95 245 Explorer Floor Panel Removal

[Jake245]

I am going to be doing this project in the near future. Curious if anyone here has tried or attempted this. Cant find anything on the internet about this. Looks like the floor panel can be removed. I have a soft spot on the panel itself and would like to fix it.

J

[RickK]

Hi Jake,
Are you referring to the fuel tank lid?  Maybe post up some pics so we can help you.
http://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=12725.0

[jdupree]

If yours is like mine, there is not really a hatch to remove but you can see a channel that can be used as a ref point to cut it out.  Cutting it out should be fairly easy.  My only concern is how could you put it back in place since there is not a "lip" to rest the hatch on?  I don't think there is anything under that hatch to support it since it is part of the deck.  I would assume that you would have to fabricate a lip to set the hatch back down on.

Maybe someone else has cut this out and can chime in.

[Jake245]

You can see in this photo http://www.pensacolafishingforum.com/attachments/f50/45718d1334083433-aquasport-245-explorer-cuddy-img_1235-jpg

Between the seats there is a hatch with two peep holes. It looks like it's just siliconed into place but I'm pretty sure it's sold.

I'm really just curious if anyone has changed fuel tanks and has gone through the process of removing it. Because I'm going to have too. Cheers.

J

[wingtime]

Older Aquasports had a molded in fuel tank coffin with a removable lid. Sometime in the early 90s They did away with the coffin and went to a solid one piece deck with no hatch to save $$. They did however leave a molded in seam line where the lid used to be. This gave the factory, dealers and owners a place to cut the deck to access the tank if needed. (I've heard stories of even the factory having to cut the hatch to repair a defect) The advantage is if a clean cut is made it looks like it was made that way with no damage to the non-skid.

So you will have to cut your deck to get to the tank. Make sure you seal the edges of the deck core with thickened epoxy to prevent water intrusion. Also drill your screw holes in the deck over size, fill them with epoxy and redrill with the proper size bit. This will also help prevent water intrusion into the deck core.

[Capt. Bob]

Here's a removal thread that might give you some insight in what you face.

https://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=7600.0

Good luck.

[Capt. Bob]

Here's another to ponder.

https://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=11399.0