View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
dangerboone Criminal
Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 55 City: Havelock
|
Posted: Jun 15, 2005 1:26 pm Post subject: Before you by that $2,000 tower.......... |
|
|
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. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
Wakebrad Ladies Man
Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas
|
Posted: Jun 15, 2005 1:27 pm Post subject: |
|
|
lets see pics _________________ You have just entered the twilight zone. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
dangerboone Criminal
Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 55 City: Havelock
|
Posted: Jun 15, 2005 1:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
soon to come |
|
Back to top |
|
|
dangerboone Criminal
Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 55 City: Havelock
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Get2TheRiver Outlaw
Joined: 25 Mar 2003 Posts: 131 City: South Orange County, CA
|
Posted: Jun 15, 2005 6:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Really???
How long does it take to build one? _________________ Get There... |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Wakebrad Ladies Man
Joined: 11 Dec 2003 Posts: 12257 City: Dallas
|
Posted: Jun 15, 2005 7:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Nice tower. Crappy boat. I'm impressed you could do it for $300. Not bad. _________________ You have just entered the twilight zone. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
MHayes Newbie
Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 29 City: Atlanta
|
Posted: Jun 15, 2005 9:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I agree...nice tower. Good job for $300 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
dangerboone Criminal
Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 55 City: Havelock
|
Posted: Jun 16, 2005 2:35 am Post subject: |
|
|
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. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
tommyadrian5 Addict
Joined: 16 Sep 2003 Posts: 907
|
Posted: Jun 16, 2005 4:36 am Post subject: |
|
|
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! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
dangerboone Criminal
Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 55 City: Havelock
|
Posted: Jun 16, 2005 4:43 am Post subject: |
|
|
tommyadrian5 wrote: | 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! |
Haha.. yeah.. I hate that boat, but my buddy likes it and I cant talk him out of selling it. It surprised me the first time I boarded behind it. Not the best ride in the world, but it beat sittin at home that day |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Juice75 Outlaw
Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 218 City: Austin
|
Posted: Jun 16, 2005 6:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
Nice looking tower. I should have paid more attention in metal shop. _________________ "You know what those things can do? Suck the paint off your house and give your family a permanent orange afro." |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Get2TheRiver Outlaw
Joined: 25 Mar 2003 Posts: 131 City: South Orange County, CA
|
Posted: Jun 16, 2005 6:33 am Post subject: |
|
|
I can see it now: www.DangerTower.com and super eBayer. Nice job. _________________ Get There... |
|
Back to top |
|
|
rmk700 Newbie
Joined: 28 Apr 2005 Posts: 30 City: spokane
|
Posted: Jun 17, 2005 8:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
hey im thinking of building my own, but i dont know where to get the mounts, where did you get yours?? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
dangerboone Criminal
Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 55 City: Havelock
|
Posted: Jun 17, 2005 6:14 pm Post subject: |
|
|
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. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Beaver Wakeboarder.Commie
Joined: 21 Dec 2004 Posts: 1236 City: Nanaimo
|
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. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Kewlboarder27r Soul Rider
Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 497 City: Mound
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Bruky Guest
|
Posted: Jun 22, 2005 7:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Kewlboarder27r, why did you save the pics as "poser tower" and "poser tower 2"? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
marlinempress Outlaw
Joined: 02 Feb 2005 Posts: 112 City: Murray
|
Posted: Jun 22, 2005 7:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
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. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Bruky Guest
|
Posted: Jun 22, 2005 10:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
marlinempress, they have a lot in common.
The key to rigidity is triangulation, so bends wouldn't necessarily be better. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
marlinempress Outlaw
Joined: 02 Feb 2005 Posts: 112 City: Murray
|
Posted: Jun 23, 2005 6:06 am Post subject: |
|
|
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.... |
|
Back to top |
|
|
dangerboone Criminal
Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 55 City: Havelock
|
Posted: Jun 23, 2005 7:02 am Post subject: |
|
|
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..... |
|
Back to top |
|
|
elyse Wakeboarder.Commie
Joined: 01 May 2004 Posts: 1261 City: Indianapolis
|
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! |
|
Back to top |
|
|
spinwax Criminal
Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 58 City: Lost Wages
|
Posted: Jun 26, 2005 1:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
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. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
dangerboone Criminal
Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 55 City: Havelock
|
Posted: Jun 27, 2005 1:47 am Post subject: |
|
|
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. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
spinwax Criminal
Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 58 City: Lost Wages
|
Posted: Jun 27, 2005 7:11 am Post subject: |
|
|
dangerboone wrote: | 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. |
That is a really goodlooking tower.
I want to purchase a JD squared tubing bender. Have you ever used one? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
waketexas Newbie
Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 13 City: Austin Tx
|
Posted: Jun 27, 2005 8:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
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. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
bighitbiker3 Soul Rider
Joined: 21 Jun 2005 Posts: 386 City: Seattle
|
Posted: Jun 27, 2005 4:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Nice tower man _________________ The sky is not the limit. Wanna see me naked? |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Gruelie Outlaw
Joined: 05 Jun 2003 Posts: 164 City: Edmond
|
Posted: Jun 28, 2005 7:24 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Wow best DIY tower I've seen _________________ Cybernetic Ghost-I am the ghost of Christmas Past and I will tell you what Christmas was like
Carl- All right |
|
Back to top |
|
|
sanddragon2004 Outlaw
Joined: 27 Jun 2005 Posts: 152 City: San Jose
|
Posted: Jul 12, 2005 9:34 am Post subject: |
|
|
dangerboone,
do you have more pics of the towers youb uilt? intersted in building more? _________________ sport nautique |
|
Back to top |
|
|
dangerboone Criminal
Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Posts: 55 City: Havelock
|
Posted: Jul 12, 2005 3:06 pm Post subject: |
|
|
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.. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|
|