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Making a storage compartment water-tight

I have a Tracker Grizzly 1754SC. It has a storage compartment between the two main seats and one directly behind it. This boat is all aluminum including the storage compartments. Anytime I get water in the boat either from rain, swimming, or some water that stays in the boat and is moved around by trailering or driving the boat, water gets into these two compartments as they are just an aluminum wall sitting on an aluminum floor.

Here is my question -- any suggestion on how I might seal these seams so to speak? One compartment has a 1/2" opening on each side on the floor in the corner. Would silicone caulking do the trick or would that flex and crack over time with movement of the boat? Ideally, I would like to seal these and then lay a rubber mat down. Anchors clanking around on an aluminum painted surface just take off the paint anyway. I have laid a rubber mat down already that comes up the sides a little bit. It keeps my stuff dry, but I do end up with water under the mat which I do not want.

Without being water tight, these storage compartments are mostly useless.

Thanks, Jeff

Jeff
May 18
2004
Silicone caulks have good adhesion on smooth nonporous surfaces and excellent flexibility. Urethane caulks have better adhesion IMO plus they are tough. Use an aggressive solvent to remove any grease, etc prior. Eric
May 18
Hi Jeff,

When will manufacturers realize that we REALLY do want watertight storage on boats??? I have 8 compartments on my boat and 3 constantly have water in them. It really is frustrating, not to mention nasty smelling if I forget to prop open the compartments after fishing in the rain.

Anyway, I would try silicone caulking. It can't hurt and if it doesn't work, it will at least slow down the water intrusion. Worst case scenario is that you have to peel it back out.

Another suggestion is to find Tupperware type containers that fit inside your compartments if the silicone doesn't work.

Steve
May 18
Go to Al's favorite store and look at all the plastic storage boxs with tops. Also cheap. There has to be a couple that will fit in the space. Bill Calif
May 18
....how about that peel&stick tub caulk that comes in a roll? ...would probably be alot neater than trying to lay a 1/2 " bead thought Huck Huck
May 20
   

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