OEM Rack install on S22

[FreeLance]

Capt. Rick hooked me up with an OEM rack that I am going to install on the S22 this weekend.  Any last second advice from those of you who have attempted this feat before I start drilling?

[cyclone]

I've only seen them from the freeway driving by the Santa Rosa Ca. dealer in Sept 01. They had an 02 SX in plastic at the back of the lot. It had the funny racks on it short forks with the longer center one. Never saw how they mounted. I went into the dealer and they wouldn't admit they had the boat or let me look    at it. They had a 2000 Epic 22 identical to mine but no tower (used) for sale, and a used S22.

[Ktown]

If it's the rack that came on the 2002 SX, this is a picture of it mounted (you can see the front and back of the racks in this pic).  I would take some better ones, but my boat is stuck (behind locked gates) at the trailer shop waiting on axles.

http://www.epicmarine.com/epicphotos/displayimage.php?album=random&cat=10025&pos=-503

[brad]

If you're referring to wakeboard racks, it looks like Ktown's is fastened by two clamp-ons so no need to drill holes.

My Skylon batrack has only one clamp instead of two.

[cyclone]

The original '02 SX racks are unique. I have not seen them up close but I know they have short fingers and a long center finger. Not sure how they secure to the tower but knowing Toyota, I'll bet there are a couple of holes and a couple of bolts.

[FreeLance]

Sorry guys, I am a complete moron.  I said rack when I actually meant TOWER hence the drilling comment.

Good news is the tower went on without a problem and everthing lined up pretty much straight.  Basically centered the the top point of the rear tower mounts with the last screw on the windshield mount.  moved it a half inch up from the rub rail and started drilling.  4.5 hours later fully installed.  The only problem I ran into was up front on the starboard side the interior glass of the boat goes in two directions, straight ahead for the outside lines, and curved in for the inside shell.  This made for some pretty poor mounting locations for the backing plates.

Pic was taken in Bellingham out Bellwether Lane looking into the bay.

[skregs]

Was behind you today going down toward Fairhaven.  Nice looking boat.  Have not seen another Epic in B'ham before.  I live out on Samish and have an X22, but i think i just sold it this week.  Enjoy........

[FreeLance]

Funny that eh.  We stopped at the pizza place for a bite before heading back down south.  I caught a few glimpses of your X22 out on Lake Samish last year 4th of July time.  Are you going to pick up a new boat to replace the epic?

Fortunately for me my Uncle owns Clearwater Marine up by Meridian so I dragged the boat from my home port of Seattle to B'ham to get the job done.  He and my cousin had all of the tools and knowledge to make sure I didn't cut my boat in half while trying to mount a 'rack' (aka tower) upside down from the trailer skid guards.  I would probably still be pondering drilling the holes right now. 

[skregs]

I'm heading to Atlanta for a year to do some additional training and it was too expensive to ship it cross country.  I did not like the idea of it sitting for a year and a half, so I'm selling it.  Not sure what I'll do when I get back.  Loved the epic though.........