Boat Compartment?

[Hester]

I just got a new(used) boat and one of the front deck compartments is so hard to get open. I just about break a finger doing it. Do you guys have any tricks to make it easier to open?

thanks,

Hester

[shiltsy]

Mine are REALLY tight as well... I broke one of the plastic latches last summer!

Maybe slather on a gallon of vaseline around the edges??? ;-)

[Wayne Ek]

Hester, if you list the make/model someone may have had the same problem.

[LightningBG]

Or pictures, and what material the deck is made of.

Could you pull off the cover, pull back the carpet (if it has it) and trim back the wood underneath (if thats what they are made of)?

[Cecil]

Thats what she said

[CAMAN]

Lightning is correct, you are going to want to trim the hatch to gain a little more clearance 1/8" on the three non-hinge sides should be plenty. If you have aluminum hatches it will be quite a bit more labor intensive.

One thing you may want to try before cutting anything is spray silicone. Liberally soak the edges of the hatch in spray silicone and see if it helps. It won't be a permanent solution, but might make opening easier. Reapplying as needed.

[Prairiefire]

Try taking some electircal or duct tape and running it around the corners of the lid that's hard to open; it is a simple fix that worked on one of my previous boats.

[Hester]

Yeah I was in a hurry and didn't list my boat. I just got a 99 Triton 180. I got it last week and started tinkering with it when it was still kind of cold out side. I have found that now that it has warmed up(kind of warm) it has been easier to open. I still may try to do something about it.

thanks for the tips

Hester