jeeptchr Newbie
Joined: 30 Nov 2009 Posts: 21 City: St. Joe
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Posted: Mar 01, 2010 8:00 pm Post subject: Getting my parts together to build a tower. |
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I have a '90 206 Captiva Cuddy that I've decided I'm going to keep around for at least one more season, we really started to get into the wakeboarding this last season so I've been studying tower designs this winter.
I build roll cages and bumpers for jeeps and other vehicles occasionally as a hobby, so I'm pretty well versed with the fab side of things, I've really been digging the Samson Edge tower, I think that's what I'm going to go with. I photoshopped the tower and changed some of the angles slightly, What do you guys think? the front view is a different boat with just the colors p'shopped on, to show the angles of the cage. I have the ability to roll the tubing also, but I think the boat lends itself to the angles rather than the curves. thoughts?
Couple of questions.... what should the height be for the pull point, either from the deck or the water line?
I don't have Tig access where I'm at currently, and I'm used to bending cages out of steel, so I'm figuring I'll use ERW 2" .083 steel tubing. that should keep my weight down (less that 2lb a foot). when I cut out and side load, i weigh 210lbs, should that structure be strong enough for side loading. (I usually only work with .120 wall)
which brings me to the folding parts of the design, diywake.com has them in aluminum, but for convienice of fabrication I'm looking for the half lap's and weld joints in steel. any sources? or cad drawings? or an way to mount the alum parts to the steel. (Clean and Elegant )? I know my front pivots (clevis type around an high misalignment bushing will be custom machinework, unless I find a source somwhere.
Any thoughts, comments, criticism on any of it?
Thanks in advance, |
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