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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | A friend of mine in the DNR just sent me an note saying as of July 1st when transporting your boat your plug must be pulled. This is because of the VHS and zebra muscle scare right now. I guess law enforcement will be looking for it. |
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Posts: 633
| I always pull it when I am putting on my transom saver, and straps.
Lance |
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | What??? Pull the transom plug or the livewell plugs?
I pull the transom plug in my boat maybe once or twice a year and that is only when it rains hard enough to put water in the bottom of the boat. I can see doing that if the boat leaks or you somehow get lake water in it, but what if your boat doesn't leak and the bottom of the boat is dry? Whats the point?
A problem I have is forgetting to put the transom plug back in when getting to the landing. It is rather embarrassing when one has to run the bilge pump to get the water out. I hate it when I do that.
Anybody else ever forget to put the transom plug back in? 
Edited by Herb_b 6/23/2010 1:10 PM
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Posts: 785
| My transom plugs never been out of my boat... ever. But the stuff is spreading and I don't wrong them for doing what they feel they must to slow it down or prevent it. |
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Posts: 291
Location: Minneapolis | Herb_b - 6/23/2010 2:08 PM
Anybody else ever forget to put the transom plug back in? :)
Been there. Done that! |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Herb, you need to drain both. If you're livewell is dry you're fine, but if you had water in it you've got to pull the plug. |
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Posts: 96
Location: Eau Claire | I used to have to put a post it on the steering wheel of my truck to remember to put the plug in the boat, now it's second nature. I pull it out after every trip on the water. |
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| I only pull it a couple times a year after forgetting a time or two. It is much easier to leave it in and then there are no worries.
Glad I don't live in Mn. |
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Posts: 897
| Yep, if you're driving away from the access at a lake with invasive species and your plug is still in or water is draining out of your boat they'll pull you over. You can't pull away from the access area until all the water is drained. Pulling the plug takes 2 seconds, not a big deal folks. Also, you should be draining your motor and livewells as well as pulling the plug. Again, takes 2 seconds to put the motor down after you pull the boat out of the water. |
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | My plug doesn't like to come out or go back in so easily. Seems I need a new plug.... |
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| "Until all the water is drained" that means what exactly? We all know there can still be water sloshing around even with the plug pulled. Maybe they can construct a steep incline ramp at every landing that we have to drive up and stop on for a minute. I wish they would get tougher on those ducks and other aquatic animals. I am fairly certain the milfoil in the Burnsville REI pond didn't come from a boat. |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Guest, you're right that the ducks do spread their fair share of millfoil. I don't think they have been know to spread zebras or VHS though. Those are transported through bilge water or moored boats/docks. This is a very cheap and unintrusive way of limiting the spread of these 2 nasties. Trust me when I say that there are many lake shore assn's that are trying to restrict our access MUCH more in order to combat zeb's. |
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Posts: 17
| I have a plug with a ring on the end. I thread the hook on my transom strap through the ring on the plug. I don't forget to put it in any longer. |
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Posts: 716
| Rangers don't have plugs because they never leak ! |
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Posts: 549
Location: deephaven mn | and they never take a wave over the bow, or over the transom when backing your
boat away from dock with wind blowing in |
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Posts: 716
| "and they never take a wave over the bow, or over the transom when backing your boat away from dock with wind blowing in "
Too much anger  |
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Posts: 670
Location: Otsego, MN | Just pull them it takes 2 seconds to do it, a simple little thing to do to protect our water. |
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Posts: 136
| You can't pull away from the access area until all the water is drained. Pulling the plug takes 2 seconds, not a big deal folks.
After fishing a week where it rained almost everyday one year, I left vilas county and had pulled the plug and still had water coming out when going thru Wausua going up the hills, guess it wasn't all out at the boat landing  |
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Posts: 549
Location: deephaven mn | bturg - 6/25/2010 11:00 AM
"and they never take a wave over the bow, or over the transom when backing your boat away from dock with wind blowing in "
Too much anger ;) t
not anger turg, sarcasm, and awareness for others |
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Location: Illinois | sarcasm is anger's ugly cousin
Gotta learn how to say gooooooosfraba! |
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Location: Grinnell, Iowa | So in two weeks when I go to Canada I have to pull my plug just to haul it through the state of Minnesota eventhough it hadn't been on Minnesota waters??? Just makin sure I am understanding this correctly... I don't want to get pulled over just because someone assumes I'd been fishing Minn. waters. |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Yes. |
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| Not so fast... Out fishing in Wright County today and a DNR watercraft inspection officer at the boat ramp said Pawlenty hasn't signed this into law and it could very well be later this year if at all this year.
