Bayliner 195 Tower installed

[oldjeep]

Bought a Liquid Audio tower a few weeks ago and installed it on my 05 195 classic. It is a folding design which uses side bars to distribute the load, the tower attaches to them.

Had the boat on the water yesterday and was happy that it seemed solid and didn't make any noises. Still have to actually hook up a rope to it and try it out once the water gets a little bit warmer.

 

[pat8839]

Re: Bayliner 195 Tower installed

That looks sweet!! I have an '06 Bayliner 195 and am dying to get a tower on her. Where did you get it? Do you happen to have any pics of your installation?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Bayliner 195 Tower installed

That looks sweet!! I have an '06 Bayliner 195 and am dying to get a tower on her. Where did you get it? Do you happen to have any pics of your installation?

Got it off ebay - the manufacturer/distributor sells there:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=140397785825&viewitem=

Didn't take any pictures of the installation, it was pretty straight forward. Worst part is just psyching yourself up to drill 16 holes in the boat. 2 of my kids helped with the assembly. One helper is a must, 2 is better.

 

[pat8839]

Re: Bayliner 195 Tower installed

wow 16 holes huh? That would be quite scary!!
If you don't mind explaining, how exactly does it attach? could you take a pic of where/how it attaches? I really want to get one, but it's the installation that scares me!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Bayliner 195 Tower installed

wow 16 holes huh? That would be quite scary!!
If you don't mind explaining, how exactly does it attach? could you take a pic of where/how it attaches? I really want to get one, but it's the installation that scares me!

It attaches via 4 plates that have 4 bolts through them. A rubber piece goes between the bracket and the hull. Inside the hull there are backing plates which connect a bolt on each side of the plate.

This is the only picture I've got right now, it shows the hardware before it was installed.

 

[ThreeMileBayWaker]

Re: Bayliner 195 Tower installed

Cool, looks like it flows pretty well. Nice install!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Bayliner 195 Tower installed

Here are some better pictures of the mounts. The main consideration is to make sure that they can be placed in the same relative position on both sides. In the case of my bayliner there is a bezel covering the horn, so I started on the right side of the boat and worked around that obstruction first.

Other things to consider are:
Mounts need to be on a flat surface - not a problem on a bayliner which is pretty flat.

When drilling holes make sure that the wires are out of the way. The tower mounts to the same area as the main harness runs.

Use Painters tape to mask off anywhere the brackets will sit, this keeps you from scuffing up the boat and also keeps the fiberglass from splintering when drilling.

After drilling the holes the correct size, use a bigger bit to slightly chamfer the hole so that the gelcoat doesn't spiderweb from the hole.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Bayliner 195 Tower installed

One of the bigger challanges is mounting the second side. There are very few surfaces on a boat to measure from.

Initially I tried measuring from the rear cleats forward, but it didn't look right. Turned out that my right and left rear cleats are 1/2" different for and aft. I wound up using the furthest point back on the windshield to measure from and that worked.

 

[RAT Attack]

Re: Bayliner 195 Tower installed

That tower looks SWEEEEEET on that boat. It flows perfectly.
I have a somewhat unuasual boat I am thinking about putting a tower on, but stil trying to find the right look, for the right $$$, and not get a devorce afterwards...lol
CONGATS! I hope you have fun with it this summer.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Bayliner 195 Tower installed

That tower looks SWEEEEEET on that boat. It flows perfectly.

I got kind of lucky in that I knew exactly what it would look like. I was looking for something on ebay and found a 2005 195 with a tower on it for sale. I really liked the tower so I contacted the seller to see if he would tell me the brand - then I bought thye same one

 

[RAT Attack]

Re: Bayliner 195 Tower installed

I got kind of lucky in that I knew exactly what it would look like. I was looking for something on ebay and found a 2005 195 with a tower on it for sale. I really liked the tower so I contacted the seller to see if he would tell me the brand - then I bought thye same one

That is nice to be able to see it on your exact same boat befor you take the blunge. Anyway, congrats & thanks for the help in the other thread I started. I do like that tower on that cuddy a lot!

