Can these seat lids be waterproofed?

[SailorChlud]

Since we got 3 inches of rain yesterday, I have been wondering - how to prevent all that rain from running under my rear seat hatch into the lockers and then the bilge below?

I would like to cut down on the flow, if not totally waterproof them, so the battery, oil tank and electrical components to be installed beneath have a chance to stay as dry as possible.

I considered running a 3/16ths bead of silicone around the edge to form a lip to keep runoff out.

I have a 1972 Seafari, but these seat hatches are found on several models.

Any ideas?

[Dogbomb]

Even with all the rain we got this winter, my bilge never got a drop
of water in it, so I think the design is fairly waterproof as is.
That being said, west coast rain and east coast rain are two
different animals, so maybe some thin weatherstrip would help?

[Capt Chuck]

I solved that problem with my old floor hatch years ago relatively cheap.

Cut on table saw 3/4" PVC Pipe in half lengthwise. Epoxy Glue or Glass & clamp them to the underside of Hatch. Glue Vinyl Tube connectors (sprinkler drip hose type) to back corners and tie tubes into your self bails with same.
See picture to give you an idea.

[SailorChlud]

Thanks for the ideas. It hasn't rained in 3 days, and I still had an inch of water in the bilge on both sides of the keel.

[McGillicuddy]

On the Seafari some water may be entering thru scupper cracks and also by flowing aft along the rod holder shelves under the gunnels. There is a gap there for cabling at the end that drops right into the bilge. I use my port side locker for house battery and stash other things in there with out them getting wet. Crank up your trailer a bit and make sure the transverse drain holes are free of debris at the keelson and the same of the transom drain. The Seafari keel at the bow runs lower than it looks on a trailer you might be surprised how much water is forward of your fuel tank. Crank it up and make sure your drains are not clogged by a leaf, or a mouse, or even an egg sinker, or lost screwdriver.

[SailorChlud]

Good call on the shelf for the rod storage - that is probably contributing a whole lot to the problem. There are depressions for drainage, but I bet a lot rolls past them. My bilge is very clean, and not a lick of debris in the through keel drain tubes.