wake board tower installation?

I am supposed to install a big air pylons tower on my boat this weekend. I am scared to drill in to the boat. I can't find anything neg about this tower on the net but if anyone has this tower or knows somebody with this tower I was wanting to know if its works well for them, any problems etc. This tower is going to have the weight of 4 speakers and 4 boards. Thanks

The only things that I would reccomend is when you are finished with the install, find which pins you will need to pull to fold it and replace all the other ones with stainless bolts and lock nuts. It will take away some of the rattle since it will have less rings and tightens some things up as well.

Try to lay down a trap over the interior when you are drilling. The aluminum and stainless shavings get everywhere.

I did not build mine according to the directions. I believe they tell you to measure everything and build it off the boat. I ended up mounting the front legs and putting the cross member on up top. I ran a rope form the cross member to the bow. This way I could see exactly how high it was going to be and what angle the front legs would be at with the windshield. After I braced it with a couple 2x4's to the floor, I put the rear legs in and swung them up into place where it looked good. Then I measured everything and started drilling.

Measure about 5 times before you drill into the hull.

(Message edited by joedirt00 on June 23, 2006)

http://bierbower.net/diytower/home.htm

As far as actually drilling, start by looking under the deck to make sure you won't hit wires, interior trim, bracing, or bulkheads. Tape off the areas of the feet with masking tape (the yellow kind, not the blue easy-peel stuff). This will protect the gelcoat from scratches and help reduce chipping when drilling. Have a couple people help you hold the tower where you think you want it, and stand back an look at it to see if it looks funny. I've seen some really nice towers look like crap because they were mounted in stupid places. Measure everything several times and make sure everything is plumb and square. Mark where to drill your holes on the masking tape. Drill pilot holes, and run the drill in reverse till you're through the gelcoat.

It's intimidating, but if you're mechanical at all it's an easy job.

It really is a pretty easy job. Just measure everything a couple of times and do it.

http://www.atlantictowers.com/ has an install link. Not exactly a wake tower but it may help.

(Message edited by biz on June 23, 2006)

USE TAPE or it will splinter!

My Big Air tower has been great. I installed it this spring and I carry 4 boards on it at all times. No problems. The afore mentioned tips are spot on. I bondo'd some plywood behind the fibergass just for the heck of it.. didn't need it, but it couldn't hurt.

Measure and re measure... your boat may not be the same from side to side!

Use lots of oil when you are drilling the stainless... and go slow. Cobalt bits are not cheap! For me, the drilling was a 2 man job. The shavings go everywhere and love to stick in carpet.

I assembled mine in a spare room just to see how it looks (no drilling though). Make sure you get the top level with the boat floor.... and get the cross braces level. Keep wiggling and jiggling the tower and it will finally lay like you want it.

I replaced the pins that I don't remove with bolts as well. My others don't rattle, but a rubberband on each pin easily fixes that.

Overall, the tower installation was well worth the the effort!

We also have the tower and greatly enjoy it, the only thing i recomend is check on the inside of the boat and make sure its a flat enough surface to mount the backing plates on. We found that out the hard way unfortinately. But other than that the tower has been great and was pretty easy for me, my dad, and a friend to install. Hope you enojy your tower.

The base plates are actually pretty thick. I ended up taking a grinder and concaving 2 of mine to match a curverd portion of my boat. I then took the backing plates and beat them into a curve to match, more or less. I figured the rubber would take up any issues with imperfections in my craftsmanship.