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Joe, my 1999 Alert 17 was a side console and as such the rigging tube was never cut out because the control cables ran down the starboard side behind the side railing. I am in the process of converting it to a center console and want to run the rigging through the rigging tube so the tube needs to be opened. Like I said previously I had no problem cutting out the opening in the sump but the tube seems to stop 4 inches from the rectangular spot on the deck that would be under the console and whenI cut out a 2 inch square towards the front of the marked rectangle and pulled it out there was foam under it where the opening should be. The place I cut out was well inside the rectangle where the tube should be. The tube seems to be too short.