06 24Ve how to collapse the tower for storage purposes.

[Thegerman618]

Hey all, so I have had the boat put away for a few months and have 2 tarps and the boat cover on it. I have the tarps currently over the tower (which is up) and the high winds in my area are basically creating a sail, and starting to rip my tarps. So I want to collapse the tower and get a lower profile to save the tarps. Few questions:
1. How do I take it down, can I do it by myself?
2. Does the Bimini need to come off before I take the tower down?
3. Board Racks (in/out/off)
4. Do I need to have anything support the tower once it's down in the boat?
5. Speakers on/off?

Planning on doing this tomorrow any help is much appreciated. Here is a pic of the tower.image.jpg

[Iwndr]

Hey all, so I have had the boat put away for a few months and have 2 tarps and the boat cover on it. I have the tarps currently over the tower (which is up) and the high winds in my area are basically creating a sail, and starting to rip my tarps. So I want to collapse the tower and get a lower profile to save the tarps. Few questions:
1. How do I take it down, can I do it by myself? Remove both upright supports with the board racks on them. Then remove the driver side front lock down bolt. Then I used to stand on the observers seat and put my shoulder into the tower and hold it up while I took the remaining lock down bolt, after I removed it I just eased the tower down.
2. Does the Bimini need to come off before I take the tower down? I did not with mine but mine strapped to the top hoop, yours looks different....
3. Board Racks (in/out/off) I left the racks on the support and laid them on the floor.
4. Do I need to have anything support the tower once it's down in the boat? I had a cardboard cylinder that I recycled from a spool of carpet. I put it under the tow point on the top hoop down to the deck, And cut it so it just took the weight off the front hinges, you could notch a 2x4 board and do the same thing
5. Speakers on/off? I left my speakers on. 2 rev 8's
I did it myself every time I put it in the garage. It's pretty easy, I got to where it only took me about 3 minutes tops. Hope that helps and makes sense.

Planning on doing this tomorrow any help is much appreciated. Here is a pic of the tower.[ATTACH]41980[/ATTACH]

Added notes to your post

[Thegerman618]

so once the rear support beams are off the front hinge is strong enough to hold the tower up to remove the lock nuts to drop it down? My Bimini is across the top bar, it wasn't in this picture but it's the factory Bimini, but glad to know I can leave everything on the tower, and just drop the rear supports. I will have to make that support as you suggested. Thanks again for the help, I owe you big time.

[lee]

You can just remove the top bolt of the rear supports and then swing the supports to the rear. With your cover on, you will not be able to put a support for the tower as the cover will be in the way.

[lazer]

I remove the four tower bolts. Then, standing on the back seat, I drop the first upright down. Next, move to the other side about 2/3 the distance over and lift the tower so I can drop the second upright down and slowly lower my tower to the support I built out of PVC. I leave my speakers on.

[Thegerman618]

Thanks for all the info guys as soon as it warms up a bit I am going to go tackle this.

[Iwndr]

100_0501.jpg

Not a very good pic, but here I just let the tower lay on the pole for the boat cover. I never liked just laying back the supports because they either laid on the vinyl or on the gunwales, so I always just removed the extra bolt and laid them in the boat. I could have the cover fully on like that or with my other support also. Just pull the cover to that spot, put in your support and then pull the cover back the rest of the way and cinch it down.

[Thegerman618]

image.jpg
VICTORY!!! Thanks for all the help guys. I notched out a 2x4 to let the tower rest on the tow point. Thanks again guys.

[Iwndr]

[chpthril]

The billet uprights will pivot back, so you dont have to fully remove them but you will want to put a towel or blanket on the gunewal for them to rest on

[WYTige?]

Just another simple tip. If you can get your tower back up once in the garage, I attached a short piece of rope to the ceiling with a loop on one end, once I raise the tower back up I hook the loop on the top of the tower and then I can work in the boat with the tower up.

[Bald Mike]

I have the tarps currently over the tower (which is up) and the high winds in my area are basically creating a sail, and starting to rip my tarps.

Is your actual boat cover still in good shape? It just so happens I have a brand new custom boat cover that I am going to list for about 1/2 price, if you are interested. Not sure it will work with the Ve model? Need to do some research and see if the boat and tower are the same. Here are the details:

TIGE 24V w/FACTORY TOWER DOESN'T COVER PLATFORM
From Year 2006 to 2006
Brand: Westland Covers
Cover # TG69081S
Fabric: Sharkskin Plus
Color: Black
Retail: $845
My usual price: $510
My current New Years sale price: $464, which you can see at www.BaldMikes.com
Would sell it for $230 (not sure you can get a generic cover for that price)
Price will include shipping if in the lower 48.
A deal like this doesn't come up very often, I think this is only my 2nd in six years where the manufacturer shipped the wrong cover.

Again, just need to see if it will also fit the 24Ve model.

If interested, email me directly here: http://baldmikes.com/contact

Thanks,
Bald Mike