With my last engines I simply removed the locking pin (easy), used the rope to pull them up, and rigged a seatbelt strap to hold them down. It worked fine.
![Image](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_fDLXryKUnCE/TOiO3LPes3I/AAAAAAAAAqA/zfQTmq44BCo/s1600/Yamaha+seat+belt+low+res.jpg)
Just wondering, any new ideas? I don't mind lifting the covers. I have manual chokes and I like to see the water running anyway. I threw the old seatbelts away, so I'll have to see what I can drum up for nothing.