Before you by that $2,000 tower..........

dangerboone · Criminal Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 55 City: Havelock

I was in the market for a tower and decided to save some cash and build it myself. I did, and Ive had boaters ask what kind of tower it is everytime i go out.. Its hotter than anything else on the water, and the average custom marine fabrication shop can throw one together for less than $800. I only have $249 invested in mine.

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

lets see pics

dangerboone · Criminal Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 55 City: Havelock

soon to come

dangerboone · Criminal Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 55 City: Havelock

http://photos.wakeboarder.com/uploads/12273/StarboardBowTopDownSM.jpg

This is the same one that I have on my LS2000. Ive built 3 of these for friends, all for less than $300 for brushed alum, $550 for polished.

Get2TheRiver · Posted: Jun 15, 2005 6:45 pm Post subject:

Really???

How long does it take to build one?

Wakebrad · Ladies Man Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas

Nice tower. Crappy boat. I'm impressed you could do it for $300. Not bad.

MHayes · Newbie Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 29 City: Atlanta

I agree...nice tower. Good job for $300

dangerboone · Criminal Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 55 City: Havelock

Im a metalsmith, and with someone else who knows what the hell they're doing, it takes about 10 hrs, but thats being picky with it.

tommyadrian5 · Addict Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 907

So what you are saying is...the value of that Seadoo boat is $300 with the aluminum tower...or $550 with a polished tower.

BOOM!

dangerboone · Criminal Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 55 City: Havelock

Juice75 · Outlaw Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 218 City: Austin

Nice looking tower. I should have paid more attention in metal shop. Mad

Get2TheRiver · Posted: Jun 16, 2005 6:33 am Post subject:

I can see it now: www.DangerTower.com and super eBayer. Nice job.

rmk700 · Newbie Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 30 City: spokane

hey im thinking of building my own, but i dont know where to get the mounts, where did you get yours??

dangerboone · Criminal Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 55 City: Havelock

I picked them up at a fab shop where I bought the tubing. I'll look for them online and let you know. They're about $40 for all of them and the hardware. Another option is to weld a plate on the bottom of the tubing and bolt it to the boat. This doesnt allow you to break the tower down for storage though.

Beaver · Posted: Jun 22, 2005 9:49 am Post subject:

So you built the one on the sea doo? Or did you build one like it?
That is the same tower that is on all of them. Correct me if im worng but i have a sea doo dealership like 2 blocks from my house and that is the same tower that they have.

Kewlboarder27r · Soul Rider Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 497 City: Mound

u made that

Bruky · Guest

Kewlboarder27r, why did you save the pics as "poser tower" and "poser tower 2"?

marlinempress · Outlaw Joined: 02 Feb 2005 Posts: 112 City: Murray

Yeah umm...those two towers don't have much in common besides the color.... The one he made is way better as far as bends and lines and stuff.

Bruky · Guest

marlinempress, they have a lot in common.

The key to rigidity is triangulation, so bends wouldn't necessarily be better.

marlinempress · Outlaw Joined: 02 Feb 2005 Posts: 112 City: Murray

most towers have a lot in common, the point is they're not the same as someone was trying to imply with those pictures. Of course a bunch of triangles would be the strongest, but that's uglier than crap and there's no need for that much strength. You can also make up for design features with stronger materials....

dangerboone · Criminal Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 55 City: Havelock

The strength of the tower is important, but whatever shape it is, its always stronger than the fiberglass hull that its bolted to. Id worry more about the how strong the boat is than how strong the tower is.....

elyse · Posted: Jun 23, 2005 7:24 am Post subject:

does it move around a lot or anything? or creak? it looks like you can fold it down too. I'm impressed!

spinwax · Criminal Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 58 City: Lost Wages

What kind of tubing bender did you use?

Did you tig or mig it?

What series of aluminum are you using?

Is that Aluminum pipe or tubing?

Looks really good. My bending skills are not that hot yet.

dangerboone · Criminal Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 55 City: Havelock

I used a hand pump mandril bender that I borrowed from a buddies fab shop, its all TIG welded, its made for 6063 T3 aluminum 1 3/4 ID, 1 15/16 OD. Just remember when you bend it to allow for loss and gain. Always have more material overhanging than you need. Its easier to cut off than it is to add to.

spinwax · Criminal Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 58 City: Lost Wages

waketexas · Newbie Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 13 City: Austin Tx

Did you find any of the brackets online. You said that they had boat brackets or just some universal brackets at the tubing supply shop.
Im about to start building a tower with a friend. Thanks for the help.

bighitbiker3 · Soul Rider Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 386 City: Seattle

Nice tower man

Gruelie · Outlaw Joined: 05 Jun 2003 Posts: 164 City: Edmond

Wow best DIY tower I've seen

sanddragon2004 · Outlaw Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 152 City: San Jose

dangerboone,

do you have more pics of the towers youb uilt? intersted in building more?

dangerboone · Criminal Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 55 City: Havelock

I dont have any new pics, but Ive got some of one that me and a friend built a few months ago on the way. Ill post them when I get them. I dont have the time to build anymore this year, Im tryin to spend as much time on the water as I can and Im headed overseas in the offseason..