Bass boat storage boxes not watertight?

[RobA]

For those of you with bass boats are your storage boxes or rod lockers watertight?  I have a Ranger RT178 and have been a little disappointed how easily water can get in the them.  Whether it's rain or splashes from rough water the boxes get some water in them.

[Fishes in trees]

I have a 2002 Lowe WF 180.  None of the boxes are water tight.  Just something that you have to remember and deal with after you've been out in a rain - or tow through a little rain.

[GaryH]

Gimruis has a Ranger rt178. Maybe he’ll be able to help you with this.

[gim]

6 hours ago, RobA said:

I have a Ranger RT178 and have been a little disappointed how easily water can get in the them.  Whether it's rain or splashes from rough water the boxes get some water in them.

Not sure which year yours is Roba, mine is a 2015. I have fished in some hard rains and some all day rains and there is no water in certain bins. The bins that have a rubber seal around them are dry, as is under seat storage. I have noticed some moisture in the two small back bins. Maybe they aren’t making them with the rubber seals anymore. Also, mine does not have any carpet either. I don’t know if that makes a difference.

[RobA]

My boat is a 2021 with carpet.  The first week I had the boat I left it outside and we had a huge rainstorm.  All of the bins and under the seats were wet - even the bins with seals.  Last week I was on a lake and one day there were heavy winds and waves and some of the bins were wet. I have waterproof Plano boxes so they are OK.  I just need to make sure other stuff is either protected or in the bins so they're not on the bottom. 

[gunsinger]

My Lowe Stringer 175c does not have water tight storage compartments.  Learned the hard way. Now I seal things in baggies that need to stay dry. 

[Russ E]

My fiberglass ranger z175 has seen a few nasty rainstorms. I have not had a drop of water in any of my compartments. 

Except, of course, the livewell

[A-Jay]

Many rigs have hatch latches that can be 'adjusted' to help with reducing water intrusion.

Usually a small nut on the latch that can be positioned to get a snug closure.

Over tightening these in usually counter productive.

If your boat has a 'gasket' or a slightly raised 'lip' inside the compartments,

one way to determine how the lids actually 'fit',

is to apply caulk (I use white or blue) on the entire 'lip' area.

Then close & latch the lid.

Once opened again, anywhere the 'caulk' has not transferred' to the lid,

is usually where the H2O is getting in.

Often a simple hatch latch adjustment can help.

Again, do not over tighten - just a snug closure with decent gasket contact

is the usually best we can do.

Good Luck

A-Jay

[Ski213]

As @A-Jay suggested, check the latch seals.  I have a 98 Stratos and all my compartments stay dry excluding when I’ve had a loose latch.
 

I do occasionally get moisture/condensation in compartments if there is water in the bilge for an extended period of time. I don’t think that’s what you’re describing though. With as new a boat as you have I’d bring up your concerns to the dealer. 

[A-Jay]

On 5/31/2021 at 3:58 PM, A-Jay said:

Many rigs have hatch latches that can be 'adjusted' to help with reducing water intrusion.

Usually a small nut on the latch that can be positioned to get a snug closure.

Over tightening these in usually counter productive.

If your boat has a 'gasket' or a slightly raised 'lip' inside the compartments,

one way to determine how the lids actually 'fit',

is to apply caulk (I use white or blue) on the entire 'lip' area.

Then close & latch the lid.

Once opened again, anywhere the 'caulk' has not transferred' to the lid,

is usually where the H2O is getting in.

Often a simple hatch latch adjustment can help.

Again, do not over tighten - just a snug closure with decent gasket contact

is the usually best we can do.

Good Luck

A-Jay

I just re-read my post.

Every where it says Caulk

please change that to CHALK.

#iamaknucklehead

A-Jay

 

[WIGuide]

3 hours ago, A-Jay said:

I just re-read my post.

Every where it says Caulk

please change that to CHALK.

#iamaknucklehead

A-Jay

 

What impresses me most is you found the typo over a year and a half later! 

Going back to the OP's post though, I'm not sure if the 2020's are the same as the 2023's but it looks like the only compartments that have the rubber compression seal are the rod locker and the under seat storage. All the other storages look to be a plastic insert and although being raised slightly will help to keep some water out, if it can't get drained away quick enough it will spill over and into the storage. If you look very closely in the 2nd picture, there is a drain to help evacuate water to prevent it from overflowing the boxes, (there may be a few of these) check to make sure they aren't clogged.  One other thing to check is the latches themselves tighten down through the lid via a big plastic nut on the bottom side. If those have loosened up it can sometimes let water drip down in through there as well.