Rowboat Drain?!
 

Hi!
Is it possible that an Alumacraft rowboat would NOT have a drain plug? I can't seem to find one in this boat and it's filling up from rain!

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Given that small a boat, if you can't see it, it isn't there. Go up to the Aubuchon, buy a small PVC fitting, flanged nut, and square plug, some waterproof sealant, and maybe a drill bit. Bore a hole to match the fitting down low on the stern, install the parts, done. Or just cut up a used milk jug and bail as required.

Yes, many small rowboats were made with no drain plug. I assume reason being is they are small enough to be manhandled, pulled up on shore and tipped to drain. Your best bet is to store either covered, on its side or upside down...

Dan

Ok, thanks fellas!

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Rowboat Drain
 

All good advice, except, no one mentioned the most important Step - when the boat is drained, do not forget to put the plug back in!

..... gotta go to Fays!
 

www.faysboatyard.com/service/chandlery-the-ship/ in Gilford on Route 11 has maybe six different styles of nylon drain plugs for small boats that have either a round or diamond shaped flange with a threaded drain plug in black or white for about five dollars and less.

Surrounded by pricey sailboat items made by Harken, their nylon drain plug assemblies are the least expensive item in this totally well stocked store for original Laser, Hobie, Harken and other brand, sailing items.

Fays' is the place to go ...... check out their bargain box of reduced price, left over, colorful lengths in different diameters from 1-cm to 11-cm ..... very high quality, shorter left-over lengths of yacht line, used for a row boat bowline, or something ..... short lengths for short money!

I lost the plug on my 14' Alumacracft and couldn't find a match so I'm using a wine bottle stopper and it works fine.

Nice!

I had the police come to verify the boat since it hadn't been registered for a while, and it comes up as being built in 1948. I'm interested to know if that's true.

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Alumacraft brand was established in 1946, with their early best seller the 12-foot Model B. Therefore quite plausible your 1948 date is valid.

Here's an image of 1947 model B from antiqueboatamerica.com:
http://admin.antiqueboatamerica.com/...5/27828(5).JPG

If you want to restore the aluminum and make it clean and shiny ....... you know what works good ..... a 5-dollar gallon of Heinz white vinegar from the super market ...... and a sponge/scrubber ...... aluminum gets cleaned and restored by the acidic acid in white vinegar to make it look almost like new.

Is easy to do ..... goes down fast ..... with a big scrubber sponge and rubber gloves.

Lost plugs
 

People lose drain plugs all the time so most marinas sell them. They also have brass sleeves to go with it for a nice fit. Drill the hole, bedding compound, and slide it in. Get one sleeve and two plugs or attach the plug with a dummy chain.

I suggest the plug be oriented so you remove it inside the boat, not from outside. If you ever add a small motor, removing the plug to drain while underway is awkward at best.
For bailing, you can get a large "Marine Sponge" that "conforms to the shape of your hull". $18.95. Or a regular sponge for $3.98 at the hardware store. LOL

Nice thing about a 12' or 14' rowboat is how winterizing it can be accomplished by simply removing everything from the boat and rolling it over, upside down, so it sheds the rain and the snow can get removed if too heavy for the boat.

When storing a 16'-18'-20' boat under a tarp in your driveway for the winter, it seems like water will always find a way to get into the boat and down into the bilge. Once it freezes in the bilge it can damage the hull or damage a bilge pump.

What to do? I've installed a nylon threaded drain plug and flange on the outside, bottom of the hull on a 16' Alumacraft with a 40-hp outboard in the middle of the bilge area , about one foot distance from the transom.

And, it works pretty good after five years ..... so far so good ...... and rain or melting snow that gets into the boat will drain down and out this lower drain hole.

This has got to be the greatest boat bilge, drain plug installation, in the world history of boat bilge drain plugs ...... ever, ever, ever made ..... ever!

My 12' Starcraft had a rolled gunnel.

One winter, with the boat stored upside down, the gunnel filled with water and then froze.

It split the lower section of about 6" of the gunnel.

After that I stored the boat upside down but with a significant bow to stern tilt.

There was no more freeze damage after that.

Alumacraft No Drain
 

Get in touch with Alumacraft.They can give you info about the boat including
wheere the drain is. I had one and i think the drain is attttached somewhere on the botttom.

The boat is an antique so go big if you sell it.