2009
I have a 2009 - here is my procedure:
Get 2 towels, put them on the deck so when you drop the tower accidentally, it doesnt scratch the gel-coat.
Remove the metric hex bolts from both sides of the tower at the rear. If they bind at all, push the tower legs to line up the holes. Dont force them they should back out easily.
With your boat, you should have two black rubber bumpers with threaded inserts. They look sort of like door stops.
Remove one of the black knobs - it shoudd unscrew easily, if it binds at all, press on the tower leg to line it up, you dont want to force those steel threads out of aluminum legs.
When the black knob is loose, the lower section of leg will pop loose, dont let it just drop, rotate it rearward gently.
The tower is now being held up by one leg only.
Attach one of the black bumpers to the black knob, note the slant of the bumper should be toward the inside. (not critical just common sense)
The other side is a little harder because you have to hold the tower up with one hand and loosen the other knob with a second hand. It only weighs 20 lbs so not a big deal, but if you have shoulder problems (rotator cuff injury etc) get help.
Loosen the black knob, and lower the free strut gently while holding the tower up off the deck.
Attach the second black bumper to the black knob.
Lower the tower onto the 2 towels.
