"Observer Seat Extension" for X22

[phenom_1819]

Hello,  

I just bought a 2001 Epic X22, that I get to pick up this weekend.  It does not have the observer seat extension, but I was wondering...from somebody who has one installed (or has been in a boat with one installed)... are you glad you installed it? Does it take up a lot of room? Is it at all rickety or cheap looking?  Does it install and uninstall easily?

And does anybody out there have one they are selling? The interior colors of my boat are dark gray, light gray, and white.  I would assume Toyota doesn't have too many of these laying around anymore...

AND ANOTHER QUESTION:
Does any of the TRD equipment (air filters, etc) work with the VT300i engine?  Anybody know or have anything TRD on their boat?  Gotta have my TRD!  

Thanks,
Cal

[toyotafreak]

Welcome and congrats! For the TRD question, check out:

http://www.cyclone-cj.com/forum/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=70

Unless TRD or L-tuned put a blower package together, we've got what we got.

[phenom_1819]

Thank you!  I'm pretty excited...just as all of you have been when you got to pick-up your Yota's.  

Bummer about the aftermarket stuff. I have pretty much everything available for my 4runner...would have been nice to get at least SOMETHING for the boat; don't want it to feel neglected or inferior. Oh well.

Thanks GR8DNA.

Anybody have any info about the observer seat extension?

Thanks,
-Cal

[cyclone]

I added one to my Epic 22 this year, it was no big deal. It is very sturdy. I'll bet you can still get one from Toyota.

Sandy (Sandbag) had one he didn't need that was the same color you need, you might try to contact him. Look in the users list, he hasn't posted in a while but his email is in there. He'll give you a deal. The mounting hardware is off the shelf Perko stuff, I'll post pics if and when I ever get home.

[toyotafreak]

Pete, you're not complaining about getting your traveling done while the boat's winterized, are you?

[cyclone]

Yeah, I'm whinebagging. I would like to get an SX for next spring.

[toyotafreak]

After that ballast manual you guys posted a couple weeks ago....

...an extra 80 gallons hidden amongst the stringers would be awesome.

[phenom_1819]

Hi guys,

Just to follow-up...I picked up my ****NEW*** (well, new to me) X22 this weekend.   I'm in love.    

And the previous owner had bought the observer seat extension, but had never bothered putting it in.  Unexpected surprise!

I bought the boat without ever going out in one...and am even more impressed than I thought I would be.  Blows away all the other boats on my "list", the Malibu Sunsetter LXI, Prostar 205, MB Boss 210.   So anyway, just wanted to say that I'm glad to be a part of the club, whether you want me or not.  :-)

I'll post pics of my boat when I get them. Here's one below from the drive to Cali to pick it up...

And my first mod (feel free to borrow my idea, you just have to wait until after mine are installed), I am replacing the traction-pads on the rear steps with stainless steel diamond-plate.  The Toyota's definitely need more stainless steel.

-Cal

[toyotafreak]

Cal, you drove from Washa to Cali, and I drove from Cali to Dallas. But I at least drove mine before signing over the check. You 'da man.

Very glad to have you!

The good news is that you're up by Jeff Dorge, the left coast Toyota rep. He can be found at jeff_dorge@toyota.com. Nice guy, but super busy. I do believe there's an ex-dealer up there too. Closest one to SoCal is in NoCal.

[phenom_1819]

Thanks Derek.  Fortunately, we have Ski Masters up here in Seattle, which, believe it or not, still is selling their demo boats with the complete factory warranties. But they charge for the warranty...and hey, it's a Toyota.  who needs a warranty?  The kids in the MasterCrafts, that's who.

Looks like I screwed up the picture-posting thing.  Let's try this again...

[cyclone]

That boat looks KILLER! ATLbuff's is very similar, but he has a white tower, I think. I personally guarantee that you will love your boat, if not I will buy it for what you paid. It's just one of those little services WWW.Epicmarine.com offers that our competitors don't.

[phenom_1819]

Thanks Pete.   I'm assuming that since you are offering your personal guarantee, you know how good of a deal I got!  

I was skeptical of the black tower, until I saw it in person. The previous owner also replaced the white rub-rail with a black one.  I actually like it better, now...it takes away some of the gummy-bear look, and adds some Thundercat.  The diamond plate will help, too...as long as I can find a way to avoid lawsuits from people slipping on it and killing themselves...

I'll be keeping mine.   :-)

[cyclone]

Your butt will be on fire when you sit on it on the first hot day to put your board on:)

I'm sure you got a deal and even if you didn't I'm so confident that you will love the boat that I can make all kinds of outlandish guarantees because I know you will never want to give up the boat!

Gummy Bear VS Thundercat, interesting analogy. I like it!

[toyotafreak]

What's that stuff the wakeworld guys are always touting...something like gator grip ? Soft, non-skid stuff like the TracTop we used to put on surfboards.

[phenom_1819]

Oooh, yeah...didn't think about the heat problem.  And walking on it with bare feet...ouch.  Maybe the diamond plate isn't the best idea.

That Gator grip stuff definitely is hi-traction, I had some wakeboard bindings with it on it. It leaves white squares on your feet, but it works well...

Any other suggestions on replacements for the pads back there?  Something a little more refined-looking?  I might just replace them with the original material, but there's gotta be something out there that looks more like it's supposed to be there.