DIY tower install, not build

eric-holmes · Outlaw Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Posts: 150 City: Searcy

I did a search on here and I could mostly find where people have made their own tower. Has anyone bought a tower from a company and installed it theirselves? I am kind of on a budget. I have been looking at this Aerial Airborne tower. It has most of the things I am interested in. I like how it folds down. I like the double tube pattern at the top. I also like how it has the side bar that flows with the windshield. I have looked at other brands like Monster and those do not really appeal to me.

I talked to a local installer and he mentioned about having to re-enforce around the mounts. I don't want to mess this up if I do it myself. I am real handy with tools but I have never done fiberglass work. So my main question is, Is this "self-installable"?

What are your thoughts on this brand?

Boat is a 2000 Larson 186 LXI

taitrt · Soul Rider Joined: 11 May 2009 Posts: 413

Yes, they are easily installed DIY.

You do need to reinforce the area under the mounts, but not necessarily with fiberglass. Lots of people just put wooden blocks behind the bolts to help spread out the stress on the boat. If you decide to do it that way make sure you either sand the block down to that it is flush with the curvature of the boat, or you fill the space between the block and the boat with some kind of filler (someone here once mentioned filling it with fiberglass resin, but my guess is you could use something even simpler like that spray can insulation stuff.

Have you looked at monster towers?

eric-holmes · Outlaw Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Posts: 150 City: Searcy

Yeah, I have looked at the monster towers. I don't really like their look. Thanks for the reply too.

get_sum · Soul Rider Joined: 04 Aug 2008 Posts: 395 City: Edmond

you can also use rubber between the board and hull on the inside.

eric-holmes · Outlaw Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Posts: 150 City: Searcy

I watched a video on Samsons website. They made it look easy but it still makes me nervous. lol

wiley_coyote · Criminal Joined: 08 Aug 2006 Posts: 60 City: Vernal

I still get nervous drilling into a boat even though I have done it dozens of times. I have installed 3 towers. I like to reinforce the mounts with a hard wood block and put as big of a block as you can fit that will look decent. This will prevent flexing and stop cracks in your gelcoat.

It's best if you can find a spot to mount the feet that will be hidden on the inside. I use epoxy that is rated for marine use although it's probably not necassary once everything is bolted on.

Also, when you drill a hole for the first time run the drill bit in reverse to burn through the gelcoat. It makes a cleaner hole.