tower mounts

[seymoc1]

As part of my spring cleaning I try and tighten every screw, nut, bolt, connector, zip tie etc... that I can find. I was under the dash tightening the windshield bolts and figured I'd give a turn or two on the front tower braces, easy enough. But can someone help me with the rear tower braces? As far as I can tell the rears are not through bolted I only see the two wood screws that go down from the top side of the plate. The tower is an upgraded Metcraft tower on a 2000 21V limited. I can post some pictures if I need to. I have noticed that the wood screws loosen up easily and need to be tightened about every trip out.

[Harvey]

There is a bolt that is built in the middel of the back leg that you can't see.

[seymoc1]

Any ideas on how to get to it? I might can get a socket with a long extension up to it. Anyone know if the nut on the back is the same as the nut on the front brace?


one other question. do the interior side panels come out?



Thanks in advance!


chris

[hanzj]

seymoc1, if you can get to it, let me know how. I'm 6'5" and have long arms. I climbed into the passenger truck and couldn't reach it with an extended socket wrench. You can't get to it from the back trunk because of the glased in pipes that hold wiring. I think you have to take the seat backs off, but I haven't figured out an easy way to do that either.

[seymoc1]

That is my exact problem. I did the same thing, climbed up under the dash on the passenger side and I couldn't even see it with a flashlight. I have no idea how I'm going to reach it. But I know the tower was installed after the boat was purchased so somebody got to it.... I HOPE!


thanks!

chris

[Tige M.D.]

We don't use the Metcraft tower here so I think you should probably talk to your dealer about the rear feet mounts. But I can tell you how to get the upholstery panels out.
Looking at the panel, you have a top bolster that tucks deep down into the cushion, that tuck runs horizontal the total length of the panel. Now for the hard part, spread the tuck apart and look into the tuck, start at one end and work your way back. In the tuck is where the the screws are. They are either going to be a phillips tip or a #2 square tip head (Tige could'nt decide which to use). You probably won't be able to actually see the screw so look for a hole in the vinyl that it went through, when you find the hole push your screw driver tip and cross your fingers that the screw head is not stripped out. If that is the case then you will have to force a pry bar between the deck and seat back and break the screws.
Good luck

[lee]

You can get to the rear mounts by climbing in from the rear storage compartments and crawling in head first. It can be done with a ratchet with an extension and deep set socket.

[hanzj]

Tige M.D., On my 2000 21V there is no seat tuck on any seat-back/side panels. It is a solid vinyl covered panel in the shape of a triangle with two bolts that go through the fiberglass with bolts on the back. There is no way to reach it from either front or rear storage compartments(with out a go-go-gadget arm). Do you have to take all of panels off one-by-one starting from the front?

Here is a pic, the triangles are in grey vinyl.

[Tige M.D.]

hanzj, call me, it will be easier to explain.
Greg Denton
Service Mgr. Tige Watersports So.Ca.
909/737-9801