Sticky Storage Hatch on ’01 SN

I am still revovering from the "replace the digital gauges" episode for my new '01. I got my wife asking "Now why did we sell the '95??!"

Now this:

Can someone please tell me why Nautique went to the gillotine style vertical storage hatch over the fuel tank?

I had trouble rasing and lowering it so I replaced the gas piston springs and lubricated the guides as well, and it is still very difficult to raise and lower, especially from the awkward position you get in on the back seat. It forced me to drive my 190 lb knees into the back seat which will trash the vinyl over time.

Even a non-engineer can recognize the crummy design since the seat/hatch creates a "lever" across the 2 guides in the middle which jam them since they are too close together.

Has anyone had luck in getting that mechanism to work smoother?

Thanks!

Mine is an '01 Ski Nautique and there is a vertical hatch that is the seat back to the rear seats. I raises and lowers manually in a vertical fashion, like a gillotine. There are 2 vertical rods the seat back glides on set in the center, about six inches apart. There is no switch up front to engage or lock the hatch.


On either side are 2 gas/spring pistons to aid in raising and keeping open the hatch. In this boat, I believe the fuel tank is flat, and the rear seats set on the tank. The tank extends aft and creates the shelf for storage accessed by the hatch.

Tough to explain. Maybe I can post a picture later.

Yeah, you got the picture. My 95 had the lift up seats and they were fine. I store ropes and my jumper cables there. The hatch I have technically has more space. You could put a ski in there.

It is not much use if it is a pain to access.

Count your blessings M3 that you don't have it.