Seat installation question - Scratching my head on this one.

[dbarnett66]

Please don't laugh:

http://dbarnett.smugmug.com/Other/2013-Malibu-X-Factor-Kayak/i-mFvzGFn/0/XL/seat%20hatch%202-XL.jpg

How am I going to access the rear hatch?:confused:

[tacmik]

Either get a new seat or maybe try and move the straps to the top of the seat and give you a different angle. Doesn't look like installing different anchor points on the yak will work.

[dbarnett66]

Either get a new seat or maybe try and move the straps to the top of the seat and give you a different angle. Doesn't look like installing different anchor points on the yak will work.

Do you mean reverse the front straps to the back and the back straps to the front? I will give it a shot.

[tomahawk]

Reversing the straps won't work. The top straps need to go forward to react the load created when you lean back. The lower straps need to go bacl to stop the seat from slipping forward.
I would get a different seat. But if you are dead set on keeping that seat you need to make/get a spreader bar (pvc maybe) that attaches to the seat where the straps are currently and moves the strap attach points out to go around the hatch. The bar would need a feature that stops the straps from sliding off. If you make something post pictures.

[tacmik]

Try taking the back straps while still attached to the original points on the seat and hook them forward and use the front straps to hook to the rear. In other words, reverse the anchor points. Front to back and back to front.

[dbarnett66]

I dont think this seat is going to work. Even if I clear the straps the tackle boxes are still in the way.

http://dbarnett.smugmug.com/Other/2013-Malibu-X-Factor-Kayak/i-fxVt5tL/0/XL/seat2-XL.jpg

[slobslayer]

You gotta make it work, that's a sweet setup!

[Dannowar]

You have a hatch in front of you still. If it comes down to it, just Unclip a strap and get what you need.

[tacmik]

Good excuse to buy a new yak. Honey, I need to buy a yak to fit my seat.

[TJones]

make it work. wheelchair for sell? :D

[lowprofile]

well if you get another seat with the straps out further they cover the rod holders...

what do you really need in there? a battery?

[danjor]

well if you get another seat with the straps out further they cover the rod holders...

what do you really need in there? a battery?

Thats exactly where i would put my battery if I had one of those instead of the 2012 models.

[dbarnett66]

Good excuse to buy a new yak. Honey, I need to buy a yak to fit my seat.

You are looking at a 2013 X Factor that has never touched the water. My wife put my PFD under the Christmas tree. Waiting anxiously to get out.

[dbarnett66]

Thats exactly where i would put my battery if I had one of those instead of the 2012 models.

You know, that makes too much sense. You might have saved the day. I kicked that idea around with Brian at OEX and then thought I could use it as a fish hold for crappie. But I really want to keep the seat and I can find other places to stick the fish.:luxhello:

[dbarnett66]

Thanks for helping me think out of the box. The replies are awesome and this boy is learning.

[dbarnett66]

make it work. wheelchair for sell? :D

I wish that chair could be sold. But it is my father-in-laws and it stays with us for some reason.

[danjor]

You know, that makes too much sense. You might have saved the day. I kicked that idea around with Brian at OEX and then thought I could use it as a fish hold for crappie. But I really want to keep the seat and I can find other places to stick the fish.:luxhello:

Yup perfect place to put a trolling motor battery storage wise and weight distribution wise assuming your turning the front hatch into a bait tank. Than you will have a nice forward bait tank and a trolling motor to do circles around hobies while maintaining a low center of gravity!

[dbarnett66]

Yup perfect place to put a trolling motor battery storage wise and weight distribution wise assuming your turning the front hatch into a bait tank. Than you will have a nice forward bait tank and a trolling motor to do circles around hobies while maintaining a low center of gravity!

The battery is for the fish finder and bait tank only. I bought one of those battery box complete things from OEX. I would not want to suffer from the pained stares of the members of this forum if I was using a trolling motor on the high seas. haha

[RGB]

Maybe you could have the straps moved outward on the seat a bit if you can find someone who has a heavy duty sewing machine. Might block those flush mounts then but a couple Scotty mounts would take care of that. I wouldn't want to ditch that seat either.

[Jimmyz123]

Maybe you can install some hooks or guides that you can feed the straps through to force them around the hatch opening. Do the straps have adjusters on them to give you a little more slack?
http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c110/Jimmyz123/Strapholders_zps7608bd0a.jpg
In the picture you see the red line that indicates the path of the strap. The black circles indicate estimated location of strap guides. Does this make sense?

[skrilla]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/whoaitslen2/hatchinyohatch.jpg

[dbarnett66]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v120/whoaitslen2/hatchinyohatch.jpg

I just about blew have of my soda when I clicked on page two of this thread. I have not laughed this hard in a while. Thanks

[bellcon]

Why not just install two pad eyes directly in front of those flush mounts?

Looks like that would spread the strap enough for clearance to open the hatch.
And still allow the straps to do their job, which is to keep it from sliding forward.

Cool seat idea but I can't imagine why you would want to carry that many tackle boxes on he kayak. To each his own.
good luck.

[dbarnett66]

Why not just install two pad eyes directly in front of those flush mounts?

Looks like that would spread the strap enough for clearance to open the hatch.
And still allow the straps to do their job, which is to keep it from sliding forward.

Cool seat idea but I can't imagine why you would want to carry that many tackle boxes on he kayak. To each his own.
good luck.

I think that the tackle boxes will still be in the way of the hatch door opening. I like the idea though. As to the tackle boxes, I thought the same thing. I will most likely have different boxes for different situations and only take what I need. I can see loading one up for BTB, one for the bays, and one for the crappie fishing that I do.

[StinkyMatt]

Easy solution, some other kayaks have the same problem. Get the hatch extender. I think that it's made by Pacific Edge Co. Call OEX, I think they may stock em. I would go with the deluxe version of the hatch extender, it will easily clear the straps.

[maui jim]

Why not just install two pad eyes directly in front of those flush mounts?

Looks like that would spread the strap enough for clearance to open the hatch.
And still allow the straps to do their job, which is to keep it from sliding forward.

Cool seat idea but I can't imagine why you would want to carry that many tackle boxes on he kayak. To each his own.
good luck.



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