Pulled the trigger on a tower

[pat8839]

I finally pulled the trigger and ordered an Aerial Airborne wakeboard tower for my 2006 Bayliner 195. It came with 2 free wakeboard racks so I decided to jump on it.
Any installation tips from you guys whom have done this?
Anyone else have a Bayliner 195 that has a similar tower for feet placement ideas?

 

[brick75]

Re: Pulled the trigger on a tower

I do have some advice. When it arrives, take it all out of the packaging and carefully examine all the surfaces of the tubing. Especially in the H-section. Mine had a good size dimple in it that I didn't catch until I went to do the install which was a good deal of time after receiving it. The dimple prevented the leg from inserting into the H-section, so I had to spend 30 minutes or so filing it down on the inside. Still a pretty tight fit, but got it to work. Not sure where you bought it from, but after contacting my place of purchase (H20 Sports Warehouse) I found that if I had contacted them right away with the issue, it would have been much easier and less costly to have a replacement sent. This is why I recommend looking it over right away.

Be sure to reinforce the inside of the hull where you're attaching the feet. Even if it looks like the surface is pretty flat, it only takes a very small amount of curvature for the pressure to crack your gel coat. I used plywood (as thick as you can get and still get the nut on securely) and put an epoxy between that and the hull.

Only other issue I had was that the installation instructions did not give the correct diameter for the holes that you drill into the boat for the mounts. The morons at Aerial apparently thought that updating the instructions on their website was good enough. The printed instructions are probably updated by now, but you should double check.

Good luck.

 

[pat8839]

Re: Pulled the trigger on a tower

Brick I did get mine from H2O warehouse as well. I saw on their email that they want you to check it out in the first 3 days so I will do that. Was this dimple something you could see from the exterior of the tube or did you not find it until you went to slide the other part inside? I will be reinforcing the interior of the hull-seems this is a must from what I have read.
I will go download their new instructions from the website so I do not run into the same problem you did with the hole size (is it the aerial website or the H20 warehouse site?).
Did you counter sink the holes you drilled? I have heard mention of this, but I am not really sure how it is done...

 

[brick75]

Re: Pulled the trigger on a tower

I didn't notice the dimple until I went to install the leg, but if I had known to look for it right away, it would have been noticable just by sight and touch.

The Aerial website is where you would check the install instructions.

Yes, you will want to chamfer the holes in the hull. I just bought a set of grinding tips that you run on a drill from a local tool supply store and used the ball type.

 

[Mullin]

Re: Pulled the trigger on a tower

You have probably already heard this one, drill through figerglass with the drill in reverse. It still drills quickly but doesn't grab and chip out. I've seen putting down masking tape and drilling through that, but I'd still go in reverse.

 

[pat8839]

Re: Pulled the trigger on a tower

I don't think I understand how to chamfer the holes...if I go to the store I'm not sure what I would be looking for tool wise like you are talking about.

Thanks for the reminder about drilling in reverse!

 

[brick75]

Re: Pulled the trigger on a tower

I don't think I understand how to chamfer the holes...if I go to the store I'm not sure what I would be looking for tool wise like you are talking about.

Thanks for the reminder about drilling in reverse!

One of these...

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_...1x00003a&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=SPM2691300101

You just run it in the hole a bit until the edges are knocked down to an angle. This will help prevent chipping and cracking.

 

[pat8839]

Re: Pulled the trigger on a tower

Aerial website says I need a 5/8" drill bit for the leg feet, would I just get a 5/8" one of these to do the job?
thanks again

 

[brick75]

Re: Pulled the trigger on a tower

Aerial website says I need a 5/8" drill bit for the leg feet, would I just get a 5/8" one of these to do the job?
thanks again

If you mean a 5/8" grinding ball, then no, you don't want to do that. You might be able to get one of those through the hull eventually, but it would probably take about a half hour, and your hole would probably not be very clean.

You need to get a 5/8" drill bit. Unfortunately those don't come very cheap. Most sets max out at 1/2" so you have to buy them as stand alone. I belive they're around $15 at Home Depot, but you might be able to find a cheap one somewhere.

 

[pat8839]

Re: Pulled the trigger on a tower

Oh no, sorry-my thoughts did not make it to my keyboard. I meant would I use a 5/8" grinding ball on the hole after it was drilled through using a 5/8" drill bit

 

[pat8839]

Re: Pulled the trigger on a tower

Do I want a drill bit that is meant for wood or metal to drill into the fiberglass?

 

[brick75]

Re: Pulled the trigger on a tower

Yes, your typical wood drill bit is what you want. And no, you don't want a ball that is also 5/8". It needs to be bigger so only part of the ball fits into the hole. That's how the outside edges are ground down at an angle. That one on the link above would work fine (I believe it is a 1" ball).

 

[pat8839]

Re: Pulled the trigger on a tower

I was looking online at foot placement for the tower and from what I see online is that the 195's seem to have the front feet on a horizontal surface as opposed to a vertical surface. This surface is directly in front of the windshield (picture attached).
The rear feet go along the sidewall/vertical surface as usual.
Just wanted to get your thoughts on that front foot placement.
Thanks!

 

[brick75]

Re: Pulled the trigger on a tower

I don't have any experience with horizontal feet mounting, but I've seen it done that way on a number of boats. Can't imagine you would have any issues doing it that way, but if you're concerned you might give the guys at Aerial a call for their input.

 

[pat8839]

Re: Pulled the trigger on a tower

Just to add to this thread in case someone reads it, I did contact the guys at H20 and they said mounting the front 2 feet on the horizontal surface will be fine. I have not tried to line them up yet but I will be trying it this way.