Ugly flap covering fuel tank and batteries

[stringpincher]

I have a 15 foot fiberglass 1975 Princecraft outboard and I am replacing the interior upolistry, (I'm changing it from brown and beige to red and white. Across the stern, to hide the batteries and fuel tank is a ugly brown flap, my question is this, "What are you guys doing to address this flap, make a white and red one, make doors out of plastic rattan or make sliding doors and cover them in vinyl ?"
Any ideas or pictures you have of your treatment of this area would be appericated.
Thanks
Larry

 

[Ciera2450]

Re: Ugly flap covering fuel tank and batteries

I have a 1975 15' Manatee trihull with the same flap.
I completely rebuilt the boat from the hull up and replaced the flap with.......
A new flap.
It provides easy access to fuel and battery. Easily replaced if torn or stained or whatever.
I had the same dilemma but couldn't think of anything to replace it with. It works.

A bench seat across the stern that is hinged to fold forward may be an idea......

 

[RZR2007]

Re: Ugly flap covering fuel tank and batteries

I built a wooden cover, covered it in marine carpet, cut a hole big enough to fit the battery in on center, on the outside there is a seat on each side with a hole on the bottom big enough to fit a gas tank under each. They slide in and out easily. on the center piece I have mounted a set of speakers. on the bottom left side I mounted the fuel/water seperator, on the bottom right side I mounted a switch to change over from one tank to another. All you can see looking at it is 2 stainless mounting screws, everything else is hidden behind. It looks alot better than the old flap!

 

[EStack]

Re: Ugly flap covering fuel tank and batteries

I have the flap on my Ebbtide. What I am going to end up doing is build an enclosed area with doors. But also have two vents on either side as this is where my gas tank and batteries will be.

 

[stringpincher]

Re: Ugly flap covering fuel tank and batteries

RZR, I would love to see what you did, got any pictures?

 

[RZR2007]

Re: Ugly flap covering fuel tank and batteries

RZR, I would love to see what you did, got any pictures?

I'll try my best to get some pics. up this week, I haven't taken the first pic. of the boat since it's done!