Compartment Lids Hard to Open

[Dinks]

I own a 1990 Ranger 482V, when I purchased the boat 4 years ago the carpet had been replaced. Upon closer inspection, after the deal was made of course, I realized the person that installed the carpet did a pretty shotty job. Overall it’s not that bad and I can live with it. However, I am tired of breaking my back to get into my rod lockers and other compartments. They are extremely tight, waterproof yes, but sometimes I have to wedge my needle nose pliers into the opening to pry them open. Any suggestions on what I can do? Thanks.

Brad Mueller
Lubbock, TX

[chillywillie]

I ordered my carpet from bassboatcarpets.com. I had the same concern as you have, and they said the best way to open up some clearance was to take a trimmer (like for shaving your head, or beard, etc) and shave the edges of the carpet some.

I haven't tried mine yet, but I'm going to as a couple of mine are nearly impossible to open (the front livewell may never be used if I can't make it easier to open LOL!).

So I don't know for sure if this works or not, it's just what they told me.

[Bingle]

Try spraying TEFLON spray around the egdes that touch and that should help ALOT!

[smoot504]

One of my fishin' buddies at Smith Mountain Lake had the same problem. I read on on one of these threads to use a hair or beard trimmer and told him about it. He called me back the next day and said that he took a hair trimmer with the number 1 head on it and it worked spectacular. He said that they have never opened as easy even with the old carpet that was in his boat.

My recommendation: Use a hair trimmer with the number one attachment on it.

[tinmanny]

take a flatiron put a towl over the carpet and iron the edges untill the pile lays down flat works excelent!!