Who all uses versiplugs?

[ncbrock]

Me and waternut have been arguing about this for a while now, Im not totally convinced to run dual scuppers on my stunt hull. The main concern is leaking\mouring. Im not concerned about sitting around for 15 minutes at a time or so because I can just run the bilges, but what about hours being unatended? Are versiplugs really leak proof while floating in the water? How do they do upside down? Has anyone gotten a bolt stuck in one or anything?

 

[Matt_E]

I run two small versiplugs instead of drainplugs. They work fine.

If you're using one in place of a scupper, don't count on it sealing when the boat is upside down.

 

[rollin5150]

I have had zip ties ends and such get caught in mine and prevent the ball from sealing. I am kinda both ways on mine. Sometimes it works good and seals and other times it does not.

 

[ncbrock]

hmm.... any more opinions?

 

[TITAN]

Well of course if some type of foreign object get caught in it, then its not gonna seal. I always check to make sure nothing is stuck in it. I think it works great! Never had an issue while leaving the skis float out in the water for long periods of time. Then again I also try not to drop stuff in the hull that might drain back out of there. Lets face it, if your ride is upside down, its not gonna be for long.

When ive gone camping or something and anchored my skis in the water I actually stuff a little piece of foam behind the ball so that it cant float in and out if waves are consistently slapping against it.

I havent had a scupper on my skis though, so take it for what its worth.

 

[ncbrock]

Well I dont think anything will last long upside down, except maybe a ski with no drain system. smaller hole for the versiplug= less water getting in while upside down as opposed to a scupper. I think I might try this route, they are $50 each though so it will cost me a little.

 

[Matt_E]

You have a misconception: water getting in through the plug is not a concern when it's upside down.
It's air getting out.

 

[Scorn800]

My friends here is NJ make & sell versiplugs. I've been using them on all my boats since 07. They are a huge inprovement over duckbill drains. Duckbills would just fall apart or fall off.
The versiplug will screw in & last forever. They work great but you do need to keep an eye on them. You do need to check often to see if anything is caught in them (just like duckbill)
An idea for you sj guys is buy the oem kawi drain plug flange & plug then a reg versiplug. that way if you know your going to let the boat float put the drain plug in.

 

[nightrider05]

I just put a versiplug max on my project ski...am going to run a screen at the front of the pipe to prevent any thing from getting in.

 

[Patrick Star]

If I rode flat water only I would run scuppers, but since I ride surf too I'm not going to run them. I never let go of the ski but it does get away about once or twice a year from getting twisted up and rolled in a crashing wave. I'm just going to run dual bilge pumps. The thing about this IMO is that my ski when capsized will only stay capsized for about 15 seconds and then a wave will come and knock it back up allowing the bilge pump to go to work and that's that. Well, what if I had a scupper, then it may or may not come up due to the displaced air, and if it does come up it will be that much closer to flooding out the engine or sinking. A fouled engine in the surf is a terrible thing.

 

[NVJAY775]

nightrider05 has a good deal going on with a screen on the tube inside the hull. I picked up some aluminum window screen from the hardware store and clamped it on my tube inside the hull. No more crap keeping the scupper open. Zip ties, nuts, bolts etc... Screen was like $1.50 and a 2" stainless hose clamp for another couple bucks. Pretty cheap insurance...

 

[GReenANt]

My friends here is NJ make & sell versiplugs. I've been using them on all my boats since 07. They are a huge inprovement over duckbill drains. Duckbills would just fall apart or fall off.
The versiplug will screw in & last forever. They work great but you do need to keep an eye on them. You do need to check often to see if anything is caught in them (just like duckbill)
An idea for you sj guys is buy the oem kawi drain plug flange & plug then a reg versiplug. that way if you know your going to let the boat float put the drain plug in.

i think this is the right direction the small versiplugs should just have a stainless valve at the back that can be closed, or just a cap that threads on so you can easily choose to use it or not without opening the ski.

 

[kraqus]

No problems here....

http://www.x-h2o.com/threads/58878-Versiplug-installation-PICS...&highlight=






Benny

 

[ncbrock]

thanks guys for the opinions. Whatever route I go, i do have to have two drains, one on each side. With running this ski with no bulkhead that just leaves water sloshing around in the rear section on either side of the pump. I cant just run two bilges and no scuppers like a normal ski because there is no bulkhead so the bilges will rarely see water.

I dont think there is any downside to the versiplugs, I like the screen idea. My thoughts are if your upside down anyways, scuppers will flood\let air out and versiplugs will flood\let air out, because unless the scupper creates an air-tight seal it will leak. Theres nothing more to it really. The only way you will stay safe upside down is if your ski is completely closed up.

 

[GIL]

I run a small versiplug screwed into a 3/4" pvc pipe and I love it!!! I did have to add a screen to prevent zip ties and such from holding the ball open. The screen is a MUST!!!

 

[jMike]

I have the race version on my race skis. I put a duckbill over the top for extra insurance.

 

[OCD Solutions]

I have the race version on my race skis. I put a duckbill over the top for extra insurance.

Great idea but isn't that a duckbill with a versiplug backup?

While I am not a fan of scuppers I did decide to try out a single small race version Versiplug-R on my new hull. I already had a matching kawi duckbill and a solid plug in case it doesn't work out but so far so good. The really nice thing about the 1" scupper is that a single cheap rubber boat style plug can block it off from the inside.

 

[ncbrock]

Well I will be using the Versiplug "R" model because it looks like it just screws onto the hull, as opposed to the other ones they go inside the hull. Im not running a bulk head so I wont have any tubes. I wonder if it will still work as its supposed to?

 

[OCD Solutions]

I don't see why not, that's exactly how Kawi's are too and that's what they were designed for. They rely on outside pressure to seal the ball and should work perfectly.

 

[WRX Dave]

I have one on my Blaster. Clears out the hull fast, and I've never had an issue with it getting stuck.