Sealing the in-deck "bait well" hatch
 

If I don't plug the in-deck scuppers of my 20' CC, I naturally get water intrusion into the bilge through the "bait well." Is caulking the bait well hatch shut with silicone a good idea for a temporary fix? Any other ideas?

Thanks,
Paul

Sure. I'd use BoatLife silicon. It's more elastic, have better UV protection and is "stronger" than bathroom silicon caulking.

Thanks, GoodChance. I'mna pick some up today.

Paul

I dont like or use the floor well uolt a reat tank instead. Ive also had water enter the floor well
Amd drain intothe bildge. The batch is hard to access anyway partial
Under my leaning post and with a coller partialy on it. Id like to seal the lid and install a smaller
Hatch in it for storage.

Yeah, I'm looking to do something similar myself. If you guys figure out a good solution, I'd love to see some pics. I'm thinking of turing it into storage/bilge access as I don't use it, but I dont want it filling with water, or letting water into the bilge.

Yeah, it's pretty useless as far as I'm concerned. I'm going to simply seal it with silicone for the time being. A friend did the same and made a good point... plug the live well from the OUTSIDE, in case it fills with water. Great tip. Thanks, Dan! ;)

Mikem9560 - I though about doing the same. Maybe install a tackle storage thingamajig. But then a cooler is always on top of it. I probably won't bother.

I cut the well out. You can put some plastic under and over caulk and make a "gasket".

Anyone have good prices for flush mount Zeus fasteners?

I cut the well out. You can put some plastic under and over caulk and make a "gasket".

Anyone have good prices for Zeus fasteners?

Sandy,

I think they are made or distributed by Southco. Best pricing I have gotten on Southco stuff is from boat manufacturers. I needed some Southco stuff for a Cape Horn and called them and they said they can sell it and ship it. Owner chose to change hinges out rather than pay the price.

I think it is spelled DZUS. Check this out: http://www.southco.com/landingpages/dzus/

Let me know if you find out anything better.

Mick

Thanks Mick. Papa was far more well versed in ancient civilizations than I.
Dzusunteit,
GFS

I've been debating whether or not to cut the well out completely. I may as well if it's not going to be used. Too bad I didn't do that before I mounted my Airmar thruhull ducer closer to the transom. Forward of the bait well would've been more ideal for the ducer.

I pulled the fiberglass cutout top off the bait well and cleaned everything up as best I could. I'm going to cut the well out when I get home. :D

Thanks,
Paul

Think before you jump. Maybe I could have put pie plates in and saved it.

Maybe I could have thought about a less intrusive solution.

Pie plates?

Yeah. Pie plates? Huh? :D

I decided not to cut the well out. I cleaned eveything up, siliconed the dooky out of it and called it a day.

Paul

one year I plugged my live well from the outside and my cockpit would no drain due to lack of pitck with the extra floatation 1978 scepter

I've got a drain plug on the outside of my bait well, which isn't air tight. But maybe I should give that a try. Even with a Gil bracket, my ride is a little ass heavy.

Paul

Come to think of it, would there be a floatation benefit, from sealing the bait well, if only it were submerged?

Thanks,
Paul