center hatch -hard to open, too close to seat-solved!

Hi everyone, I am a new pro angler owner, and I absolutely love it. A few issues here and there, but nothing that can't be fixed. Anyways, It has been a pain accessing the center hatch under cutting board. Seems like my hands cant get a good handle on bungee because seat to close. Cant adjust seat, so I came up with next best thing. Only need a few tools and works like a charm!
First you need a marker, a glass with a 2 1/2 opening, a dremel or some rotary tool w/ plastic rotary blade, and a metal file.
What all this is for, is to make two openings so your fingers can grab bungee and allow better access to center storage
1. just simply make a mark that is in-line with were bungee attaches, this mark will be made on your seat with marker.
2. now if u want, take seat off, it is much easier to use rotary tool with seat off
3. now use your glass to make an outline of were you want to cut an opening, your outline should resemble a half moon
4. now cut the the outline out and your problems are over! use metal file to clean up work, and make it look professional.
The new openings will allow much more ease of use, and allow you to access the 2 knobs that take seat off much easier
Hope this helps, I dont have big hands, and I know this has to be an issue with some of you. I just hope M. Miller reads this and can make this slight change for future Pro-anglers

Your post is a little vague. Are you talking about making the cuts to the bottom edge of the seat above the bungees? Do you have any photos of the completed mod?

Thanks

Steve

This topic is worthless without pictures. I wanna see how you done this. I don't care to the close clearance either.


Jeremy

might be easier and faster to just use a larger sized hole saw.............

I am going to pull the seat and look if I can make a new set of seat rails that moves the seat back an inch ot two. Ii it looks like it can be done, I will post the results.

I will try to post pictures when i get a chance . My camera just took a dump. This post refers to the center hatch that is so hard to open, unless you have midget hands. I just made a larger opening by cutting a larger area out of seat, where you would normally grasp the bungee to open hatch.

Making additional cuts in the seat is the easiest way other than relocating seat further back.

I guess you could use a hole saw as well. but a dremmel works if u dont have one. took kayak out to see how modifivation worked, and it worked well. I used the center hatch more often cause it wasnt a pain to get open!

I pulled the seat and looked at the bottom front edge. My concern is that removing any material will weaken the front of the seat. I'm using my PA in bluewater and want to have the most durable gear/boat possible. I'm planning on making new longer rails to replace the stock ones. I only want to move the seat back an inch. I'll take some photos when I'm done with this change.

Steve

Yes, photos please!!! Worth a 1000 words... for me anyway.

You can still cut enough of what you need from seat, and still not weaken or degrade supports. Just make sure your cuts dont go passed or into the cross supports (waffle) section.

I moved the seat back 1" by drillig new holes in the seat mount rails, using some new additional stainless bolts to secure the seat rail arms together than bolting the seat ba. I can take picks if you need them.

Any chance you got your camera up and running? How about some photos!!!

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Tom "Flash" Shriver
US Army Golden Knights (Retired)
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