Thoughts on mounting wetsounds outside or above tower?

[nautiques4life]

Had a custom bimini made (I'm part ginger need lots of shade), knew I was gonna go with Rev 8's, but wanted to get the boat in for the bimini ASAP since skin cancer is more important than tunes and there was a few week turn around. Knowing which speakers I wanted I had wetsounds send me a brochure with their products and specs... which I later find out was wrong. Great.
So bimini comes back, looks great, and gave me the 10" of clearance I needed for the speakers, problem is speakers need 11" not the 9.54" printed in the brochure. So I don't have room. Thanks wet sounds, really wish someone would proof read their printed materials.
Alright that's the backstory/reason for my question...
So question is...
Where do I put these things now? I think going above would look goofy, thinking about going on the side above the Z5 mounting brackets? Anyone have any thoughts, ideas, or experience? Top vs side? any rope/docking issues I'm overlooking? Any votes for esthetics? (maybe I'm the only one that thinks mounting 2 above the tower would look like dog ears?)

PS they are the swivel clamps on a 2012 230 (FCT5)

[core-rider]

I would modify the bimini before ever thinking of mounting speakers outside the tower. I've never liked that look, and with only 2 speakers you run the risk of looking like Mickey. Just my $0.02.

[nautiques4life]

my thoughts exactly... except this bimini isn't going to change- it would have to be completely changed and reupholstered.

[ScooterMcgavin]

Maybe some pics of the Bimini on the tower so we can see what you have to work with?

[nautiques4life]

agreed.. photos would help but the boat is in AZ and this is about all I have on my phone...

[ScooterMcgavin]

That works.. My first thought would the obvious and try to move the Bimini down an inch to fit the speakers. Looks like from the pics you could lower those collars that are holding the Bimini down a bit to fit the speakers. Or at most have to have new poles made for the Bimini that are a little longer.
Just a thought.. Very nice boat and Bimini btw, looks great

[Paxdad]

Mickey Mouse ears is a good description..... I have heard the new sound bar from WetSounds sounds really good.

[nyryan2001]

Mount them on there right now like it is???

That bimini fabric will give the extra inch you need... yep its not perfect form wise... but function it'd be fine. I'd slide them in there now and be done.

[core-rider]

Mount them on there right now like it is???

That bimini fabric will give the extra inch you need... yep its not perfect form wise... but function it'd be fine. I'd slide them in there now and be done.

What nyryan2001 says or... That bimini doesn't look as if it would be too difficult to change the angle or mounting position of the collars to move the bimini down the 1" you need. No need to start mounting speakers outside the tower at all.

[swankster]

Scream Marine has photo galleries of a lot of mountings but I agree that I wouldn't put them above the tower unless ........

[swatguy]

I have seen plenty of 485's and 410's up there that I don't mind the look of up top. However I am against the 2 single cans up there.

What clamps were they giving you the hang height with? Honestly it looks like you have the room from the side view to squeeze them in as mentioned because the fabric will give just a bit. Have you tried adjusting the Bimini clamps down at all. I bet you could get and inch for sure there.

What if you took a side mount approach. Mount the speakers underneath and inside the tower but to the 90 upright. Then you could slide them completely flush with the top cross bar of the tower with some swivel clamps. Much like Malibu does. Just some quick images. Tuck them all the way to top.

[nautiques4life]

you're right scott, bimini would just require labor/new poles (plus a 3 hr drive and some time in the shop); right now I can stand under it and I have full access to swing the board racks in, if I moved it, I lose both of those. I see a lot of boats in havasu like that scream marine boat, and I mind the side mounted less than the top mount when I see those boats, but if you have 8+ speakers I think either is justified. I think this discussion is going to need me to take some more photos in each position and but it to a vote. Also I think the smaller mounting brackets would solve my problems but I'd like to keep the spinning function.