[Andy b]

As I'm sure those of you who know me, will know I'm a bit of a born fiddler.
I just can't leave well alone

My 2001 Diablo has undergone a few mod's in the time that I've owned it. And one of the items on my wish list was a power hatch.

Now with me living in the UK we don't have the choice and availability of parts that you guys over the pond have.
And when something like this is available It just wouldn't be cost affective for an 18' boat...

So the answer?
Make something yourself

So here's my home made Power Hatch.

(Please excuse the state of the boat! I haven't had chance to clean her up yet. And this video was the first time I'd operated the hatch, so there was still some air in the system.)

[TN_Diablo]

This is really cool. Were you replacing the struts anyway? I replaced mine a year or two ago and something like this would have never occurred to me.

So did some of the Mariah boats come with a power lift on the sundeck?

[Andy b]

My Gas struts were getting tired, and that was what started my thought process.

I think a power hatch was only really an option on some of the bigger Z and Ltd model Mariah's.
And if I'm not mistaken it's a single lifter in the centre of the pad.

As you know the Diablo is the entry level Mariah, but I prefer to think of it as a blank canvas

[tpdtopcop]

AndyB,

Very nice.. I have a 1996 Shabah Z255 and the electric power hatch goes up slow and I just recently cleaned them all up so they would open past the 8"mark. Is your hydraulic assisted? You should have did a how to with parts cause it looks fantastic

[TN_Diablo]

Originally Posted by Andy b

As you know the Diablo is the entry level Mariah, but I prefer to think of it as a blank canvas

Yes I knew that when we bought ours (new) which was right about the time the company went under. We got a great deal and the entry level Mariah was a much nicer boat than many more expensive new boats at the time. I remember looking at a used Bryant I liked less that was even more expensive.

[tdicamillo]

When I purchased my 1999 Z222 the original strut/motor combo was missing completely and had to power lift it up every time we needed in the back hatch. Since then I have installed 2 electric motors purchased online from a place called Firgelli Automation. Before ordering I called their sales and spoke with someone that helped me select the proper motor and how to get a proper measurement. I opted to go with a pair (one at each end) so it opened easily without the chance of twisting. Total cost was around $250.00 between the 2 motors and brackets. It opens a little slow (35 seconds from close to open), but I've got all day when I'm out boating.

The boat already had a hatch switch on the dash that I just tapped into. If you don't have that luxury Firgelli also has wired and wireless controls. They didn't weigh much so I don't think your shipping cost would be too expensive.

https://www.firgelliauto.com/product...inear-actuator

It was an easy install after I ran a piece of 4" oak under the sundeck to get a good sturdy mounting point. I went high and wide with my mounting location in the hopes it would last longer.The actuators parallel the back seat.

[tpdtopcop]

Originally Posted by tdicamillo

When I purchased my 1999 Z222 the original strut/motor combo was missing completely and had to power lift it up every time we needed in the back hatch. Since then I have installed 2 electric motors purchased online from a place called Firgelli Automation. Before ordering I called their sales and spoke with someone that helped me select the proper motor and how to get a proper measurement. I opted to go with a pair (one at each end) so it opened easily without the chance of twisting. Total cost was around $250.00 between the 2 motors and brackets. It opens a little slow (35 seconds from close to open), but I've got all day when I'm out boating.

The boat already had a hatch switch on the dash that I just tapped into. If you don't have that luxury Firgelli also has wired and wireless controls. They didn't weigh much so I don't think your shipping cost would be too expensive.

https://www.firgelliauto.com/product...inear-actuator

It was an easy install after I ran a piece of 4" oak under the sundeck to get a good sturdy mounting point.

I can post some pictures if anyone is interested.

Pictures please. I already have an electric motor on each side so for 250 a pair that's not bad

[tpdtopcop]

I just went to thier site and wondering if they will just work with the oem brackets?

[cswinings]

Originally Posted by Andy b

My Gas struts were getting tired, and that was what started my thought process.

I think a power hatch was only really an option on some of the bigger Z and Ltd model Mariah's.
And if I'm not mistaken it's a single lifter in the centre of the pad.

As you know the Diablo is the entry level Mariah, but I prefer to think of it as a blank canvas

My 240z came with one power lift arm on each side, bad thing is one of the actuators is slower than the other, so it gets out of whack. I installed a relay on one motor to temp disconnect it using one of the ACC switches on my dash. This way i can operate one at a time to get it back to the same height on each side.

[blockp]

tdi: I can see in your first picture why it takes 35 seconds to open the hatch... you're lifting a Lotus with the hatch motors. Not supposed to do that.

Couldn't resist. Nice looking setup with the dual lift motors... and car too

Originally Posted by tdicamillo

When I purchased my 1999 Z222 the original strut/motor combo was missing completely and had to power lift it up every time we needed in the back hatch. Since then I have installed 2 electric motors purchased online from a place called Firgelli Automation. Before ordering I called their sales and spoke with someone that helped me select the proper motor and how to get a proper measurement. I opted to go with a pair (one at each end) so it opened easily without the chance of twisting. Total cost was around $250.00 between the 2 motors and brackets. It opens a little slow (35 seconds from close to open), but I've got all day when I'm out boating.

The boat already had a hatch switch on the dash that I just tapped into. If you don't have that luxury Firgelli also has wired and wireless controls. They didn't weigh much so I don't think your shipping cost would be too expensive.

https://www.firgelliauto.com/product...inear-actuator

It was an easy install after I ran a piece of 4" oak under the sundeck to get a good sturdy mounting point. I went high and wide with my mounting location in the hopes it would last longer.The actuators parallel the back seat.