Wakeboard Tower Color - Polished, Black, White or Custom ???

Fishmaster

We are currently providing the Monster Tower in only a polished aluminum finish. We have had many wakeboarders ask if we could provide this in a Black finish, so we are working hard to try to provide Black now as well. Since we are building product for wakeboarders, who better to direct our efforts.

We have a few basic questions: How important is Black, should we offer white and should we provide custom colors???

We have setup 6 check boxes and a submit button for a quick survey on our site. We would sincerely appreciate anyone willing to share their thoughs or hit the survey at http://www.monstertower.com/survey/

We have also started our 2003 Sweepstakes where we will be giving away MP3 Players, CD's, Shirts and the grand prize - a Free Monster Tower. You can just enter in that at our site or the survey will take you there after you hit submit.

I had the painful experience of working for a company once that would develop products in a vacuum and then wonder why people did not really like them- DUH - seems obvious that the people who are using or may need your products are the only ones that could ever tell you what you should be developing.

Bill

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

Bill- Find a local powdercoater. They have base colors that are all about the same. My Dad's company sends a lot of steel out to get powdercoated. Most of basic colors are the same price. Black and White can usually be delivered the next day. I think having a wide selection of colors is key.

bryce_04 · Posted: Mar 23, 2003 2:18 pm Post subject:

yeah, I think it would be a good idea to offer a variety.

aussie_stu · Posted: Mar 23, 2003 9:12 pm Post subject:

I would efinitely offer something more than just polished, we got a polished tower at the moment and although it looks awesome, it is a pain in the bum to keep it looking good, especially in the salt water, it takes like 2-3 nites to polish it clean and 1 ride to depolish it, from now on I wouldn't look at another polished one

Fishmaster · Posted: Mar 23, 2003 9:45 pm Post subject:

What tower is it? Are you sure it is anodized and not just polished with a bare finish?

When metal corrodes it turns to rust. When aluminum "corrodes" it oxidizes and creates a powdery finish. Anodizing is puting the aluminum in a chemical bath and then applying a serious electrical charge across it to make it oxidize really fast. The result is a very hard, shiny surface. The chemicals and the control over the process makes it "fully rusted" when you get it.

It is the finish of choice for marine applications, especially salt water which is so brutal.

If it has not been anodized then try to find a local company that can do it. If that does not work see if you can have it clear coated with powder coat. If it is bare aluminum it will be a nightmare to keep looking good in a saltwater application.

That's my opinion but I could be wrong,

Bill

BIGMAC · Posted: Mar 23, 2003 11:38 pm Post subject:

I think black, white, chrome, polished, and the sort is the best way to go because they are fairly nuetral. When you get into doing color there will be a problem with matching. There are endless shades of different colors. My opinion is to maybe offer a bare tower (maybe a little cheaper than the finished tower) and let the consumer take it to a local paint shop to have it painted or powder coated. Taht way the consumer will have a good match. good luck.

Cowie · Posted: Mar 26, 2003 10:20 pm Post subject:

I would agree with bigmac, I think offering a baretower is also a good option as well as black, polished and white. Generaly most boat colours will fit with one of these tower colours. We only had a choice of polished or black with our tower, and it would havebeen nice to have an option to get a bare tower and have it anodised/painted.

jedsterr · Soul Rider Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 291 City: Star Idaho

I think that anodized black would be killer. No wear, or chipping, -EVER! The tower I built is polished bare alum & it has been somewhat tough to keep shining. The key for me is to keep it waxed when it's clean. I have yet to find a local anodizer that I can afford (plus few have a tank large enough for the top section of my tower)