Z1 E series tower wiring?

[Zerps]

Just bought an 08 Z1. Upgraded stereo w/ 4 in boat speakers but no tower speakers. Not wired in tower either. Did notice the wire for the tower light running thru the tower. Does anyone know how to wire these towers? Can u run wire up the rear tower leg from within the boat?

[Iwndr]

Just bought an 08 Z1. Upgraded stereo w/ 4 in boat speakers but no tower speakers. Not wired in tower either. Did notice the wire for the tower light running thru the tower. Does anyone know how to wire these towers? Can u run wire up the rear tower leg from within the boat?

Yes, you can run your speaker cables up through the back leg of the E series tower

[Zerps]

do you have to unscrew the tower leg?
or can u feed the wiring up from behind the seat back cushion?
how do you take the cushion off?

[Iwndr]

do you have to unscrew the tower leg?
or can u feed the wiring up from behind the seat back cushion?
how do you take the cushion off?

Break the tower over and run a electricians fish tape down through the tower,you will be able to see the tape come out into your underseat compartment behind the observer seat. Attach your speaker cable to it and pull it back up to the break, then drill your holes where you want your speakers on the high bar and run the fish tape from there down to the break and pull them back up.
a 25' tape is $10.98 at Home Depot

[Zerps]

thanks.
I assume the back tower legs on both sides will allow my fish tape to pass down thru?
also, any ideas on how to then attach the standard Tige bimini that zips on the rear hoop?

[Iwndr]

[IMG][/IMG]
This One? Mine came with it mounted

[Iwndr]

thanks.
I assume the back tower legs on both sides will allow my fish tape to pass down thru?
also, any ideas on how to then attach the standard Tige bimini that zips on the rear hoop?

I would assume so. Mine are ran down the port side, that is where my Amps are

[Zerps]

yes, I've got the same setup w/ bimini. I just assumed that there wasn't a way to wire the tower speakers to the front hoop, like you have. Was yours prewired? I'd like to be able to wire it like you've got so I don't have to mess w/ the bimini.

[Iwndr]

yes, I've got the same setup w/ bimini. I just assumed that there wasn't a way to wire the tower speakers to the front hoop, like you have. Was yours prewired? I'd like to be able to wire it like you've got so I don't have to mess w/ the bimini.

There are two cutouts in the Bimini for speakers mounted to the top bar, I wish mine were mounted on top, More head room. I'm looking for a pic

[Zerps]

[QUOTE=Iwndr;551041]There are two cutouts in the Bimini for speakers mounted to the top bar,

I'll look for them, but the one and only time I put up the bimini (during test ride) it attached to the top bar w/ a zipper the whole width of the canvas. I would like to have the speakers on the top bar as well for the headroom.

[Iwndr]

[IMG][/IMG]
This shows one of the cut outs for the speaker mounts

[Zerps]

thanks for the pix..
I also noticed that you don't have the screw handle to take out the top bolt of the tower mount. Have you found an easier way to take this bolt out? It was a poor design w/ the handle as it hits the cross bar.

[Iwndr]

thanks for the pix..
I also noticed that you don't have the screw handle to take out the top bolt of the tower mount. Have you found an easier way to take this bolt out? It was a poor design w/ the handle as it hits the cross bar.

I just leave the handle off for the reason you stated, I still use the handle to install and remove it though. I have found If you take the top ones off first they are usually handy after you break them. then pull the lower two.

[chpthril]

Z,

Your tower can be wired with the wires fished through the tower without being seen.

*You will need to unbolt the port side rear leg and prop it up on a block of wood.
*You may have to drill through the gunwale for the wire. Use the clear plastic gasket as a template and dont forget to put it back in as you fish the wire
*You will need 25 ft of 2-conductor speaker wire per speaker or 25 ft of 4-conductor.
*The wire will pass from the lower tower section to the upper section at the joint where it folds. Collapse the tower and you will see the pass-thrus in each joint. A fishtape like pictured above helps.

You can fish the front hoop, but its harder. The front hoop will allow the mounting of the speakers with no modification to the bimini. The down side is, with the bimini deployed, you will get some sound deflection down into the boat. Mounting the speakers on the rear hoop is ideal, but requires modifying bimini.

I have posted a few pics showing how the tower gets wires. See if you can dig them up by using the search tab at the top. If not, i'll dig them up them up this weekend. Too tired right now, just getting settled after a 12 hr day and 450 mile to the coast and back.

[chpthril]

thanks for the pix..
I also noticed that you don't have the screw handle to take out the top bolt of the tower mount. Have you found an easier way to take this bolt out? It was a poor design w/ the handle as it hits the cross bar.

The handle ratchets on the bolt, so you dont have to spin the handle 360, contacting the tower.