Unsticking a stuck seat latch 1997 GSI

[FlyNavy]

Kids took the ski out this past weekend... three 19 y/o boys. There was a time when they went tandem and it seems that they somehow sprung the latch at the rear of the seat. The latch pulls up as normal but will not release it's hold on the mushroom pin attached to the hull. As far as I can tell the latch is now mis-aligined with the port side being forward of the starboard. ( \ ) .
Any suggestions as to how to spring the latch so it can be re-seated? Not much room to work with the passenger grab rail right behind the latch and I don't want to recklessly prise anything open.
THX

 

[FlyNavy]

Success!

Used a pry bar to lift the seat away from the hull enough to get a 6 inch 10mm racheting box wrench on the attaching bolts. Backed them both out and lifted the seat off while the latch remained attached to the mushroom post. Removed latch from post, re-seated latch lever ears in mounting holes (this was the place where the latch had feiled due to the weight of the kids) and re-attached the latch to seat. Works 4.0!

 

[kustomkarl]

Welcome to the seadoo forum FlyNavy. Glad you got the problem fixed...good job. It's getting kinda busy around here and some "help wanted" post get lost sometimes...Sorry you didn't get a quicker response before today. I would spray some PB blaster on while you at it, so it won't freeze up in the future from the water deposits.

Karl