Garboard Plugs - Teflon Tape or Naked?

TonyG13

How do you all install your Garboard (bilge drain) plugs for the season? Talking about boats in-water all season, non-trailer boats. Do you use any Teflon tape / pipe dope or just go "naked"?

Willhound

Always used pipe dope.

aero3113

I usually put some sealant on it. 

Liberty44140

I’ve usually done Teflon tape 

TonyG13

Thanks for the confirmations.

When my new yard pulled the boat last fall there was no tape/dope evident upon plug removal. (Old yard always put the plug in right before launch.) Had a wet bilge all last summer and thought it may be the plug seeping since I couldn't find any other possible intrusion points. And none evident during my winter inspections.

So I got a new bronze plug (https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FJGCRDG) and will install it myself with some tape or dope before launch next week - and see if I still get water this season.  

aero3113

@TonyG13 , you might want to consider removing the entire plug assembly and reseal it and the screws with 5200.

LaRea

Naked.  Tighten it and fugettaboutit.  Of all the places water might come in, the garboard plug is #93 on the list.  (But teflon tape won't hurt anything.)

TonyG13

Thanks @aero3113 - Good advise, but I launch Monday and have a bunch of checklist items to do. So I'll try the least invasive solution and if it doesn't work, I'll add this to next year's list.

@LaRea - "(But teflon tape won't hurt anything.)" -- After everyone's thoughts, that's my thinking also. It can't hurt - and if it was a problem, it will help.

aero3113

When I used Teflon tape on the garboard it seemed like it wouldn’t want to tighten, it felt like I could keep screwing it in.

davidbrooks

Teflon tape

aero3113

I just installed mine with some 5200. When you go to remove it in the fall, it comes right out. No issues removing it. 

Grahamu

2 wraps of Teflon tape, don't use 5200, use 4200 if you use sealant.

aero3113

I’ve never had any issues with it @Grahamu. I know it says permanent, but with a threaded item it comes right out. I think it’s more permanent if two flat surfaces are sealed together.

Grahamu

@aero3113, it's a matter of preference I guess, we launch many boats for customers and always use Teflon tape and never have an issue with removing the plug at haulout.

mattie

Teflon here.....

SeaHare

I never use anything but I also have a little bit of water thats always in the bilge... maybe thats my problem.... gonna try some teflon this year

PickleRick

No tape, I only launch for the weekend.

Teflon tape if I left it in. Only because it's less messy than pipe dope and cant spill in the door storage of my SUV 

TonyG13

Went with the Teflon just because it's the cleanest of the options. We'll see if it makes any difference. Thank for everyone's .02!

Black_Diamond

Metal pipe threads (NPT)  need pipe dope, not teflon tape for sealing the threads. PVC/plastic uses teflon tape. 

skennelly

@Black_Diamond - Never heard that...in fact I've read that teflon tape is recommended.

PickleRick

Luckily there isn't a ton of psi like you'd have in a hot water system so Teflon tape works. 

raybo3

@skennelly I took a class in plumbing and they said teflon tape for PVC and plastic's and paste's were for metal's. As far as the plugs go, I thought they were supposed to be bare because the plug housing is bonded and the plug needed to be bonded also. Using a paste (or tape, I guess) would insulate the bond causing the plug to corrode. Not sure if this is true. 

Grahamu

I have never seen a bonded garbord plug

Black_Diamond

The tread design on NPT locks as you tighten, but leaves open areas in the threads by design, hence the pipe dope to seal.  The plug to housing would still electrically bonded to each other, I’ve not seen them electrically bonded to the boat system either. True you have little water pressure to deal with, I just hate leaks. lol

raybo3

Not sure my boat has it bonded but my Carver was bonded.