Help Making Hatches Watertight

[ParaMarine]

I have the 18' F4 with MB 4500 Black Death. I love this boat! The only issue I am having is trying to keep the gun/rod locker dry. I have the internal drain hole plugged on all the other hatches/storage and they stay very dry. However any amount of water that gets near the rod locker will get in. Anybody have any ideas on how to get a better seal?

[woodsman1977]

is it coming in at the lid? or along a seam somewhere? I don't own an excel but I would try to silicone any joint or seam and for the lid try a rubber gasket. I believe 3M makes it with an adhesive back.....make sure to clean the surface with alcohol.

[ParaMarine]

It is coming in at the lid. Thanks for your response!

[Glenn]

Prior to 2012 we used a rubber gasket that might need silicone along the edges. Remove the lip gasket and silicone the joint - reinstall. They worked okay but did not seal as good as I would like so we changed to a metal raised lip on the 2012 models and added a separate dry box within the box. Some of them have a redundant seal as well and seem to work better now. Try silicone.

[deadbird8]

Try the silicone first. I added box lips on my boxes in the back. Keeps most of the water out except when its tilted up and to that side.

http://www.mudbuddy.com/forum/box-lips-11654.html

I went ahead and put a couple of holes in the bottom so if any water gets in, it drains to the bilge. Then put a piece of Hydroturf in the bottom of the box so it keeps my stuff up off the floor.

[ParaMarine]

Thank you all for the responses. Going to work on it this weekend.