Running wires through tower

[kottenmouth21]

I am in the process of installing tower lights on my tower. The left side already has wires running through for the tower speakers. I want to use the right side so I can tie into a switch on the dashboard.

Any special tricks on running the wire? Fishing it through?

Thanks in advance!!

[Thomas Hohl]

Just finished putting my tower speakers in. I did it with a fish tape and 2 people, one on each end. It's still not fun. You will need to remove the leg of the tower at the hull and lift it up. If there is not a hole in the hull you will need to drill one. The tower already has the hole. Make sure you taper the hole in the hull with a countersink or something so your hole doesn't create cracks in the gellcoat. Other than that, get ready to learn some new cuss words.

[jake's02-22i]

I have heard that using yarn and a shop vac works great. Suck the yarn from one hole to the next and then tape the wire to the yarn a pull it through.

[Tequilasun]

I have heard that using yarn and a shop vac works great. Suck the yarn from one hole to the next and then tape the wire to the yarn a pull it through.

Confirmed. Or string with a little piece of cloth tied on it.

[da.bell]

^^ Dogbert and Chpthril say that it doesn't work.

[Tanner]

I agree it doesn't work very well either.

Just get to fishing it through and get you some needle nose and make u some little hooks out of wire to hook onto it when you see it heading out.

Not fun, but not hard. More frustrating than anything.

[brett22i]

I used a fish tape that I purchased from Home Depot $19 and some weedeater line and made a loop on the end. The weedeater line slides real well, taped on the wire to the end of the weedeater line and gently fed it through. The weedeater line makes it easier to fed and pull compared to using the steel fish wire since I was doing this solo.

[rushin]

have heard that using yarn and a shop vac works great

I did not get it to work either, with yarn, string or fishing line.

I used weedeater line.

[Jason B]

I drilled a small(ish) hole 1/2 way up. Going 1/2 way at a time with a bent hanger made it a SNAP. You need to have a decent rubber grommet or snap in cover to finish the hole though, don't just leave it exposed.

[Thomas Hohl]

I tried the shop vac trick with a heavy duty shop vac. It's just a myth. It does not work. Good old fish tape and some good old fashion cuss words.

[Tequilasun]

^^ Dogbert and Chpthril say that it doesn't work.

Hmmm, I was gonna say if those are your only two references....LOL

Duly noted gents. I'm speaking from experiences of running wires very long distances, across a house, through ventilation ducts, piping etc. I'm thinking the welds inside the tower cause the lighter weight string/yarn to get snagged. great info on the weedeater line.

[dogbert]

Hmmm, I was gonna say if those are your only two references....LOL

Hey go paddle your canoe up a creek



(j/k)

[Waterski-Rebel]

I guess I was lucky. I had a hole pre-drilled, and there was a piece of 12 gauge wire hanging in there. I taped my wire to that, and then pulled/pushed it through.

[mtnsmith]

I personally can attest with three witnesses that the shopvac technique does indeed work. I however used dental floss that was balled up at the end. You also have to cover any other hole in the tower that might allow air in and reduce the velocity in the direction you are trying to go, I used masking tape.

[Tequilasun]

I personally can attest with three witnesses that the shopvac technique does indeed work. I however used dental floss that was balled up at the end. You also have to cover any other hole in the tower that might allow air in and reduce the velocity in the direction you are trying to go, I used masking tape.

And so the tide shifts again!