Why do people always forget the drain plug?

It is small, lives out of sight at the transom, and gets pulled at the end of every trip to drain the bilge, so the default state between trips is "out." Make installing it a fixed first step in your staging-area routine, before anything else goes in the boat, and you will not launch with an open transom.

Checklist

Trailering & Launch Day Checklist

Most launch-ramp trouble starts in the driveway and ends at the bottom of the ramp: a forgotten drain plug, a cold bearing, or no plan for who holds the lines. Walk the trailer before you tow, rig the boat in the staging area, and keep the ramp itself quick and clear.

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Trailer & tow checks

Rig in the staging area

At the ramp

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Common questions

Why do people always forget the drain plug?: It is small, lives out of sight at the transom, and gets pulled at the end of every trip to drain the bilge, so the default state between trips is "out." Make installing it a fixed first step in your staging-area routine, before anything else goes in the boat, and you will not launch with an open transom.