We modified the seat areas for both the forward dinette seat as well as the aft dinette seat. Here's what we did:
Forward seat. Rather than cut-in a hatch and install louverd door, we cut the hole (about 12' x 12" as I recall) then took a piece of matching Sunbrella and sewed hem's around all four edge's. We then put snaps on all four corners and screw-in snap in the area around the hole. Works like a charm, and Really makes getting stuff in and out of the compartment MUCH easier. ...no more pinched fingers.
Aft seat. We took the hard backed seat cushion out. We removed all the staples holding the cushion to the board. Then took the cushion to an upholstery shop and had them make the cushion in to a 'regular soft cushion (no hard back). I then took the board and cut about 4" off the back edge (you want enough so it's a little wider than the back support cushion). That piece was screwed to the rear portion of the seat bottom (up against the aft cabin bulkhead). We then took a length of "piano hinge" and affixed it to the raw edge and the remaining part of the original seat base. That gives you a hinged seat base where you can install the newly covered seat cushion. Works very well. (Remember to paint the newly hinged lid before you do the subsequent installation.)
Rereading this it sounds rather awkward (I was never a technical writer...). Hope you can understand.
Best,
C&M
