Removing upholstery on engine cover

[Craz16]

Anyone have any more pics of installation of the step, cut out of the foam, how they fastened the rigid step. Curious on the mod as I have a piece of gator step for a transom that I could use


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[license to ill]

I finally made some more progress. Just about done now and just waiting for the Gatorstep to come in.

The steps (basically) starting after the pieces were removed from the boat.

1. Remove staples from the bottom to remove vinyl covers.
2. Remove the foam from engine cover panel. I used a razor and a scraper since it is glued down.
3. Used 3/8" HDPE on top of the entire factory engine cover to cover the square opening from the engine latch. I had to remove some HDPE material from the bottom to account for the plastic plate washers that are used to mount the hinges and strut mount. HDPE was cut to fit and I used 2 pieces.
4. HDPE is fastened to the engine cover with low profile aluminum binding barrels and screws from McMaster car. Item number 93121A337. I could not get any screw threads to engage the thin aluminum. I also used a wood bit to counterbore the holes so the fasteners are below the surface and bought nylon plastic plugs from McMaster (9688K271) to cover the holes. I'm not sure if I am going to use these or not yet or just fill the holes flush with something. The caps stick above the surface 1/16".
5. Used a hole saw to cut a hole for the cover latch. The tab in the engine compartment that engages the latch needed to be adjusted due to the new elevation of the latch on the engine cover (without the foam).

I also made a step in the center of my single-piece rear seat. I don't have a photo of that right now. I'll post it after the gator step arrives and I can share complete photos. The foam in my rear seat was 3" thick so I got a 2" thick piece of HDPE and then used some doubled up scraps of the 3/8" material from the engine cover to elevate it 3/4". When the gator step is installed to the 2" block it will be just about level with the original seat height. A 2 1/2" thick piece of HDPE can be used if you can find that available.

Notches to clear factory mounting hardware.


Used HDPE to cover square opening.


2 sheets of HDPE with countersunk holes.


barrel and screw fasteners. I used some lock-tite on these.

[license to ill]

Couple more photos.

Hole for engine cover latch.


Waiting for gatorstep

[Pnut80]

This is the finished product on mine.

Used 2- 3/4” thk marine plywood. Then glassed for extra protection


61006558367__23510E9E-6747-4FC8-BFA0-1145D07BF53C.jpg


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[Boggy_bb]

Can’t wait to see the final product with the gator step. Might be my next winter project.

[haknslash]

Following this project. Can't wait to see the final product.

[996scott]

This is the finished product on mine.

Used 2- 3/4” thk marine plywood. Then glassed for extra protection


61006558367__23510E9E-6747-4FC8-BFA0-1145D07BF53C.jpg


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can you get some other pictures? Love to see a a few more..

[license to ill]

Here is the finished product guys. I'm really happy with the way this turned out. I ended up liking the larger step area more than a skinnier one such as the stock step. Sometimes there are a couple people standing up on the engine cover.

[Craz16]

Looks awesome! You just gave GatorStep some measurements and they made that custom piece?


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[Isaguel]

That looks very good. Very impressive. Me likey.