Tower Installations

by admin | March 29, 2011 8:28 am

Download the Document version with images here Installation Manual (244).

Required Tools and Materials

Your new wakeboard tower has been designed to be assembled and installed by someone with reasonable mechanical ability, and with common hand tools. Listed below are the tools that are required for this installation:

• 3/8” Allen Wrench (included)
• 5/16” Allen Wrench (included)
• 5/32” Allen Wrench
• 7/16” Wrench or Socket
• 3/8” Power Drill
• 1/4” Drill Bit
• 1/4” Countersink Bit
• Masking Tape
• LocTiteâ blue thread locker
• Felt tip marking pen
• Grease Pencil
• Hammer

List of Included Parts and Hardware

Every effort has been made to insure that you receive a complete tower kit. Please refer to the list below and make sure that you have received all of the necessary pieces and hardware to complete your installation. If you are missing any items on the list, please call 13th Floor[1] at 951-674-4640.

• 1 – 3/8 Allen Wrench
• 1 – 5/16 Allen Wrench
• 16 – 1/4 x 20 Allen Screw
• 16 – 1/4 x 20 Nylock Nut
• 16 – 1/4 Fender Washer
• 4 – Mounting Pads
• 8 – 1/4 x 1-1/2 Roll Pin
• 8 – 5/16 x 1 Allen Bolt
• 4 – 5/16 x 1-1/4 Allen Bolt
• 8 – ½ x 1-1/4 Allen Bolt
• 4 – Mounting Base Ring
• 4 – Mounting Base Tab
• 4 – Mounting Base Head
• 4 – Tower Leg Joint
• 1 –Upper Tower Assembly

Step 1 – Mounting Base Head Installation

Note: Do not use LocTite on any bolts during this assembly step.

1. Install one mounting base head onto each tower leg using a 1/2 x 1-1/4 Allen bolt, as shown in the photo. Snug the bolt but do not fully tighten at this time.

[2]

Step 2 – Mounting Base Tab and Ring Installation

Note: Do not use LocTite on any bolts during this assembly step.

1. Place a mounting base tab into the base ring so that the tab fits in the recess that is machined into the bottom of the base ring.
2. Install one mounting base tab/ring assembly onto each base head using a 5/16 x 1-1/4 Allen bolt, as shown in the photo.
3. Snug the bolt but do not fully tighten at this time.

[3]

Step 3 – Tower Leg Joint Installation

Note: Do not use LocTite on any bolts during this assembly step.

1. Install one tower leg joint onto each tower leg using a 1/2 x 1-1/4 Allen bolt, as shown in the photo.
2. When installing the leg joints, make sure that the bimini mount screw holes face forward on the front legs, and to the rear on the back legs.
3. Snug the bolt but do not fully tighten at this time.

[4]

Step 4 – Tower Leg Installation

Note: Do not use LocTite on any bolts during this assembly step.

1. Install each leg to the tower top assembly using two 5/16 x 1 Allen bolts, as shown in the photo.
2. Snug the bolts but do not fully tighten at this time.

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Step 5 – Hull Preparation

1. Mask off all four corners of the boat where the tower bases will mount. See photo for an example of masking.
2. Place the tower on the boat so that centering measurements can be taken.

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Step 6 – Centering the Front Mounts

WARNING: Insure that there are no obstructions on the inside of the hull opposite where the mounting base rings will attach!!

WARNING: On open bow boats, make sure that the walk-through window clears the tower legs!!

1. Measure the distance from the side of the hull to the side of the front mounting bases. Repeat this process on the other side of the boat.
2. Adjust the tower on the boat as necessary to center the front mounting bases.
3. Check the measurements one more time to insure that they are equal on both sides of the boat.
4. Use a felt tip pen to mark the four screw holes on each mounting base ring.

[7]

Step 7 – Drilling the Front Mounting Base Holes

WARNING: Insure that there are no obstructions on the inside of the hull opposite where the mounting base rings will attach!!

WARNING: On open bow boats, make sure that the walk-through window clears the tower legs!!

1. Using the 1/4 inch drill bit, drill eight holes for the front mounting base rings using the pen marks as a guide, as shown in photo at left.
2. Once the holes are drilled, remove the masking tape from the hull.

