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So not being able to sit still too long after doing my NSS build, I decided it was out with the old four leg tower and in with a new FCT5 tower. With limited info available, I thought it should be able to be done. I picked up a tower at the right price from my dealer and set about getting it done. This is the starting look of the boat with the old tower.
New tower all unpacked
The tower was 100mm too narrow for the boat, so I had some billet spaced made and put longer bolts into the top either side if the centre section
Next, remove the old tower. Boat looks a little bare and it's not often you see one like this. We also put some tape down the side of the boat and measured clearances to the garage door head at various points along the boat.
We then removed the stainless steel step plates and glasses up the old insert as that's where the tower sits and I wanted a good solid base. I then drilled all the mounting holes
I also fabricated a 6mm ally plate the size of the tower foot to go under the gunwale to spread the load of the new tower.
With the old tower off the new one went on for a test fit before paint. Everything worked a treat.
I then installed cup holder in the old front leg locations and installed some sano mat over the old rear leg holes as step plates.
With everything fitting well, it was time to break it all down and send to paint. Colours came back amazing!
Not getting a lower set of tower speakers (only a upper set), I installed some neat led cockpit down light to give a nice glow at night
Not time for the bimini. A designed and had water cut some 20mm thick, height adjustable side arm to mount a Z5 style rack onto. The arms are held in place by the same knobs that are in the tower so no tools are required.
After this I fabricated a mock up rack using PVC conduit and zip ties. We will finish fabrication on the alloy frame tomorrow which we will the get powdercoated black along with the side arms
All the fitting used on the bimini are the same quick release ones that the factory uses. The main support arms are also telscopic slip yokes to allow for the arms on the side of the tower getting wiser as they get lower.
Quick release clamps for this will arrive next week when the boat is off getting canvas done.
I am now also waiting for my xm9 speakers to arrive and I will paint the grills lime green as a nice touch
Will keep the thread up dated as it happens
New tower all unpacked
The tower was 100mm too narrow for the boat, so I had some billet spaced made and put longer bolts into the top either side if the centre section
Next, remove the old tower. Boat looks a little bare and it's not often you see one like this. We also put some tape down the side of the boat and measured clearances to the garage door head at various points along the boat.
We then removed the stainless steel step plates and glasses up the old insert as that's where the tower sits and I wanted a good solid base. I then drilled all the mounting holes
I also fabricated a 6mm ally plate the size of the tower foot to go under the gunwale to spread the load of the new tower.
With the old tower off the new one went on for a test fit before paint. Everything worked a treat.
I then installed cup holder in the old front leg locations and installed some sano mat over the old rear leg holes as step plates.
With everything fitting well, it was time to break it all down and send to paint. Colours came back amazing!
Not getting a lower set of tower speakers (only a upper set), I installed some neat led cockpit down light to give a nice glow at night
Not time for the bimini. A designed and had water cut some 20mm thick, height adjustable side arm to mount a Z5 style rack onto. The arms are held in place by the same knobs that are in the tower so no tools are required.
After this I fabricated a mock up rack using PVC conduit and zip ties. We will finish fabrication on the alloy frame tomorrow which we will the get powdercoated black along with the side arms
All the fitting used on the bimini are the same quick release ones that the factory uses. The main support arms are also telscopic slip yokes to allow for the arms on the side of the tower getting wiser as they get lower.
Quick release clamps for this will arrive next week when the boat is off getting canvas done.
I am now also waiting for my xm9 speakers to arrive and I will paint the grills lime green as a nice touch
Will keep the thread up dated as it happens
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