5 replies to this topic

[davo]

Hi, thought I'd better post a new topic to continue the tower topic.

I'm pretty much decided on a tower now. The next item is accessing inside the boat. The front legs will go slightly in front of the side window frame, the back legs on the side near the fuel cap. Do you guys have any suggestions with getting inside these areas?
cheers

[Kevin Leclair]

H-do-O knows how to get in there.

http://seadoosportbo...dpost__p__14449

[H-do-O]

FRONT: It sounds like you are putting your tower in the same area mine is. For the front mounts you will have to remove the bow back cushions. Just pull upwards and they come right off. You are gonna want you holes right in the corner but make sure the hole is where the seat cushion will cover it up. I started with a large drill bit and made four holes in a square. Now you have enough room to use a hacksaw to connect the dots. My holes are about 3"X3". Don't worry about any lines or electrical components back there its all foam. This is the part that gets frustrating. The foam is very hard and that is the only thing between the hole and the hull of the boat. We just used screwdrivers and picked away at it. I put this mount about as far as I could reach back in there, which was exactly where I wanted it. Note: if you don't put it far back it will lengthen your tower thus lowering it where the bimini won't work with it.

BACK: For the Back mounts you will have to take your coolers out on both sides of the engine compartment. Its about 6 screws and they just lift out. You will also have to take the grab handles off because they are connected to the cooler. After that is done you will need a flashlight to crawl down in there head first to see where you want to mount it. Watch for your bilge lines on the driver side and Gas lines on the passenger side. You might want to only go down there once per side since it is very hard to get out.

After your mounts are on, you are ready to put your tower on.

Note: When drilling your Holes from the outside make sure to drill perpindicular to the boats hull. It not the bolt will have tension on it when tighting and make spider cracks in the gel coat. One of my mounts did that because I went in at an angle. Probably shouldn't have been drinking while drilling!

[davo]

Thanks all for your input. Final stage for my challenger is finally done.
Ended up putting granite cut groove hydroturf in the boat with the light gray turf outside on the swim platform with granite surrounds. The worst part of doing this was removing the studs. Had to use a special screw remover bit for a couple. Turf is so much better, even my 6 year old commented about how the floor is always dry & not squishy now. Used a kit with 3m, also cut 3 more bits out of my spare square to complete the look, well worth it.
Also put a tower up with a solid bimini frame. Great set up, rock solid. I've had the boat on the bay which was reasonably rough with three of us on board, full fuel. WOT we were getting about 72 kph. Before the job it would have been 76 kph in those conditions. Its so good not speed watching with the top up now. Also we can strap the tube to the top of the bimini also.

cheers David

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[Kevin Leclair]

Looks awesome! Thanks for the update and pics.

[Terrye edye]

That tower and top look frickin sharp man!