Installing Light Bar on SAN

[whitlecj]

I am getting ready to install a light bar on my SAN. I have a quick question regarding drilling the hole through the fiberglass and gelcoat and into my tower. I was wondering if I would be safe drilling from the underside of the deck into the tower base. This would be the easiest way to drill the hole but I am worried that it my mess up my gelcoat as the drill bit enters the gel from the underside. The other option is to remove the tower and drill from the top. I read about doing this without messing up the gelcoat, but removing the tower is somewhat of a pain. What do you guys think?

[ag4ever]

If you are drilling into the center of the tower leg, then from the bottom should be just fine.

I not into the tower leg, then use a small bit to drill up, then drill down with the larger bit.

[whitlecj]

I am drilling into the center of the tower leg. So you don't think that drilling from underneath will crack or rough up the gelcoat around the hole? I just don't want to get a gelcoat crack running out from under my tower base. Thanks

[Dr.John]

At my dealer, I think they drill wiring holes in every tower they install as a matter of practice. I saw a couple they were doing when I picked up my tower and they drill both sides. They didn't countersink the wiring holes if I remember correctly. I assume that you did check for holes.....right? :shock:
That said, only two risks that I can guess would be that alignment would be a little difficult, and you could make some cracks in the gel coat :cry: , although they probably wouldn't radiate past the plate coverage.
You are no doubt younger than me (everyone else is) and can probably stand on your head, contorting your arms and legs while drilling, however I would opt for removing said tower. :lol:

[actiondcpd]

I was wondering about the same thing. I would think the install would be a little cleaner if you take the tower off, however a lot easier by drilling with the tower in place. Let me know what you end up doing and how it works out.

[Dr.John]

Here is what CC offers re. installation:

[brit_rider]

When drilling your boat i would never recommend drilling from the inside - you could end up with cracks and will get lots of chips in the gelcoat as the bit surfaces.

Take the tower off, or if possible fold the tower forward then just remove the side you need to work on.

EDIT: Drill from the outside, starting the drill in reverse to get through the intial Gel Coat, then run it forward through the Fibreglass nice and slow, the bits generally try to bite in and pull them selves through, if this happends, just back up and start again.

If you drill from the inside out and get cracks, they will over time spread across your gunnel which coudl be a real pain to fix up

[whitlecj]

Thanks brit_rider, that is exactly what I was thinking but just wanted to confirm it. I am really not looking forward to taking the tower off, but I would much rather do that than to end up with gelcoat cracks. Thanks for the help.

[efox]

Monster Tower directions recommend running the drill in reverse through the whole thickness of the gel/fiberglass if I'm not mistaken. So I think Brit-rider might have it backwards. Perhaps someone with more experience can elaborate. Monster also recommends Chamfering the hole with a larger bit run in reverse to prevent the spider webbing which is common.

Not poo-pooing on your advice Brit-rider...just wanting to be sure!

Eric

[whitlecj]

I think you are right eric. I think that is what brit-rider was trying to say

[brit_rider]

Efox, hehe, sorry i got my gel coat and Fibreglass mixed up, just swop the words round

this is rather embaressing with me being Monster Towers UK distributor!!!