Cutting floor to add storage area

[phatdaddy]

Brian, I have an 83 and the tank is in the aft and fish box in the middle with the "dead"area forward. My deck rotted out becauseof the way the pedastal seats were installed and I had to remove the deck from the cabin to the fishbox. Like you, I noticed a large hole and no way to get to it, so When I replaced the deck, I installed the Tempress cam hatch. Everybody is giving good advice . Seal the raw edges , It is "dirty" storage, all of the debris and water from the cabin and the bilge will slosh through there. I keep fenders and a bucket with bait nets and mullet nets down there. The only problem I have had is the hatches don't hold up to the traffic. Where mine is , when you come of the bow, you land on the hatch. Guess I could try going starboard. I love the storage and also can access a normally hidden part of the bilge to clean and inspect