"trainfan1" wrote in message
et...
James wrote:
I'd only agree to a point. This is a trailer boat. I'm betting he's not
taking it 20 miles offshore. If the plug comes out the water will stop
coming in when he stops the engine. One could run a while and then stop
to let the bilge pump catch up. Besides we're talking about 3 or 4 lbs
of pressure.

The pressure is of little concern here - it's volume if it does pop out, &
the lack of notice. The boat may well go on running happily for some time
until the water comes up over the floor.


I've seen these rubber plugs go for years in cars with 15lb pressures. I
agree that it's certainly a good idea to get them in to make sure there
are no other problems but similarly I would not pull the engine just to
replace a couple casting plugs. He's not going to be in a position to
pull the engine himself and a yard will charge him a grand or so to do
it.

Your jacking/support suggestion was good, if it only needs to be done
once, and a complete visual can be done at the same time. Will save on
alignment issues especially.

Rob




Just as a side ... as someone else mentioned there may be some NPT pipe
thread plugs on each side of the engine below the manifolds. I had an older
Mercruiser clone (350 chevy) engine that one of these plugs corroded
internally to the point where it starting ****ing water out of the side of
the engine. It was late in the season, so an application of MarineTex
worked until we pulled the boat in the fall and replaced the plug, as it was
impossible to get to without removing the manifold.

Marine Tex should be second to a roll of Duct Tape as emergency supplies on
an older boat.

RCE