Texboy

I recently purchased a Marlin 7. There are two screws on a seat tube for mounting a bottle cage. I’m thinking about lowering a saddle a little bit, but a top screw is blocking it. If I remove a screw, will the water get in through the hole and into the frame when I wash the bike or riding under the rain?

rhenning

Put a dab of silicone sealer in the hole and allow it to dry for before use. It comes in different colors. It will be easy to remove when you need to do that. Roger

Bill Kapaun

Or grab a hacksaw and cut a bit off if the post isn't anything "special".

Iride01 

Or consider the frame is really too big for you or whomever you are putting on it.

Oakman

And then you can use the water bottle mount too!

Crankycrank

Or....just use a shorter screw that doesn't protrude into the seat tube. Keeps the threads clean.

alcjphil

It is very likely that the water bottle mount itself extends inside the seat tube and removing the bolt will not allow the seatpost to go any farther down. Either the frame is too big or it is possible that you want the saddle to be lower than you need it to be. Saddle height is for efficient pedalling, you don't need it to be so low that you can comfortably put a foot down on the ground while seated

JohnDThompson 

Most, if not all, water bottle bosses have a flange that extends several millimeters into the tube to provide sufficient thread for the cage mounting bolt to secure. That means simply removing the bolt may not eliminate the obstruction. Better to shorten the seat post to get the saddle as low as you need.

Texboy

The bike is perfectly fit for me. I wear a pair of jeans instead of cycling shorts. The jeans sag a little bit and catch on the tip of a saddle. I was a little bit struggling sitting on it correctly and comfortable. I’m fine riding this bike with a saddle that high. Just sitting is a little struggling.

Texboy

The bike is perfectly fit for me. I wear a pair of jeans instead of cycling shorts. The jeans sag a little bit and catch on the tip of a saddle. I was a little bit struggling sitting on it correctly and comfortably. I’m fine riding this bike with a saddle that high. Just sitting is a little struggling with my jeans.

Cyclist0108

Cut the seat post.

davidad

Ditto!

HillRider

Your seatpost may be a lot longer than needed, particularly if it is an MTB post. As long as you still have at least 3" (75 mm) of post inserted into the frame after cutting it you are good.

I've bought a couple of high quality seatposts in the proper diameters at very attractive prices but in MTB length (350 or 400 mm), which is far longer than my road bikes needed. I was able to cut 3" or 4" off of them and still had plenty of insertion depth.

Barry2 

Personally, I would not adjust my saddle height to suit my clothing.
If you're not into the whole Spandex thing, possibly consider Mountain Bike type clothing.
Those are still comfortable, padded, but not nearly as... "snug"

All the best

Barry