If you only need a foot or two to get under a bridge you can undo the bottom rear post knobs and loosen the top rear post knobs then fold the bottoms of the rear posts up thus lowering the tower toward the rear. Should be very easy compared to flipping forward for removal but I don't know how much it will lower in this direction - I haven't had a need to try it.
I have to take the tower off to get it in my garage and it is a pain but only takes 5 or 10 minutes. It is
definately a 2 person job- My wife and I do it together.
1) Undo the bottom knobs at the aft pole connections - they sit in pockets of sorts so they won't go anywhere with the knobs out.
2) Loosen the foreward connection points only a turn or two.
3) I have the bow fill in cushions on my 210 so I lie them over the gunwales up front in case the thing gets away from me. If I didn't use them I would drape a bunch of life jackets or some such just in case. I have a pair of heavy cardboard pieces that I keep around because I am scared of something slipping and popping out a window so I lay them over hte glass.
4) I then tip it forward - which is really lifting it up before it will go forward. Here is where it gets tricky because it will now get too tall for you to handle and it is too akward to control by holding onto one side or even both sides I suspect.
I lift it to where it is basically balancing on the forward posts and my wife will hold it steady. Then I go to the bow seating and stand on the hull in front of the base of the windshield where I can reach the top of it and then lower it forward onto the bow.
5) I then remove the bolts securing the forward legs and I stick a screwdriver in each hole - screwdriver handle to the outside just so the tower doesn't slip off as I am getting out of the boat.
6) Once outside, with my wife and I each on one side we can easily hold the tower with one hand and pull out our screwdrivers with the other. We then just pick it up and carry it off, it really is not very heavy - even with the bimini, board racks, etc left on.
7) Watch out for 4 white nylon washers (2 per side) that will fall out of the forward post brackets - you need them when you put the tower back on. By the way, the washers are easier to get back in when the tower is back on and in its final upright position. They are almost impossible to get them all in while the tower is flipped forward.
I take all the knobs / bolts / washers and put them re-install them in thier apropriate places so I won't be looking for them in the spring.
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