Waterproof engine compartment?

[nola mike]

So a few years back I reconfigured the traditional back-to-back lounge/2 jumpseat configuration on my bowrider. I put in a sundeck and L-bench seat in the stern, and 2 captain's chairs in the front (wow, what a difference BTW). Problem is that the seams in the sun deck allow water to drain into the bilge, first making a stop on my engine and accessories. I didn't think of this when I designed it, and considering I have a lot of very wet people constantly in and out of the boat...not good. So I'm trying to make a cover that sits beneath the deck cushions and funnels the water into the bilge. Maybe even just something that is attached to the underside of one of the cushions and runs beneath the other one. That middle seam is the biggest problem I think. See the pic (the cushion on the right isn't laying flat here, but you get the idea). I need something thin/lightweight, and water/heat proof.

 

[Lou C]

how about a drain gutter attached to the underside of one of the cushions that spans the gap between them, then if it dumps water in front of the engine, not behind, you should avoid getting the distributor wet etc. A piece of that plastic gutter extension stuff (you know the stuff you use to keep water from pooling next to your house) might work, with a couple of fabbed up brackets.

 

[nola mike]

how about a drain gutter attached to the underside of one of the cushions that spans the gap between them, then if it dumps water in front of the engine, not behind, you should avoid getting the distributor wet etc. A piece of that plastic gutter extension stuff (you know the stuff you use to keep water from pooling next to your house) might work, with a couple of fabbed up brackets.

I'm not sure if I have the clearance necessary for something like that, but yeah, that's the general idea. I'm worried about the heat in the engine compartment though.

 

[Lou C]

Maybe you can fab up something from a piece of sheetmetal, to make it lower profile?

 

[Bondo]

Maybe you can fab up something from a piece of sheetmetal, to make it lower profile?

Ayuh,.... Or upholstery/ tarp vinyl,....

 

[QBhoy]

I’d like to think that my boats are waterproof, everywhere

 

[Scott06]

So a few years back I reconfigured the traditional back-to-back lounge/2 jumpseat configuration on my bowrider. I put in a sundeck and L-bench seat in the stern, and 2 captain's chairs in the front (wow, what a difference BTW). Problem is that the seams in the sun deck allow water to drain into the bilge, first making a stop on my engine and accessories. I didn't think of this when I designed it, and considering I have a lot of very wet people constantly in and out of the boat...not good. So I'm trying to make a cover that sits beneath the deck cushions and funnels the water into the bilge. Maybe even just something that is attached to the underside of one of the cushions and runs beneath the other one. That middle seam is the biggest problem I think. See the pic (the cushion on the right isn't laying flat here, but you get the idea). I need something thin/lightweight, and water/heat proof.

View attachment 342530

What i noticed on the newer sea rays like 195 and 205 sports with a similar hinged sunpad is a aluminum U channel that runs fore to aft under the seam in the sunpad. I never thought of it till u posted this, but you can cut a hole aft and use this as a gutter. You can see it in the engine compartment shot in this add https://www.boattrader.com/boat/2010-sea-ray-185-sport-7862888/

also i know these are the first thing tossed off an engine but the mercruiser flame arrestor cover is designed to be a roof over the carb and distributor

P1 MerCruiser Flame Arrestor Plastic Top Cover 5.7/V8 Alpha One | eBay

Good condition, Fresh Water, Cracking by bolt hole.

www.ebay.com

 

[nola mike]

What i noticed on the newer sea rays like 195 and 205 sports with a similar hinged sunpad is a aluminum U channel that runs fore to aft under the seam in the sunpad. I never thought of it till u posted this, but you can cut a hole aft and use this as a gutter. You can see it in the engine compartment shot in this add https://www.boattrader.com/boat/2010-sea-ray-185-sport-7862888/

also i know these are the first thing tossed off an engine but the mercruiser flame arrestor cover is designed to be a roof over the carb and distributor

P1 MerCruiser Flame Arrestor Plastic Top Cover 5.7/V8 Alpha One | eBay

Good condition, Fresh Water, Cracking by bolt hole.

www.ebay.com

That's perfect. I knew there was something obvious that I wasn't thinking of. A simple mount fore and aft, tilting aft. Aluminum flashing that can sit on top and easily removable. Thanks, that's what I'll do.

 

[Commander_47]

The cushions should have solid bottoms and fit into channels around the top. Seems to me you could simply put some silicon weather stripping around the bottom of the edges of the cushions.

Then use some interlocking pieces of vinyl, such as flat house siding pieces, Under the weather stripping. Or maybe just one piece of siding glued to the hard bottom of one cushion. Use the marine silicone waterproof glue.

That one piece could overlap the adjacent piece to trap or funnel the water.

I find that this adhesive works pretty good.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/LOCTITE-Construction-Adhesive-Actual-Net-Contents-3-Fl-Oz/999901423?cm_mmc=shp-_-c-_-prd-_-pnt-_-google-_-lia-_-221-_-glue-_-999901423-_-0&placeholder=null&ds_rl=1286981&gclid=CjwKCAjw2ZaGBhBoEiwA8pfP_jHR_1rq866UMMhTbcCO47QwBNSbpC31wNPBoeZmkZQa6diZW_UueRoCMOMQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds