Stratos 386XF rod locker always wet.

[chuck386]

Anyone know how to get the rod locker to drain on this boat? Poorly designed lid let water into the locker and it does not drain. I have had a fan blowing in it for three days now and carpet is still wet.

[Mark S.]

Chuck386

Your drain holes must be plugged, there was a post a few months ago where a guy was having the same problem with his 386, you could probably search for that thread to find out a little more.

Mark

[went522]

If I recall correctly...had a 04. Mine was wet all the time, poor drainage. I pulled the rear rod rack/panel, a few screws and it came right out. I was then able to see the issue, plugged to the with fiberglass, tape and any other left overs. There was a BUNCH of crap left from the build!! I'd like to say it was just my Stratos, but my Ranger 1850 was the same exact thing. I cleaned it all out and opened the drain hole with the dremel, made it WAY bigger. If I recall this is how it played out...but its been a few years. Locker still got wet, as you know it's not sealed, but at least it drained properly so reels weren't laying in water all the time.

I saw a 386 this summer, the guy had bought some of the rubber matting that has the quarter size holes in it, same stuff you often see at hockey rinks, he cut to fit the bottom of the locker. He mentioned his drained slow, that was his fix rather than fixing the actual issue. But, I did like the mat idea even if the drain is opened up, it looked to cushion the bottom rods/reels and when water did get in there it layed below the mat. The rubber mat looked to be about 3/4" thick.

I can't remember if mine was carpeted or not?? I don't think so...but if it were I would have pulled the carpet asap, it's gonna get wet, may as well get rid of the carpet that holds water.

BIRDDOG

[DRAG]

That is discouraging. Thanks for sharing.

[shift]

Stratos came up with an updated fiberglass floor piece to fix this problem. It does not actually solve the problem however, Stratos' fix was to pull up the carpet, install a false floor, and recarpet over it. ie it raises the floor (the water is still there it is just underneath.) The way that particular boat is designed the rodlocker is the lowest point.

[fiveinthelive]

Mines wet too never had an issue just kept the shop vac handy and left the lid open when storing but i may try the dremel tool fix

[ColumbiaR]

Is the boat still under warrenty? If so, it seems like the dealer would fix this for you.

[headhanger]

they fixed mine with a false floor and bigger hole. biggest problem is livewells are not sealed in side thats where your water comes from. sealed mine and never had a problem again unless caught in rain storm

[REW]

Open up the drain to the bilge, so you have at least a 1 1/2 inch hole.
That way, when junk gets accidentally kicked into the locker, the hole will be large enough to let it be flushed into the bilge for exit.

p.s.
This is not a problem unique to this brand. It is not a problem that is unique to glass boats.

It happens with virtually every boat out there.

One thing that is actually a good idea on a new boat is to put the boat on a steep driveway and start running water down into the bilge from the front of the boat.

Keep checking the drain on the back of the boat for obstructions or other junk that gets washed to the back.
Do the same thing with every locker in the boat. i.e. insure that every locker will drain and if there is anything in any locker or compartment, that all of the junk gets washed out.

When done, completly check the bilge all the way back to the transom with a wet and dry vac and get all of the junk out that gets flushed down during the wash down. It is quite suprising how much junk will get washed down from virtually every brand of new boat.

It is not a bad idea to do this once a year to get all of the bait and tackle that might have fallen down to get it flushed out of the boat as well.

It is suprising as to how much stuff will get down into compartments and the bilge over the course of a season.

Take care
REW

[chuck386]

Thanks for all the help. Sounds like a good project to add to the list of thing to do to the boat this winter when the water turns hard.

[pioneer]

they fixed mine with a false floor and bigger hole. biggest problem is livewells are not sealed in side thats where your water comes from. sealed mine and never had a problem again unless caught in rain storm

I believe you have hit on my biggest problem with moisture. what did you mean by sealing the livewells? i am assuming you mean that they splash and the water gets into storage area which would explain why i could not figure out how water got in there on a sunny day!

How did you seal them?

[codycuster]

I would like to know how you did that as well.

Cody