[8]

Step 8 – Countersinking the Front Mounting Base Holes

1. To eliminate the possibility of gel coat cracking, countersink each mounting hole. Insure that the countersink goes through the gel coat to the start of the fiberglass. Make sure that the countersink is large enough to leave the edge of the gel coat rounded.
2. Refer to the photo at left for an example of correctly drilled and countersunk mounting holes.

Note: A square bevel may cause gel coat fracture when tightening the mounts.

[9]

Step 9 – Front Tower Mount Preparation

1. Remove the two mounting base ring and tab assemblies from the front legs.
2. Insert four 1/4 x 2 mounting screws into a mounting base ring. Slide a rubber pad over the screws onto the mounting base ring and tab assembly.  Coat the mounting screws with anti-seize as shown in the photo.
3. Repeat the above steps for the second mounting base ring and tab assembly.

[10]

Step 10 – Front Tower Mount Installation

1. Install a front tower mount into the hull. Place a 1/4 inch fender washer and a Nylock nut on each mounting screw and tighten until the rubber mounting pad begins to bulge slightly.
2. Repeat this process for the other tower mount.
3. Install the tower onto the boat. Secure the front legs into their mounts using the 5/16 x 1-1/4 Allen bolts. Tighten bolts until they are snug.

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Step 11 – Centering the Rear Tower Mounts

1. Mark, drill and countersink the holes for the rear mounts using the same procedures described for the front mounts.

[12]

Step 12 – Rear Tower Mount Installation

1. Apply grease to the mounting pad on the side that will face the mounting base ring and tab.
2. Insert four 1/4 x 2 mounting screws into the mounting base ring and slide the rubber pad over the screws onto the mounting base ring and tab assembly.  Make sure that the greased side of the pad faces the mounting base as shown in the photo. Coat the mounting screws with anti-seize.
3. Install the mount into the hull. Place a 1/4 inch fender washer and a Nylock nut on each mounting screw and tighten until the rubber mounting pad begins to bulge slightly.
4. Repeat the above steps for the other rear mount.

[13]

Step 13 – Secure and Center The Tower

1. Use the 5/16 x 1-1/4 Allen bolts to secure the tower to the rear mounts. Tighten bolts until they are snug.
2. To center the tower, rack the tower assembly back and forth until the center on the tower top aligns with the center of the boat.

NOTE: All bolts should be snug enough to hold the tower in the centered position while the legs are marked in the next step.

[14]

Step 14 – Marking the Tower Legs

1. Now that the tower assembly has been centered on the boat, an alignment mark is made between the tower leg and the polished half bracket of the leg joint. This mark will allow you to retain the proper positioning while you are installing the roll pins in the tower legs.
2. Using a grease pencil, draw a straight line between the tower leg and the polished half bracket of the leg joint, as shown in the photo.
3. Repeat the above steps for each tower leg.

[15]

Step 15 – Roll Pin Installation

1. Remove one tower leg at a time.
2. Insure that the grease pencil marks are aligned and tighten the 1/2” Allen bolt.
3. Drill two 1/4 inch holes into the tower leg using the half bracket as your guide as shown in the photo at left.
4. Important: Insure that the depth of the hole in the leg itself is at least 3/4 inch.
5. Tap a roll pin into each hole in the half bracket until it is flush with the face of the bracket, as shown in the photo at left.
6. Remove the 1/2 inch Allen bolt and apply LocTite to the threads. Reinstall the bolt and tighten securely.
7. Reassemble the leg to the upper tower assembly by applying LocTite to the threads of each 5/16 x 1 Allen bolt and tightening securely.
8. Repeat the above steps for each tower leg.

NOTE: If you intend to break down your tower for storage and transit, DO NOT LocTiteâ the bolts that hold the forward leg joints together. Use anti-seize instead.

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Step 16 – Final Assembly

1. Remove the following bolts from the tower assembly, apply LocTiteâ to the threads and tighten securely:
2. q  1/2 x 1-1/4 Allen bolts from mounting base heads (4)
3. q  5/16 x 1/14 Allen bolts from mounting base tabs (4)
4. Thoroughly check over the tower for any loose bolts, mounting plates, or joints.

Note: If you have any problems or questions during the installation of your 13th Floor[1]  wakeboard tower, please call us at 951-674-4640. We will be glad to assist you in any way we can. Thank you for your business.

Source URL: http://13thfloortowers.com/installation-tutorials/tower-installations/

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