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Posts: 540
Location: MN | I was told today by the weed guy on tonka that it dosent go into effect till aug1. Then he asked if there were any muskies in tonka. |
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| Article in Sunday's Pioneer Press said Thursday July 1st. |
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Posts: 149
| Here's a link to some MN Conservation Officer weekly reports and there is a blurb in there about one of the officers doing some Invasive Species education and mentioning the law with the assumption from the wording in there being that it's already in effect.
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/enforcement/co_report/report.html?distri...
Edited by esoxcpr 6/27/2010 1:41 PM
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Posts: 3480
Location: Elk River, Minnesota | Whether it is a law or isn't a law, please pull it and do your part to help... Call it preventative maintenance.
I pulled mine for the first time this weekend and forgot to install it...the lower portion of the boat got a cleaning on the interior...below the floor, though...
I plan on installing a small chain to attach the plug to so I can pull it and it will just dangle there as a reminder to put it back in, plus I would be less apt to lose it...
Steve |
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Posts: 791
Location: North Central IL USA | I always pull my plug ( and that's not code for anything). As far as forgetting not to put it back in; when I’m back there taking off the transom saver and the transom straps I put the plug back in.
Edited by gregk9 6/29/2010 9:47 AM
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Posts: 829
Location: Maple Grove, MN | Does this apply if there is no water in the bottom of your boat or do have to pull it regardless if there is water or not in the bottom of your boat? Pulling the plug on a dry boat seems silly.... |
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| this could make hanging around a launch more entertaining than it already is! Maybe there will be a new reality show "Boat Launch". |
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Posts: 149
| How would you know if there was water in the bottom of the boat or not unless you pull the plug? A boat doesn't have to have a leak for there to be water in the transom.
You get potentially contaminated lake water in the boat with every cast, every time you net a fish, from wave splash, and probably a dozen other ways. Add a bit of rain to that, and contaminants could easily be in the bottom of the boat without your knowledge even if the boat doesn't leak. You could also spring a leak in a livewell hose or bilge hose allowing lake water to enter the bottom of the boat without your knowledge.
I can't fathom how people could possibly be against having all their plugs pulled at all times when the boat is out of the water. |
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Posts: 539
Location: WI | Started doing it tonight. I survived. Really not a big deal since I'm in that area anyhow w/ the transom saver. If it's one thing I can do to help prevent spreading something, it's worth the minor inconvenience. Actually felt kind of good seeing the two rigs next to me that were a good $40,000 more than mine pouring water out. I'd still trade w/ them though. |
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| Starts tomorrow, July 1, 2010.
Call Heidi Wolf at the Minnesota Invasive Specie Hotline 1-651-259-5152 if you still are unsure. |
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Posts: 3147
| honestly is this THAT big of an issue with people???
your pulling a lousy plug out that takes 2 seconds to do not pulling a fuel injected engine out of a foreign sports car!!
Im guessing you, only buy only pop top beans because its too much of a hassle to use the electric can opener |
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| Beg to differ...
Boats longer than 18 feet with engine power rated for more than 100 HP usually have a splash well a foot or more in width that prohibits reaching over the transom.
Secondly, some plugs are T-handled that twist in and my former boat had both conditions, meaning I had to get into the boat and lie on the floor to reach it.
Not complaining about the law, it's just that for some, it's going to take far longer than 2 seconds |
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Posts: 791
Location: North Central IL USA | raftman - 6/29/2010 9:15 PM
Actually felt kind of good seeing the two rigs next to me that were a good $40,000 more than mine pouring water out. I'd still trade w/ them though.
I hear this. Mine's always bone-dry unless I've been fishing in the rain....and it's a '91. |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | For you guys that forget to put the plug back in,... put a spare plug on your BOAT key ring, or stering wheel as a reminder...... I,ve been highly trained to pull my plug every time, and never forget to put it back in.
