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Drain plugs on aluminum boat.

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DukHntr239

Well-known member
Alright,

So I have a full deck aluminum boat, it currently has those white nylon drain plugs in the hull. No matter what I do, every time I take them out, I booger them all up and eventually makes it hard to get them out.

What metal or hard plugs can I use on the aluminum hull? Stainless steel, brass, chrome plated brass? Obviously don’t want electrolysis to happen. And what should be used on the plugs? Looks like my nylon ones that came with the hull had red loctite on it? Should I use that on the metal plugs, or maybe just some never seize?

Any help is appreciated guys.
 
Have no idea why there would be loctite On them. Sounds like bad threads. Run a tap thru them but don't go too deep the tap is tapered. You can also take a rat tail file and bevel the opening. Then get new plugs, if you want to put anything on them use teflon paste.
If you included your area where you live in your profile you might find someone close to you with a tap.
 
Don't use metal plugs whatever you do. I just had to replace my transom and some of the bottom because of that. Boat was like that for 30 years or more, I only had it a couple years before the transom failed. If you can't get the threads right with a thread chaser, then find rubber plugs that will fit and tighten up in there.
 
Sorry guys, what I meant was, I booger up the square head. It gets rounded off eventually, even using the correct size wrench or socket, then it becomes hard to get anything on it to turn it because the heads are rounded off now. That’s why I was wanting something metal or hard. It’s not the threads I’m having problems with.

Only reason I mention loctite is because the plastic ones I have now, have some red stuff on the threads that looks like red loctite, the removable kind of course. I wasn’t sure if that was a normal thing, or to just use never seize.
 
DukHntr239 said:
Sorry guys, what I meant was, I booger up the square head. It gets rounded off eventually, even using the correct size wrench or socket, then it becomes hard to get anything on it to turn it because the heads are rounded off now. That’s why I was wanting something metal or hard. It’s not the threads I’m having problems with.

Only reason I mention loctite is because the plastic ones I have now, have some red stuff on the threads that looks like red loctite, the removable kind of course. I wasn’t sure if that was a normal thing, or to just use never seize.
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I would just keep spare nylons to replace them when they round off, I wouldn't use anything on the threads.
 
Get new nylon ones, not the square ones the hex ones. Use a socket to tighten them up. You only need to snug them up, they are not going to fall out. The teflon would lubricate the threads the first time then dry after that.
 
like Gary said they are not lug nuts so snug up not crank it tight. I have just the rubber style in my boat now none threaded.
 
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