Floor board sealing (or not)

[Sparkdog118]

Ouch! That is a bad case of electrolysis and beyond repair. I fiberglass all my tanks. I fiberglassed my tank in my offshore in 2006 and it is still in perfect shape. It was leaking from electrolysis on the bottom when I bought it. Had many small pits and a few pin holes. I sand blasted the pits n pinholes and applied pc11 ( like marine Tex) over all the damage. Then I sanded the aluminum and fiberglassed it with 3/4oz mat. This seals the aluminum from moisture so no more damage can occur. The tank in my other boat was repaired the same way back in 1996. Still in perfect shape.

 

[Blaugrana]

Before I go too crazy with the silicone, does this area by the captains chair have silicone on yours? This is a pic from someone I found online but doesn’t look like it. Mine looks like it wore away but not sure if that floor area should be left open to drain or closed off so water can’t seep in

 

[Ky Grady]

At one time mine had caulk, not sure if it was original or not. I've had mine off and on multiple times working on re wiring stuff, never caulked it back.

 

[wrxhoon]

You don't need to use caulk there, if any water gets under it it can't go anywhere because the is a high lip under. What I did with my current and old boat when I took it off to install stuff there ( auto pilot pump) I sealed the bottom of the marine ply so it won't rot.

 

[Ky Grady]

This is what is behind mine. No real reason to seal the bottom as it backs up against that raised box where all the wires are running. It would just trap water there. Don't judge guys, old pic, wiring is cleaned up better than this.

 

[Blaugrana]

Thanks for sharing! I was going to add this to my list as a priority but I’ll wait to later in the year to take a look at mine. As long as there is a lip like yours, I am good.

 

[Sea Dragon]

Where did you purchase the new tank from?

 

[Carlo2888]

I am going to put mine back with black caulk.
Gives a nice look and does not show the dirt that it catches.

 

[Rustygaff]

As far as silicon caulk goes, I prefer the GE SCS1700 (almond) to the GE II. I think the SCS 1700 has a better fungicide in it. A couple of years go, I pulled a couple of deck panels to change out a bilge pump and install a transducer. On the largest of the panels, I used the SCS 1700 but ran out when the time came to caulk the 2nd. I ran over to HD and picked up a tube of the GE II to finish the job.
Move the clock forward a couple of years. The SCS 1700 caulk joint is clean and the GE II is already turning black from mold.

 

[PDX-Boats]

Anyone know?
Can you use the soap trick with SCS 1700?