Gauge Panel weather proofing

abl1111 · #1 10-17-2009, 08:25 PM

I have a '75, 23' Tsunami and the gauge panel gets water behind it.

I tried to use 1/4" closed-cell, rubber gasket material but the adhesive failed. I'm not sure if water is getting through from the rocker switches ( not the switches themselves, but the device that holds the switches in a gang and firmly to the panel ). I forget if I put in Cole Hersee or Carling switches...

Any ideas ? The amount of water is nominal, but my mentality is it should be water proof...

Thx

Bryan A. · #2 10-18-2009, 10:02 AM

I made a gasket on a lexan panel out of black 5200, use the slow cure and let it dry for 7 days. Mask off the area and pull the tape after about an hour.

abl1111 · #3 10-19-2009, 11:39 PM

So, you used put 5200 on the lexan dash panel - keeping the 5200 where you want it w/ a tape outline ? And let dry.

How thick did you lay the 5200 on ? Once dry, didn't the 5200 have hi/low spots ?

I think this process might be a hassle for me as all my gauges are installed and would have to be removed along with all the attached wiring to allow the panel to lay flat so the 5200 wouldn't run.

Do you think this would work ? Allow a thick bead of silicone to be pressed very lightly between the panel and the it's mated surface ( w/ wax paper on the panel so the silicone wouldn't stick to it. Let dry. Un-attach all, peel wax paper off cured silicone and then tighten panel down. This would, hypothetically, give an exact duplicate of the mated surfaces and keep the bead thick enough wo when tightened, there would be a firm seal...

An ass-kicking rubber gasket would be easiest though.