Put the boat in the water.
After a few minutes of getting a couple things in place I realize that in my excitement I forgot to pull the straps and transom saver so I pull up a few feet to remove them.
I notice the boat is draining a TON of water for having just been in the water for maybe 5 minutes.
Yes, I did have the boat plug in.

What I found is that a hose that drains one of the livewells (I assume) is COMPLETELY DETACHED from the drain hole at the transom.

I was stunned at how much water entered the hull in such a short period of time but now all I am is pissed.

Not something that should be missed by a well known dealer. A dealer that I�m 40 minutes from.

People make mistakes

Sounds like a success. You survived to post about it.

The main thing is what have you learned from this experience? Seriously.

I understand your frustration, but am glad you didn't suffer any irreversible damage.

Been around boats since I was about 7 years old and that's several decades ago. I was just recently telling my wife how its been years since I forgot to put in the drain plug. Well I jinxed myself and a few days later after launching my boat in the dark I said gee, whats that red light on the switch panel....

Won't be your last time forgetting transom straps or the drain plug.

I know the feeling my new boat is setting at my dealer 3 hours from here. It has been two weeks now.

Guys, the boat plug was IN. That wasn�t why the hull was filling with water. The dealer failed to make sure all drain hoses were attached to their exit ports. Water was gushing in from a place that it never should be.

In retrospect, if I hadn�t forgot about the straps my boat might be at the bottom of lake lewisville right now.

I guess I�ll check the hull after a couple minutes from now on to make sure everything is kosher.

Did your bilge work?

Doesn�t sound like it.

If a hose was left off it was most likely an oversight by the manufacturer.

Should the dealer have caught it? Yeah probably, but they didn't.

Funny how THEIR mistakes are the unforgivable ones! Sorry bout your maiden voyage though.

The time I left the transom strap on was bizarre. I back down the ramp straight, got out of the truck and the boat and trailer was pointed 30 degrees crooked. Backed down again straight, got out of the truck and it was just as crooked again. I figured it out then. I was baffled at first!

And yes this happens. I did exactally the same thing with a pretty good cross wind. Look out mirrors and boat is literally almost jackknifed. Wasn't that way when I backed down! Pull out-back down again & same thing! Trailer is floating and wind is blowing the boat/trailer sideways! Amazing how easily it floated the trailer(and how dumb I can be).