Boat is wrapped and away. I installed mine without the welded in hardtop frame mounts years ago. Done right you can install them this way without fear of damage. Will say I only went with telescoping 15' poles and usually only run extended on fishing trips. I used the Taco backing plates backside and wedge plates on top to account for the hardtop rolloff. The trick is to use tube spacers on the mounting bolts so you don't collapse the hardtop when tightening down. I used 4200 on the tube spacers and sealed everything (including sidewall of the large center hole (used a hole saw). As far as placement, install so the arm mechanism swings out abeam, ensure the mounting holes are outside the hard top frame. Use the wedgeplate and backplate as a guide. You just have to make sure you clear the hard top frame. Once you drill your first hole, your committed so the angst goes way down. Really not that hard of a job.
