How to run speaker wires in tower

[lalijaca]

I have just purchased some tower speakers for my 2007 21i. The tower is bare. What is the best method for fishing new speaker wire through the tower and to the top, then what is the method for getting the speaker wire outside and joined to the speakers.
I assume that I run the wires from the observers seat side, but also how do I get to the area of the base of the tower. Do I run it through the forward or rear section that attaches to the deck.
I have attached some photos of the tower.
I look forward to all your comments. I am hoping to do this over the weekend.
20151016_200709.jpg20151016_191022.jpg20151016_200729.jpg20151016_200744.jpg20151016_200755.jpg

[BCRider]

You'll want to run the wires down to the front posts on your tower. To fish your best method is either an actual fish tape or you can also try some very light string and a shop vac at the second hole to try and suck the string from one spot to another.

The connection below works well where you have to go through the hull itself. Where the horizontal bar comes to the front bar you will have to exit the tube and go back in just after the connection so you may want some other inline connectors. This is only if you ever want or need to be able to take the tower down. If you never have to worry about it you could leave out the connector.

I personally like the step down bits for this but you may need to make a pilot hole first so the bit doesn't walk on you. Most cables literally come right out of the tower and in to the speaker connection. Rubber grommets at any location that enters or exits the tower is a good idea to help keep the water out.

[chpthril]

Just a quick note. The connector above is not needed for passing through the deck on an "E" series Tige tower. The wires can be routed so they are completely concealed in the tower. You will not even need the service- loop indicated in red in the above pic. Wires can be completely concealed.

[Bryan]

If you start at the top and use some decently stiff wire, that tower shouldn't be too hard to fish.. I don't have that exact tower, but my hardest part was getting through the deck. My wires are all concealed inside the tower as they pass through the deck, but the factory hole through was really small, as in only had room for the anchor light wire. I had to remove some of the interior and reach up inside the side of the boat to drill another hole into the tower tube

[BCRider]

My bad. Sorry for the miss leading info.

[lee]

I thought on the 2007 tower the wires went down the rear leg.

[lalijaca]

I have pulled off the observers side interior and located the rear post where it attaches to the deck. There is no holes for any wires to travel from the tube and then through the deck.
Do I drill into the tube close to the deck and then drill through the deck and pass the wires through the tube and then through the deck.
Also, should I run the tower speakers off one channel or both. If I run off one channel then I only need to run one cable through the tower, then loop the two speakers at the top. I assume that the join at the centre of the tower at the top is open, or I will have to run a separate cable up each side of the tower.

[lee]

Remove the bolt to the rear leg and see if the tower has a hole in it for your wires to pass through, then match that hole to the boat and drill through. I would run two speakers on two channels.

[chpthril]

I have pulled off the observers side interior and located the rear post where it attaches to the deck. There is no holes for any wires to travel from the tube and then through the deck.
Do I drill into the tube close to the deck and then drill through the deck and pass the wires through the tube and then through the deck.
Also, should I run the tower speakers off one channel or both. If I run off one channel then I only need to run one cable through the tower, then loop the two speakers at the top. I assume that the join at the centre of the tower at the top is open, or I will have to run a separate cable up each side of the tower.

Im working on a PM that will answer most of this for you. Dont take apart any more of the boat and dont drill holes yet.

[chpthril]

Also, should I run the tower speakers off one channel or both. If I run off one channel then I only need to run one cable through the tower, then loop the two speakers at the top.

Ideally, you will want a dedicated amp for tower speakers. This is because the tower zone tends to be the hardest driven zone on a boat, fallowed by the sub woofer zone. At a minimum, you will need two open chnls on an existing amp.

Also, you will want a pair of wires through the tower, for each pod, rather then a single pair for both.

[lalijaca]

Yay,Yippee, yeehah.
Today after much thought and effort,I finally got the stuck bolt out. I tried using external stud removers and broke the bolt twice. I ended up drilling the bolt out and filing the bolt side out, breaking it in to pieces and removing it.
There was not an ounce of anti sieze on the bolt whatever.
Threads internally were not too bad, but I think I will replace with same length bolt but add a mud guard washer and nyloc nut.

[Cwh]

Hey guys been trolling round on here a while first time to post. Bought a 02 21v riders edition late last year and trying to get some mods done before summer. My boat has "E" series tower also and I'm needing to run wires for speakers too. I broke tower down yesterday and ran a fish tape thru passenger back post but couldn't get thru the hull. Some of the info in this post was sent pm so hoping I can get some help from yall or chptril

[chpthril]

cwh,

You wont get the fish or wire to pass through the deck on its own. You will need to unbolt the tower foot from the deck, prop it up on a 2x4 block (insulated) and then fish the tape or wire out of the foot and push it through the deck. Leave the tower as is until you get the wire through, then set it back in place careful not to punch the wire.

[Cwh]

Thanks for the info. I wont be able to get around to it til this weekend but will try that. Do I need to hold back up on the allen head bolt for the foot? I was trying to get the seat back off by the back post because I could see a hole they must have cut to install tower.

[chpthril]

If you have an "E" series Tige tower, there is no nut, so accessing the bottom side of the tower foot is not needed. Ive never pulled the seat back off on the many ive done although its a tough reach from the floor when laying in the storage cavity. Once you feed enough cable through, snake the fish tape from the amp locker to the under seat storage, tie on the wires and pull then to the locker. Once you have enough slack to get where you need to, tie them up to the existing harness as far as you can reach.