2008 AR210 Waketower Loose Bolts

[B Frank]

When reinstalling my tower last week to have some tower speakers added, I notice the two bolts in the attached pic were loose and wouldn't tighten with allen key. So, I put a wrench on other side and snugged them up....if you haven't done this it is a pain....lol. My question is do these have an actual torque spec? I didn't want them to tight in fear of cracking the fiber glass. Any advice?

 

[zipper]

@B Frank I looked in my 07 ar230 service manual and found no mention of the tower in the manual, so I found no info for tower bolt tightning torques. Unless I missed something @Scottintexas.

 

[B Frank]

Thanks for looking. I will call the dealer this week. Have you ever had to tighten yours? Mine has lock washers, but, the bolts were very loose.

 

[zipper]

Thanks for looking. I will call the dealer this week. Have you ever had to tighten yours? Mine has lock washers, but, the bolts were very loose.

No, but I have had to tighten a stern cleat.

EDIT: I almost forgot...I did remove the front tower mounts when I ran antenna wiring thru the tower then into the helm and head storage lockers and then retightened to what felt right. there are backing plates built in. I also put a slight chamfer on the holes before I put it back together, to prevent spider cracks, not shown. and added some sealant, there was none.

You can see how oxidized the Gelcoat was.

 

[Scottintexas]

I just reviewed the manual also and can't believe they don't mention the tower at all, not even a part number reference ,

Maybe @swatski knows a quick link with his unfortunate tower experience,

 

[swatski]

When reinstalling my tower last week to have some tower speakers added, I notice the two bolts in the attached pic were loose and wouldn't tighten with allen key. So, I put a wrench on other side and snugged them up....if you haven't done this it is a pain....lol. My question is do these have an actual torque spec? I didn't want them to tight in fear of cracking the fiber glass. Any advice?

Pretty much all towers need occasional bolt tightening, Yamaha OEM towers included.
Several members here reported loosening tower base bolts (under the hull cap) including @robert843, @Mainah, and myself, but as far as my specific tower incident - that was different - it had to do with the locking mechanism of the AR240 forward tower, not the bolts that mount the tower base.

My advice would be to just tighten those up, torquing by hand and feel, and keep an eye on the bolts and the tower, if it develops spider cracks - it may need internal enforcements.

Dealers won’t be very helpful, other than a body shop /fiberglass service.

—

 

[Mainah]

There are calculaors to figure out torque online but as @swatski pointed out the limiting factor will be the fiberglass. I recommend 1/8 inch aluminum backing plates and compression lock nuts to improve upon the factory design. Compression lock nuts at a minimum will prevent lossening far better than a lock washer or a nylon lock nut. The military and extreme off roaders use compression lock nuts for a reason ... because they work.

 

[B Frank]

For those of you who may want to know, Yamaha of Louisville(whom I highly recommend for those in KY) did call me back. The following is what the mechanic informed me for my 2008 AR210

Rear Bolts(2) - 25.8 ft pounds of torque
Front Bracket Screws(5 or 6) - 18.8 ft pounds of torque

This place is the best for Yamaha boats in KY!

B Frank

 

[2kwik4u]

For those of you who may want to know, Yamaha of Louisville(whom I highly recommend for those in KY) did call me back. The following is what the mechanic informed me for my 2008 AR210

Rear Bolts(2) - 25.8 ft pounds of torque
Front Bracket Screws(5 or 6) - 18.8 ft pounds of torque

This place is the best for Yamaha boats in KY!

B Frank

I too Love Yamaha of Louisville. Really great dealership.