Ultra 4.7 hatch plug?

I was going to cut it out in my kayak. Too thick around the edges.

Which edges?   I think you once showed me a cut towards the top edge.

I don't think I need to cut it all the way back to the edges, just enough to get rods and other stuff in and out, but I want enough of a "tray bottom" to hold some stuff in there too.

-Allen

I was going to do just what you are talking about. Leaving a portion of the forward lower section intact to support a battery. Then about 1 inch down from the interior rim of the hatch cut make a cut say 3/4 of the way around, then down across the bottom and back up. The thickness of the plastic on the upper rim area was pretty much filled in with PE during the molding process. I think you would have to go down possibly 2 inches to find the void in the plastic.  I would have been eliminating the well nut area that the rod tube would go into. I deleted the pics I took of the tape line as I was going to sell the 4.7 and didn't want to alter it too much for fear of not being a good selling point and possibly voiding the warranty. I still think its a great idea to access the interior of the kayak, which is wasted space otherwise.

   I know it's not quite the same,  but I just did something similiar with my Raptor.   Testing it to see if it weakened it at all.     I can't tell any difference at all in strength.   Love the extra room for storage.   Made a bag of sorts as containment for all the goodies that get tossed in.

           Cutting,,  If you have access to a router,  that seems to give better control than a dremel tool.    Sawszall works well too.     Razor knife is great if you can warm the plastic up first.  Careful !

Still cant find those pics Allen. I was also thinking that you could cut down the piece that's cut out of the hatch, trim it to fit and move it forward to mate with the forward bottom part that is left in after the cut is made. Bolt the pieces together and make a tray for the battery. Fit to size. I can do it for you if you stop by the shop someday. Likewise for you Pat.

Great info guys! Thanks for the discussion. Because I have been pondering how to modify the hatch ever since I paddlet Dan's Ultra last year...and now I have my own Ultra to pimp. Originally I was all about cutting half the hatch like you guys mentioned. But now I just plan to install a 4" screw-in deck plate. So I can access the interior of the hull AND store rods for surf launches. The problem is finding one that fits. The outside diameter of the flange is 5.75" on most (beckson, viking, etc). And the hatch is only 5" but I think I can trim the flange by cutting it straight on 2 sides...to make it fit. Just gotta make sure I'm not trimming the flange near the screw holes. Planning to install it on the hatch wall/side that has the wellnuts (under the plastic plug/icecicle/mold vent...