A few of you will probably sink your boat

[DDSBYDAY]

If you don't know yet our enlightened ones at the Legislature passed a new law making it against the law to transport your boat with the plug in it.   The live well plug must be out as well. 

         My opinion on this is that there  will be accidents at the boat launch.  Invasive species will not be hindered by this in the slightest.   Common sense can not be legislated because legislators have no common sence.

[Cody Gruchow]

thats stupid! i mean i only have a small 12 foot one that i take it out everytime now, but the guys with the bigger boats will for sure forget it 1 time or another. plus it really doesnt hinder the movement of any invasive species.

[Lee Borgersen]

  Bring on the ticket cuz my plug is staying in.

[Dan R.]

I don't think I will be taking mine out either

[Bobby Bass]

Law went into effect July 1st and enforcement started Aug 1st. Not a big deal I just pull mine when I drain the live well. With my boat it is a pain to have to climb up into the boat and reach back down behind batteries and gas tank but what ya going to do? Have not heard of anyone getting a ticket yet but I am willing to guess they will cost ya.  Not to hijack the thread but it is like the 25.00 seat belt ticket you can now be stopped for has a 85.00 administrative fee tacked on making the ticket 110.00 if you are going to fine someone do so, adding the administrative fee on top is the state gouging you.

My oldest son just got a seat belt ticket wearing a blue shirt and he had on his gray seat belt, always wears it. Trooper drove by him, turned around and pulled him over. Wrote him a seat belt ticket and told my son who is 30 that he was not wearing his belt and must have put it on when the trooper turned around... So what do you do? No witness to back up either party.  110.00 and the law was being followed. 

[MNBucKKiller]

I don't think I will be taking mine out either

Ditto, this is a dumb law.  People will forget, get water in their boat (maybe an invasive species or two) go to a new lake forget to put it in again and there you transported it.

[MNBucKKiller]

I also heard from somewhere that they want to make you paint the bottom orange so they can tell if its in easier

[Fawkinnae]

I just started pulling mine. I figure it's only a matter of time until...
Thinking about painting the plug orange so I see it when I am taking the tie down straps off the boat at launching.

[guythathunts]

I always have taken mine out. You are bound to have some water in the hull from normal use. Plus if you get water in it between uses the water will drain VS sit in the hull. I do it to prevent mold and to prevent having water in there working its way at the hull. I don't know if it makes a differance or not, but it always made sense to me.

[DDSBYDAY]

The problem is not taking the plug out.  Everyone does that.  The problem is making it illegal to tranport your boat to the landing with the plug in.  People are in a hurry and stressed at the landing.  This will result in accidents.  It is easy to forget to do this and it will not affect the invasive species a bit.   It is just a silly waste of time law.

            Some will suggest putting the plug in on the outside.  I used to do this.  My bilge started running out on leach lake.  I went back and looked and sure enough it had vibrated out.  I was very fortunate I always carry a spare.   I would have sunk without it.

[BiggA]

The boat i operate is only pluggable from the outside so this is no big deal to me. It is kind of frustrating you have to empty your livewells though when yo got a limit of crappie in there. I guess I was just raised to do as I am told so pulling a plug is not really  a big deal  and I dont feel it violates my rights at all.

[Woody]

Bring on the ticket cuz my plug is staying in.

Ditto!

[Bobby Bass]

The boat i operate is only pluggable from the outside so this is no big deal to me. It is kind of frustrating you have to empty your livewells though when yo got a limit of crappie in there. I guess I was just raised to do as I am told so pulling a plug is not really  a big deal  and I dont feel it violates my rights at all.

In MN the law for draining your livewell has been on the books for many years. If you are transporting crappie in your livewell with water all this time you are a lucky guy not to have been stopped. 

[BiggA]

DOH.  I did not know that was illegal previously.

[KTapper]

This new law doesn't really bother me, because I have always pulled the plug and leave it out until the next time I hit the lake. Yeah there are still times that I forget to put it in, but I see the automatic bilge go and pull it back out and put it in.

