Engine compartment dividers 97 SS

[Brichter14]

What would be the best material to use for the engine dividers? I'm gonna be putting a 750 sack on each side of the engine and I need to keep the bags off the exhaust manifolds

[Txpilot83]

You could try using starboard. I've used it on my boat with no issues. Cuts just like wood and will last forever. Hope this link words. I've ordered from these guys a few times and have no complaints:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-2-WHITE-OR...item45f09d7ee0

[jbach]

Use the existing dividers. Go to
Lowes and grab some 3/4" aluminum channel to strengthen them. Screw the channel into the too and bottom of all four dividers. I can post a picture of one if it stops raining.

[Brichter14]

Aren't the existing dividers too low for a 750 bag?

[jbach]

too low? not at all. do you have both your pieces on each side? i can't really tell from the pictures.

this is what you need to stiffen them up.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_55981-37672-11385_0__

[intrlaz]

I built mine out of this

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg...rue&sst=subset

It was a little bit too wide for the channel, so i notched it just the width of a saw blade. Now it fits perfectly. It is very strong and able to support my 750 fat sacs with no problem. The negatives are the cost, and they are heavy, which makes them a little unwieldy to pull out.

[Jono]

I don't know if your boat is the same as mine - can't tell from the pic- but where will you secure the divider towards the rear of the hatch? I have an upright support in the front, and an L bracket on the floor - that's it.
Also, will you be keeping the hydraulic lift?

[s_kelley2000]

I can't tell from your pics but it looks like you only have bottom part in as Jbach mentioned. Maybe in earlier years they made them lower? In my 99 there are two dividers that stack on top of each other that go all the way to the top of the compartment. The dividers are probably about 6-8" higher than a full 750 on my boat.

[scarbs]

Like Shawn, I have a 1999 and it has two dividers stacked on top of one another. I lined the existing dividers with aluminum channel and capped them with a bigger, thicker piece of aluminum channel. Now they don't flex at all when the 750s are full. Instead of Lowes or Home Depot, I found a local shop that sells aluminum and bought their drops for like $1.50 per pound. I think the total cost for all of this aluminum was $35-$40.

[jbach]

scarbs, i must have used yours as inspiration, mine look identical.

[Brichter14]

I only have the bottom half of what you guys have. Each side has a support rail in the front and is held down by an L bracket in the bottom. I need something to go on top of it.

[s_kelley2000]

I wonder if your current divider is the same size as the bottom divider on the newer ones that got two per side? If so I can take some pics and measurements of my top board to help you design yours if you think you need them?

For material I know people have had good luck with King Starboard and HDPE. You could probably get away with marine ply as well but don't quote me on that.

[bhectus]

I believe the older boats only had the half stack dividers. My '97 SS had none in it when I bought it and I used white Starboard for the dividers. Worked out really well and the material is super easy to work with. The only drawback is it is a little more flexible than wood but if you use a stabilzer bar across the middle you should be fine. No wood rot to worry about! I got mine from a local marina/canvas shop. Think I paid $40 for both.

[Brichter14]

I wonder if your current divider is the same size as the bottom divider on the newer ones that got two per side? If so I can take some pics and measurements of my top board to help you design yours if you think you need them?

For material I know people have had good luck with King Starboard and HDPE. You could probably get away with marine ply as well but don't quote me on that.

If you can give me the measurements of the top piece that would be awesome!

[s_kelley2000]

They are kind of a pain to get in and out but I am planning to do an oil change in the next two weeks so I will be sure to get good measurements and pics then. I should be able to get some decent pics and measurements for you with them still installed this weekend though.