scoflaw
Well-Known Member
- Aug 10, 2011
- 6,395
- Boat Info
- 1999 Powerquest legend 260 sx 502 mag
2005 Baja 242 islander 496
- Engines
- 502 mpi Bravo 1
496 mag B1
I hope nobody takes this advice seriouslyI never tighten my drain plug with a wrench. It's brass and screws in with about 3 full rotations, but as soon as I feel resistance, I stop. Sometimes I even back it out about 5 degrees if I feel I've tightened it too much.
I've never had so much as a drop of water enter my bilge, and have never found the plug to be in any other position than what I put it in to be (in other words, it never loosens on its own). This method allows me to unscrew it by hand when I trailer the boat (and I trailer my boat everywhere).
I'm surprised people actually tighten these things with wrenches (but then again, I also don't tighten my oil drain pan plug in my cars beyond 10nm or so... Same for my oil & fuel/water filters... I screw them in until I meet a little resistance, but never tight. I've never once had leaks or drips - and they are always easy to remove!