Just Do It !
Jerome |
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Posts: 548
Location: MN | Herb_b - 6/29/2010 11:52 AM
Does this apply if there is no water in the bottom of your boat or do have to pull it regardless if there is water or not in the bottom of your boat? Pulling the plug on a dry boat seems silly....
Doesn't matter if boat is dry or not..... |
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Posts: 183
Location: Grand Forks ND | Wow...I can't believe pulling a plug in a boat is such a big deal for some of you. Makes one wonder how you go about catching, netting, or releasing a musky.
If you don't want to do everything in your power to help stop or slow the progession of invasive species, than please stay away from MN lakes. Thanks. |
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Posts: 2384
Location: On the X that marks the mucky spot | Guest - 6/30/2010 7:49 AM
Beg to differ...
Boats longer than 18 feet with engine power rated for more than 100 HP usually have a splash well a foot or more in width that prohibits reaching over the transom.
Secondly, some plugs are T-handled that twist in and my former boat had both conditions, meaning I had to get into the boat and lie on the floor to reach it.
Not complaining about the law, it's just that for some, it's going to take far longer than 2 seconds
Try putting the plug in from the outside and it will only take 2 seconds. |
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | I made a joke on the other zebra mussel thread about power washing all the waterfowl but it was just that, a joke.
We need to do our part to stop the spread of invasives and fish disease. Water in your trailer, bilge, livewell lines, motor, etc. can keep many invasives and disease alive for days if not weeks. It only takes a minute to let everything drain with your rig on a slight incline. Tilt the motor down and turn it over to pump out any water and you're set. If you're on infected water it only takes a tablespoon of bleach in five gallons of water to kill anything, have some around and use it. There is no reason, as stewards of the resource, we shouldn't be doing everything we can to limit the spread of disease and invasives.
Watching the spread of zebra mussels here in Michigan was amazing. They went from the Great Lakes to nearly every inland lake within 10 years. Responsible boat owners could have slowed this to a crawl. Get it in your routine to follow the reccomended precautions and it won't be a big deal, you just might educate a few people along the way too. |
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Posts: 264
| bturg - 6/24/2010 3:38 PM
Rangers don't have plugs because they never leak !
Rangers do have plugs, actually. |
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Posts: 1220
| First, forget the comment about boats over 19 feet with 100 Plus HP. All you have to do is go from full-on to full-stop and water will come over the transom like Niagra falls. In fact, just this last weekend my tournament partner complained about me doing it and getting his rear casting platform soaked and slippery. Second, this is such a small price to pay--really small, if it keeps some really bad stuff out of your favorite fishing hole. Last, if you forget the plug and you have an aluminum boat, just let your partner hold onto your feet while you reach down and replace it. If you do have that Ranger, (mine is a 619) you will find that when you forget the plug (I have many times) that the pump will only go on once every 30 minutes for about three or four minutes and you can fish the whole darn day without it even being in the boat. Marty Forman |
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| Junkman,
Are you completely serious about the Ranger's? Possible to fish all day without a plug? |
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| Beg to differ.
Contacted my boat manufacturer and insurance agent and contrary to reversing the plug from the inside to the out for a 2 second consideration, there are issues related to warranty damages and insurance claims if the plug becomes dislodged due to transom cavitation considerations.
You should contact your boat manufacturer and insurance agent to see how this may apply to you. |
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Location: Grand Rapids, MI | If you have a slide in drain plug it must be put in from the inside. The only drain plugs that should go in from the outside of the hull are threaded. |
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Posts: 1220
| Yea, I was totally serious about the plug...3-5 minutes on the pump (it'll turn on itself) every half-hour. Naturally, different models could act differently, and the nose-high (low?) attitude could affect things, as different motors, loading and etc. But I have a 2008 619 with a 225 Verado and 9.9 kicker on the transom and that's how it is. Obviously, I wouldn't do it on purpose, the pump running is annoying, but you clearly can stay on the water. Marty |
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| Everyone should ask Mike Szczepanski about boat plugs. He has an interesting story that should get more exposure. |
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Pull your plugs in MN!