine.com/images/catalog/large/11555901.jpg

Stu Jackson · Feb 12, 2012

MrBill_FLL said:
from what I read, you should have the desired plug wired to the thru hull, so its right where you need it, when you are fumbling under water.

Yup, I've read that, too. Makes little sense to me. The chance of more than one thru hull letting go at one time is probably astronomical.

We keep our "bag" of wooden thru hulls right next to the nav station in a cubbyhole. If I ever need 'em, I'd just grab the bag and use the one that fits.

Taping one to each thru hull is pretty much over the top IMHO.

Joe · Feb 13, 2012

I have appropriately sized wood cone plugs tied to each thru hull........... 'cause that's what was recommended by others...... I've never had a thru hull failure (so, I guess they work, heh, heh) but if one did, wouldn't it be logical that there would be a rupture or crack -before the ball valve- and if so, the plug would not stop any leaks.... unless you were able to snap the whole thing off flush to the mount so you could insert the plug. If the failure were after the ball valve, then... you turn off the ball valve... if the ball valve fails... you plug the hose.

I guess my question is: Besides the plugs, what other emergency methods are suggested for a through hull malfunction?

woodster · Feb 13, 2012

Joe said:
I guess my question is: Besides the plugs, what other emergency methods are suggested for a through hull malfunction?

tee hee joe

.......it has been said that the fastest bilge pump would be a person without one that has a 5 gallon bucket.....

haveing said that the best case would be to install the plugs from the out side of the boat and drive them in very hard and deep.....

or you could use the flange set up like Main Sail has posted in the past with the fiberglass backing plates all through bolted from the outside in.....

i have concluded that you can only make things safe to a point and it seems to me that the flange application would be that stopping point...

obtw..... the best choice of wooden plugs would be those made out of Poplar as they are soft and seal good in wet invironments

regards

woody

Les · Feb 13, 2012

Joe, do I agree with you. Really! Except (there is always an except....) I had moored my boat at Shilshole marina in Seattle and was next to a Catalina 25. Both of our slips were practically in front of the marina office. One Friday afternoon some of us were having a beer at the local yacht club (then on an old Puget Sound foot ferry) and my friend decided to check on his boat. He did so carrying his plastic cup of beer with him. He went below, raised the floorboards and tried his thru hulls. One completely dissolved in his hands and the water started pouring in. His reaction was to stick the beer container in the hole and stick his head out to yell for help. He and others quickly started up the boat and went a few piers south to the haul out facility.

His thru hull had completely dissolved by electrolyses to find powder. And the beer container was the right size. His big complaint was that there was still beer in the container. It turns out there was a "hot" spot on those slips. Something wrong with the ground.

My thinking is that if any of my thru-hulls go, I'll just jam a towel into the hole. Cover it with duct tape. And keep on sailing (I'm teasing).

Merlin Clark · Feb 14, 2012

Yeah Joe, you could bang in a plug or stuff a rag/ tshirt/ cat/ whatever (using a screw driver or a fid) in the hole from outside the hull but this would mean leaving the safety of the cockpit.

Tapered Plugs

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