[sandmannd]

It doesn't bother me at all that you need to pull it, it bothers me that it's a law and you can get fined for it. I don't like big gov't and that's what this is. Just nit picky garbage that we don't need. I have always pulled my plug to drain any water out of it and then put it back in for the next time. Then I don't have to remember it. I get a couple of times a year I'm in a hurry and forget but it's not that big a deal. Reach down, put it in and turn on the pump.

I just think there are enough laws to deal with and confuse folks. Heck, every dang body of water has it's own special laws and restrictions. To me, it's a way to get some extra money cause it ain't stopping invasive species, they are already everywhere. They should have done this 20 years ago if they wanted to stop it.

[deadeye]

I just got back from fishing with my dad and brother.  We went in my dads 14 foot aluminum boat.  This boat is over 45 years old and my dad has never removed the plug. (it's on the bottom of the boat.  We tried to get it out today.  Nothing doing, I think it's welded in.

[brandbll]

If you don't know yet our enlightened ones at the Legislature passed a new law making it against the law to transport your boat with the plug in it.   The live well plug must be out as well. 

         My opinion on this is that there  will be accidents at the boat launch.  Invasive species will not be hindered by this in the slightest.   Common sense can not be legislated because legislators have no common sence.

Is it really that hard to just pull your plug out and remember to put it back in, jesus.  Anyone who has their boat sink due to this deserves it.  It's merely survival of the fittest.

[DDSBYDAY]

If you don't know yet our enlightened ones at the Legislature passed a new law making it against the law to transport your boat with the plug in it.   The live well plug must be out as well. 

         My opinion on this is that there  will be accidents at the boat launch.  Invasive species will not be hindered by this in the slightest.   Common sense can not be legislated because legislators have no common sence.

Is it really that hard to just pull your plug out and remember to put it back in, jesus.  Anyone who has their boat sink due to this deserves it.  It's merely survival of the fittest.

No.  It is not that hard to do.  It certainly does not to be made a ticketable offence for the reason of invasive species control.  It will cause delays at the boat launch and people will forget.  Another case of ridiculous legislation..

[MNBucKKiller]

If you don't know yet our enlightened ones at the Legislature passed a new law making it against the law to transport your boat with the plug in it.   The live well plug must be out as well. 

         My opinion on this is that there  will be accidents at the boat launch.  Invasive species will not be hindered by this in the slightest.   Common sense can not be legislated because legislators have no common sence.

Is it really that hard to just pull your plug out and remember to put it back in, jesus.  Anyone who has their boat sink due to this deserves it.  It's merely survival of the fittest.

No.  It is not that hard to do.  It certainly does not to be made a ticketable offence for the reason of invasive species control.  It will cause delays at the boat launch and people will forget.  Another case of ridiculous legislation..

agreed, people take long enough the way it is

[Bobby Bass]

Putting the plug in your boat should not make launching take any longer, should be part of your pre launch routine. If you are putting the plug in on the ramp you are already a problem boater. As for the title of this thread "sinking your boat" it takes a lot of water to do that and once again if you don't notice water in the bottom of your boat or water coming up through your floor drain then you might want to take a refresher on boating. Perhaps some of you don't know that even with water in your boat you can quickly drain it by starting your main motor and getting your boat up on plane, Water will drain out the back, try it if you have not already.

For those who have not taken their plug out in a awhile the first time is going to take some effort. It sounds like some people here think it the first step in the end of the world. It's a drain plug, it takes a few seconds. The intent of fishing and boating is to relax. What is that few seconds costing you?

[Lee Borgersen]

 

The task removing and replacing the drain plug from your boat is not the same for every boater. First off when I and many others as well, launch boats before daybreak (in the dark) it creates a different degree of difficulty.
 
Everyone's boats are not created equal when it comes to simple access to your drain plug. Boats come in all sizes with various degrees of difficultly to reach the drain plug. Many boats don't have an open area at the transom where you can just look down and see your drain plug. That's fine for the smaller boats, just look down pull plug and done. On smaller boats you don’t even have to climb into the craft to do it.
 
On a large percentage of todays boats you will have to climb in the boat while it's still on the trailer. Now you still cant see the plug. Then you have to kneel down and unscrew a 10'' access cover and reach down into the hole up to your elbow while trying not to ram into any of the electrical wiring with your arm in the hole trying to feel for the drain plug. Also, If it's before daybreak you cant' see without a flashlight. That's why they have bilge pumps because you could never run the boat while holding the plug in your hand to remove the water.
 
