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I was going to put this under the Ballast section but since I removed them, I didn't.
The 2007+ ProStar 214 line of boats comes with an abundance of storage. If you opted for the ballast system or purchased the X14 with the ballast; two rear tanks eliminating all rear storage, and the KGB center tank which eliminated any inside ski storage, you lost a lot of storage. I liked the fact that my 08 X14 came with ballast but the hard tanks killed the storage.
Since I only used my ballast about 2-4 times a year, I was always tempted to remove the hard tanks and replace them with bags so when they were empty, they were flat. I kept putting it off until I made a Christmas time visit to riverman200 and jhall0711 and after a few beers we decided to cut into the port rear tank in Rivermans X14. They used an oscillating multi-tool to cut the tank to pieces and crowbars to keep the tank lifted away from the fiberglass to avoid cutting into the boat. The port tank was such an odd shape and went under the floor several inches towards the bow and went many inches under the gas tank. We had NO IDEA how far under the tank. Not only did the ballast tank go under the gas tank 24", but there was also a fill hose connected that prevented us from pulling it out.
Fast forward to February, the wife was out of town, and I got the inch to cut out some ballast. But I decided to go big and get the KGB center tank out. I used the oscillating tool and a sawzall along with a thin piece of wood to protect the gel. I spent several hours working on the center tank and was able to cut out all the material except the portion that went under the open bow floor.
I went to bed that night and had claustrophobic thoughts about how I had any chance of getting that bow piece out and knew I could not do it. I'm 6'-3" and 245 lbs so it's not easy for me to get in there so I asked for help from a good friend ShreaderPS18 who is smaller than me.
WARNING on the following pictures for anyone who is claustrophobic. Shredder saved my a$$.
I then removed my rear tanks and got all the areas cleaned up.
Then I worked with the original, the one that started it all, 93Prostar190 (Rob) who provided me with all the pictures and detail from his 214 to add the latch, hinge, and gas shocks to make the center area a ski locker again. I ordered the parts, and with some flooring, and finished up the center ski locker. The hull was a perfect smooth gel but added the flooring to protect the gel and ski's.
Now for the back corners. I opted to use Flex Seal to cover all the exposed fiberglass. BrianS (who is also doing this project) opted for a bed liner material which I think looked a bit better. The flex seal did its job and will protect the future bags.
The 2007+ ProStar 214 line of boats comes with an abundance of storage. If you opted for the ballast system or purchased the X14 with the ballast; two rear tanks eliminating all rear storage, and the KGB center tank which eliminated any inside ski storage, you lost a lot of storage. I liked the fact that my 08 X14 came with ballast but the hard tanks killed the storage.
Since I only used my ballast about 2-4 times a year, I was always tempted to remove the hard tanks and replace them with bags so when they were empty, they were flat. I kept putting it off until I made a Christmas time visit to riverman200 and jhall0711 and after a few beers we decided to cut into the port rear tank in Rivermans X14. They used an oscillating multi-tool to cut the tank to pieces and crowbars to keep the tank lifted away from the fiberglass to avoid cutting into the boat. The port tank was such an odd shape and went under the floor several inches towards the bow and went many inches under the gas tank. We had NO IDEA how far under the tank. Not only did the ballast tank go under the gas tank 24", but there was also a fill hose connected that prevented us from pulling it out.
Fast forward to February, the wife was out of town, and I got the inch to cut out some ballast. But I decided to go big and get the KGB center tank out. I used the oscillating tool and a sawzall along with a thin piece of wood to protect the gel. I spent several hours working on the center tank and was able to cut out all the material except the portion that went under the open bow floor.
I went to bed that night and had claustrophobic thoughts about how I had any chance of getting that bow piece out and knew I could not do it. I'm 6'-3" and 245 lbs so it's not easy for me to get in there so I asked for help from a good friend ShreaderPS18 who is smaller than me.
WARNING on the following pictures for anyone who is claustrophobic. Shredder saved my a$$.
I then removed my rear tanks and got all the areas cleaned up.
Then I worked with the original, the one that started it all, 93Prostar190 (Rob) who provided me with all the pictures and detail from his 214 to add the latch, hinge, and gas shocks to make the center area a ski locker again. I ordered the parts, and with some flooring, and finished up the center ski locker. The hull was a perfect smooth gel but added the flooring to protect the gel and ski's.
Now for the back corners. I opted to use Flex Seal to cover all the exposed fiberglass. BrianS (who is also doing this project) opted for a bed liner material which I think looked a bit better. The flex seal did its job and will protect the future bags.
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