Dagger G-Ride - squeezing in my long legs

Have just bought a Dagger G-Ride 6.5 and am having problems squeezing my long (33") legs into it. The seat is currently at 2/3 back and can go 2 more notches, but the foot plate is all the way forward. Does anyone know whether I can take out the footplate and side bars to make more room and replace with a smaller foam foot pad. Will this affect the strength or balance of the boat.

For info I plan to use this beauty for more play boating and surfing than river running although will undoubtedly do some river play on G3-4 when the level is right.

Any comments?

John