 
Did I forget to mention the degree of difficulty is compounded for seniors, handicapped, and obese folks when they can't climb into a boat while it's still on the trailer so they can try removing or replacing the plug. Could this fall under the American disabilities act? Maybe these folks should just throw in the towel unless they have the right type of boat with easier access to the plug?
 
I know!...... The DNR can just hire drain plug attendants to help remove and replace drain plugs at the launches. For those who have the easily removable plugs more power to you (God Bless). As for folks like myself and thousands of others this is not a feasible law to abide to.

"All men are created equal" That may be true to some extent. What we need to take into consideration is they are not all created to stay young and healthy forever.

"All boats are not created equal" Therefore the degree of difficulty in removing and replacing a drain plug can be easy for some and monumental for others.

I commend the intention of this new law, but the fact is that it's not workable for a vast number of boat owners.

Thanks for listening to my thoughts on the topic and I hope I didn't ramble on to long, but this is a major issue as I see it! Just try to think outside of the box and you may agree with me.


Lee

[The General]

Lee,

Just weld the plug in the boat.  Then it will be a permanent fixture and there shouldn't be a problem.   

[Lee Borgersen]

Lee,

Just weld the plug in the boat.  Then it will be a permanent fixture and there shouldn't be a problem.  

 

That's a pretty week scenario coming from The General. As you begin the ageing proses General, as I've already noticed in many of your posts lately. You may want to invoke the 20 minute rule upon yourself. See, before replying to a post this is what I try to do so that I can think out my replies before posting.

Now I would have expected you to say keep the drain plug plugged in and out from the outside of the boat or something somewhat intelligent like that. Let's see now is my 20 minute waiting period up so I can post this?

[Fawkinnae]

You make some very good points Lee.

I had never pulled my plug until a couple weeks ago - very hard to get at. I am proceeding with the plug on the outside technique which is new to me but makes the access much more convenient. My only concerns are - will it stay in?, and what to do when I forget to put it in.

It is my wish to comply with the law so I will do my best to abide by the rules.

[sandmannd]

I guess I've always put the plug in the outside of my boat, would be a royal pain on the outside.

To you question on if they will stay in, buy the screw in type. I've used the ones you push in and push the lever up and they are OK. But this year I lost two of them while fishing on the river for some reason. Be fine for a few hours on the water and while going to a new spot it would pop out, wouldn't realize it till the boat started filling. So when it did fall out, I would just reach down the back of the boat and put my spare in. I moved to the screw in type and haven't had a problem since.

[thunderpout]

Doug...... always have duct tape in the boat! (had to use it a few times... yeah it works....ummmmm.... dont ask!)

[Fawkinnae]

Doug...... always have duct tape in the boat! (had to use it a few times... yeah it works....ummmmm.... dont ask!)

...D r in k in'  a g ai n...

[thunderpout]

Shhhhhhhh!   But seriously... For those of us who have those big arse boats that have the enclosed rear end...... yer boat's too big!  JK!  They obviously should not be ticketed for obvious reasons, but really, these are in fact the boats that would hold water from different lakes because people dont drain the exess water out because they dont see it sitting in the bottom of the boat, and thus could spread those pesky invasive critters & plants when they bilge and/or dump livewell water into different bodies of water, & if ya think about it, all it takes is one person to infest a "clean" body of water doing that...(and there is no good way to keep that from happening....) BUT, if you have a typical open fishing boat, which 3/4 of the people fish out of, all ya do is put your dang plug on a chain (and attach it to your boat ).... you hang it over the transom when ya get off the water, and you put it back in before you hit the water, and you dont forget it because: YOU SEE IT HANGING OVER THE TRANSOM OF YOUR BOAT!   Pretty simple... not rocket science... took me a year or two to figure that one out... (that and its easy to copy smart ideas from experienced folks who have already figured things out.... )

[The General]

Well the first time I take the plug out of the boat to go on a trip up north........You guessed it I forget to put it back in.  When the water is up over the floor I drop a few F bombs.  I will never pull the plug in my boat again.  I'll just take the fine.