Rear deck box lids

[Severnman]

I've been stewing on this topic for quite a while

The deck boxes on my '87 26' hardtop drain right into the bilge

Lep's response to a recent post (would you put fish in these?) has rekindled my thoughts:
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Once you drill a hole in that belly pan you will have exactly the same setup I have.

This was how the factory set them up way back in the mid/late '80's.

This configuration guarantees a perpetually wet bilge if even one drop of spray or rain hits the hatches.

God-forbid they would have properly guttered those hatch ports, the way that, say, every other quality builder has done it for 20 years.

rgds, Leprechaun
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I've decided that until these lids can be snugged down to prevent leakage... worrying about water in the bilge is like worrying if your kid will screw, drink or smoke pot... :shock:

Has anyone attempted to seal these deck plate mating surfaces?

For example, a rubber, resilient layer on the deck lip... and some type of snugging device that extends thru the plate lid under the deck lip?

I don't have the "low scupper" problems that some have reported. In fact, I have my speedo/water temp cable running out thru the starbord drain tube, so I can't even put a plug in it. The boat has sat out thru hurricane rains without incident. I suppose (?) the forward oriented weight of the hardtop is the reason. I want the water to find a way into the drain channel, rather than into the bilge.

...any ideas?

Thanks

Mike

[No Tacks]

I have an 86 hardtop and what I did was turned the teak hatches upside down and used boat life "life caulk" on the spaces between the boards,let dry for a few days,used cetol as a finish on top....its not 100% but its better than it was...Ive seen a product that fits between the hatch and the frame..Its white rubber in the shape of a letter v, Freeport marine here on long Island NY has that stuff...I just never have much use for that storage area exept for belts and hoses and maybe rope...Hope this helps ya matey.......Bill.....

[Hawkeye]

Before fretting and sweating too much over the fish box cover, you might want to check the steering opening in the sole at the transom. My opening is flush with the sole. That is where the real water pours into the bilge. Until this spillway is plugged, all efforts on the fish box cover are a waste of time. I have a '91 20' open; your design may be different, but check it out before you get too involved with the cover. :roll:

[Severnman]

Bill/Hawkeye,

Thanks for the feedback. I've been looking and scratchin over those deck box lids, and the rudder box lid, and wondering whether there is anything I can do to waterproof them better. They are design issues, so I just slosh and fish...like Shamrock intended. I'm not planning to start any initiatives there...just though I'd troll around and see if anyone had come up with a clever solution.

Bill, I just got a sample of rubber windshield gasket (TP 139B) from Mike Avery. BINGO. I took a sample of that stuff to every glass/marine shop in town with no luck. I'm ordering enough to pull and rebed all my glass. Many thanks.

Thanks guys

Mike