Can I bend my tower to fit my boat?????

ADAM B KENDALL · Outlaw Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Posts: 128 City: Smith Mountain

I have a 87 ski nautique and a friend of mine has a tower off of a 99 air nautique to sell to me. The distance between the two front tower poles will not fit on my boat. Would the tower still hold up if i bent the front poles inward or toward each other maybe 4-6 inches to fit my boats width?

BIGMAC · Posted: Feb 08, 2004 8:56 am Post subject:

If you knew somebody with a pipe bender I think it could be done. You would probably have to bend it in the bend it back out some where the feet would fit flush on the boat. Kinda like an S shape. To get my tower to fit my boat I took it to a trusted welder machinest type guy and he cut around four inches out of the center of the tower and repositioned the rear feet to fit flush on my boat. You could do it either way. Good luck and post some pics when you get it done.

BigDeal · Soul Rider Joined: 18 Oct 2003 Posts: 477 City: Orlando

I'd strongly suggest having the tower sized to your boat like BIGMAC did with his. Torquing on the legs of your friend's tower will:
1) Stress/fatigue the tubing in the legs,
2) Stress any welds on the tower legs, and
3) Potentially stress the gelcoat on your boat if the tower legs try to move back (through memory) toward their original location(s).

My suggestion would be to find a good metal shop that can handle the re-sizing of the tower and get an estimate from them. Use the estimate you get to determine a good price for the tower and try and buy it for that amount. If you do it that way, I think the tower you end up with with properly fit your boat and work like it should. Take a look at at a couple pics of BIGMAC's tower. His turned out great and it looks super on his boat. Very Happy

-Mike-

ADAM B KENDALL · Outlaw Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Posts: 128 City: Smith Mountain

thanks guys, i will talk to a welder and see what he says

BIGMAC · Posted: Feb 08, 2004 3:11 pm Post subject:

BigDeal, Thanks for the compliments. ADAM B KENDALL, Be sure that the guy doing the work is good at what he does. You don't want to screw something up like that.

Fishmaster · Posted: Feb 09, 2004 3:39 am Post subject:

It's definately doable and BigDeal nailed it. Dont just pull the legs in and bolt them on or lots O' bad stresses will be pent up in the tower. This should be a pretty straigtforward modification job for a fabrictor with the right equipment. Post some pic's when your done.

seven20 · Posted: Feb 09, 2004 12:41 pm Post subject:

Have you considered a monstertower? I have one on my 87 nautique, and couldn't be happier with it. also, the 99 FCT isn't collapsable is it? I would get a collapsable tower unless it was a deal too good to pass up.

ADAM B KENDALL · Outlaw Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Posts: 128 City: Smith Mountain

200 bucks. It has a broken weld on one of the joints on the top. Top left i think. I talked to a nautique dealer and he said some of them broke so they redesigned it. If i repair this weld how long do u think i can ride before it breaks again? I have thought of a monster and if this tower is too much trouble i will eventually get one. hard to save money at 17. haha

Beerman · Newbie Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 21 City: Austin

If you are going ot have to have a welder fix it, you might be better off having it narrowed. Cut out some of the width in the cross pieces. I'm not an metalurgist (sp?) so I can't say if that is safe or not.

seven20 · Posted: Feb 09, 2004 3:31 pm Post subject:

yeah, I understand the saving money thing...I am 20 and in college. It is rough, I have had to pay my dad back for my tower but i consider it money well spent. Good luck on your decision Mr. Green

Fishmaster · Posted: Feb 09, 2004 5:52 pm Post subject:

If the weld broke it likely more becuase of a bad weld then a material defect. "Good welders go deep" and TIG welding is definately an art. How long had he used it before it cracked? Did they give hime a new tower becuase of a known design flaw? Without any history it's hard to give much direction.

Good comment by Beerman (like the name) in that he may be able to narrow it easier than bending. With the 87 SN if you can get the tower for $200, get the mods done for $100, get a $10 worth of touch up paint you should be in good shape.

ADAM B KENDALL · Outlaw Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Posts: 128 City: Smith Mountain

thanks guys. Bill, the family who owned the boat is pretty well off, so the just bought a new team edition. haha I guess that works. i am not sure how my friend got the tower but i am gonna talk to a welder and see what he thinks. He has prob never even heard of the sport ( dont know if thats bad or what) but we will see how it goes

Fishmaster · Posted: Feb 09, 2004 8:27 pm Post subject:

Think they may be interesed in adopting a middle aged son ???