 

[pat8839]

Re: Bayliner 195 Tower installed

How difficult is it to lower the tower down for low bridges/garage/etc?

 

[PitchFork]

Re: Bayliner 195 Tower installed

How difficult is it to lower the tower down for low bridges/garage/etc?

If it is the same as my Aerial Tower which it looks the same. It takes less than a minute to:
1. 1/4 turn on 2 rear mount screws
2. remove upper 2 screws on hortizonal where the rope hooks
3. remove 2 front screws
4. Lower tower slowly
5. Back into Garage.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Bayliner 195 Tower installed

If it is the same as my Aerial Tower which it looks the same. It takes less than a minute to:
1. 1/4 turn on 2 rear mount screws
2. remove upper 2 screws on hortizonal where the rope hooks
3. remove 2 front screws
4. Lower tower slowly
5. Back into Garage.

Yup - same process on mine (except I don't do step #1).

The 4 that get removed on mine have knobs so that no tools are required.

 

[pat8839]

Re: Bayliner 195 Tower installed

Oldjeep-you obviously are doing some wakeboarding-What engine is in your boat and what prop do you use? I'm curious. I'm new to the game as I just got my 195. It has the 4.3L with a 14.5 19* aluminum prop and I'm looking to upgrade it...
Thanks!

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Bayliner 195 Tower installed

Oldjeep-you obviously are doing some wakeboarding-What engine is in your boat and what prop do you use? I'm curious. I'm new to the game as I just got my 195. It has the 4.3L with a 14.5 19* aluminum prop and I'm looking to upgrade it...
Thanks!

My son does most of the wakeboarding, I'm a slalom guy.

Mines a 195 classic, which only comes with the 3.0L but is a bunch lighter than the other style 195. Prop on mine is just a stock type quick silver aluminum prop. (14.25" x 21 pitch 3 blade)

I do also have one other prop that I just had repaired - it requires a high performance fin since the prop sticks out further. It's a 21 pitch Hustler which gives a better holeshot - nice for slalom but not a big deal for wakeboarding.

 

[Gryphon]

Re: Bayliner 195 Tower installed

My son does most of the wakeboarding, I'm a slalom guy.

Mines a 195 classic, which only comes with the 3.0L but is a bunch lighter than the other style 195. Prop on mine is just a stock type quick silver aluminum prop. (14.25" x 21 pitch 3 blade)

I do also have one other prop that I just had repaired - it requires a high performance fin since the prop sticks out further. It's a 21 pitch Hustler which gives a better holeshot - nice for slalom but not a big deal for wakeboarding.

I have a 2008 Bayliner 195 Discovery (same boat I beleive). I use a high 5 19" prop on mine to wakeboard with, it works well.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Bayliner 195 Tower installed

Had our first runs of the year yesterday, and my son really liked the tower. No movement/groaning that I noticed.

One of the racks showed up today - An Aerial whirlwind ski rack that we got off ebay for a good price. Seems like it'll work well just need to get the boat out in the driveway where I can put the tower up and install the rack.

 

[pat8839]

Re: Bayliner 195 Tower installed

I have a 2008 Bayliner 195 Discovery (same boat I beleive). I use a high 5 19" prop on mine to wakeboard with, it works well.

Gryphon how do you like the high five? I'm looking to get one of those as I hear that's the best thing to get. Does it make maintaining speed any better?

 

[Gryphon]

Re: Bayliner 195 Tower installed

Gryphon how do you like the high five? I'm looking to get one of those as I hear that's the best thing to get. Does it make maintaining speed any better?

Not sure on maintaining speed as I have never wakeboarded behind the boat without it. It is still a challenge for the gf to maintain a constant speed, she still tries to kill me by going to fast every once and awhile.