V20 CC leaning post

[jrisapirate]

Basically just looking for feedback. It is just a rough sketch. But this will gain me close to a foot, roughly 6" on each side after I remove the two swivel chairs. doesnt sound like much but it is. I had a plan that utilized the old seat posts but I didn't like the way it looked. Looked like a damn mushroom.

I dont want to clutter the sides of this leaning post since that is the main reason for making it.

I am also considering making the flange internal instead of the way it is drawn.

From here I have a few thoughts since there is the infamous soft spot in the gas tank hatch, which is right behind the helm.
1. I was thinking of unscrewing the helm and trying to slide out the tank cover, fix the soft spot and re-enforce for the leaning post. And possibly try to integrate the post into the hatch cover.
2. Cut the hatch cover an inch or two behind the helm and integrate the LP into the back half of the cover, and replace with a flange/ect to join it back to the other half.
3. Make the post with an integrated floor to just cover the soft spot.

Thoughts and comments are appreciated, thats why I posted.