Rage engine hatch
 

My power hatch quit working - I replaced the switch did not help - Anybody know how to get hatch open or have any ideas? I am thinking the actuator has gone bad, but need to get it open to find out and to winterize boat.

Mike

You might have to reach back on both sides of the seat, and remove the screws that go into the top of the seat from the sides... this will probably take an angle drill...then just take the screws out of the seat base... and remove the seat.

Chris

Are there loose wires in the back seat if so they go to the opener(they do in my 35)

We just went to this movie (I had a wire break off the starter and lost all power in the boat) on my 05 Rage and there are no extra wires there to be used for powering the actuator. So I am thinking there will be none on an 02. You may be able to remove the seats as per Chris's suggestions. I would call Nordic and ask them how the hell you are going to get under the hood. Last option is cut a hole in the bulkhead under the seat so you can access the lower bolt on the actuator and remove it. Poor design on Nordics part-electrical motors do fail.

Please post what ever you find out from Nordic.

A buddy of mine had a fire on his magic. Header lost water, caught fire & burned the wires to the actuator. In the emergency 3 guys ripped the hatch open, ripping out the actuator screws & proceeded with the extinguisher. There should be a quick release cable, or some sort of fail safe. Better your on the trailer at least.
Maybe this is like an impeller & should be fixed before it breaks?

What year is your Rage?

Jason
Nordic Boats USA

It is a 2002.

Probably won't be until next weekend when I get to work on it.

Mike

Curiously watching...
 

to see what the solution to this is. This could be nightmarish if there were a fire! I'd like to hear the Nordic solution so I can take care of this before it happens to me.

If your batteries are underneath your bench seat you should be able to remove those and reach down to unbolt the ram from its mount. Probably not going to be easy but this is where you could start. If that does not work then the whole bench seat needs to be removed. If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

Jason
Nordic Boats USA
951-734-3030

Thank you, I will give it a try. Doesn't sound like anything fun or easy, it will be next weekend before I get a chance to.

For the rest of us...
 

Jason for the rest of us that don't yet have this problem but are concerned about it do you have any recommendations? Is there an emergency release system on newer models that we could retrofit? Thanks.

There was a manual hatch release made by (I think) one of the west coast custom hardware manufacturers.
It consisted a pin used to preplace the upper actuator to hatch bracket bolt. It had a T handle attached by a wire cable to the pin, with a mounting bracket for the T handle. The T handle would be mounted so it could be accessed to pull the pin in case of acutator or power failure.
Seems like it was made by Eddie or Rex, but I checked their websites and couldn't find it. Teague has a T handle pin with a quick release, but I don't see how you could get under the hatch with his to push the quick release.
Found a similar pin part #620-920022 on Keith Eickert's website for 19.99. Neither of these are the complete kit I had seen, but I have an idea. If they were used for the lower actuator bolt, instead of the upper, they might be accessable by removing the starboard battery.
Regards,
Steve

I have seen the T-handle release pin before. For it to work th you would have to put some sort of whole in your bench seat (behind a cushion or possibly in the base) that allows access into the engine compartment so you would be able to reach in and pull the pin. I know that I have seen these on Hallett's before. Currently on the new ones there is nothing of the sort but it is something I will address with the factory.

I got the back seat out real easy - someone previously never rescrewed seat back to the sides. Took actuator out and took to starter/alternator shop and they tested and took apart, everthing ok with actuator. Got boat out of storage this weekend, has power going to actuator, hooked back up, and still doesn't work. Anybody have any ideas??? I also hot wired actuator to a battery and still works, Just not hooked up to boat. Ground problem? If so where should I start looking at. Would be next weekend before working on again - can't store at house - d**n neighbors.

eng hatch
 

we see this alot we take a seprate power sorce and jump it at the switch they have always opened !