what's the best tower?

corybowden · Newbie Joined: 14 Mar 2003 Posts: 10

We were wondering how great those monster towers really are. Can any one tell us something about them that the website didn't mention. How easy is it to removed, in case we want to use the canopy? The monster tower seems to be a good tower for the money. How do other companies compare? It needs to be adjustable and very gentle on the gelcoating.

dane · Posted: May 07, 2003 2:54 pm Post subject:

check out samson towers www.samsonsports.com

Hyperryd · Addict Joined: 03 May 2003 Posts: 604 City: Central Cali

What's up with the samson tower. I looks like an exact rip off of the phat budde tower I've had on my boat for two years. The new phat budde is rounder, but the samson is exactly like mine.

btyancey · Newbie Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Posts: 7 City: Cumming

I love my tower. I installed almost two weeks ago and rode Sat and Sun last weekend. The install was extremely easy and I love the look. You can see my boat on the Monster Tower web site under customers boats (I'm Taylor Yancey/Maristar). I've been looking for a tower for two years. The only towers I really liked we're $2000+. I couldn't be happier.

As for removal/folding, I'd say it's very easy. However, I haven't had to do it yet. my cover works well with the tower, so I just leave it up (my storage has a high roof). To fold/remove, simply loosen the bolts and fold or remove. Folding should only take one person, but removal would take two.

Most of all, you can't beat their customer service. I strongly encourage you to call Bill at Monster and ask him any questions you have. He's very customer oriented.

Good luck in your search.

dane · Posted: May 08, 2003 12:22 pm Post subject:

hey there hyper. You are right. The phat buddie towers are exclusive (im fairly sure) to ski supreme. They are very similar in shape, looking from the front and back. The phat buddie tower can only be put on the ski supremes. There is 2 guys that own BOTH companies, they are partners together. They changed a few cosmetic things to it and market the samson to fit any boat and any beam. There are more pictures fo phat buddie and samson towers on my website www.rvmarine.ca

Stillstandin · Newbie Joined: 05 May 2003 Posts: 11

Pro Flight, hands down. $1750 for the swoop tower

jbelson · Guest

Things to look for, that I wish I did. I believe mine is a big air tower I bought 3 years ago. It was the cheapest I found. Lesson 1: You buy cheap, you buy twice.
Mine came in a box, all unassebled. Connecting the rack was a bitch, it's solid for the most part. I had a guy from the dealer do it at his house, he said it was the hardest one he's ever done. It's also held together by a bunch of lynch pins, they're noisy. The key ring part is always rattling. It also fastens via a universal Bolt thing which protrudes from the side of the boat. It doesnt give you the tightest, non rattleing tower. Also, the bolt protrudes out snagging the rope constantly. The racks that looked the best at the last boatshow were i think, liquid 13, something with a 13 at the end. Seemed very solid w/o a lot of things to snag.

boehnkew · Outlaw Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 112 City: Kennewick, WA

I installed a MonsterTower on my 1995 Maristar (the other Maristar on the MonsterTower pictures site) about a week and a half ago and took it out last Friday. The wind has been blowing since then and we've even had frost warnings for the cherry farmers, so I'm still waiting to go again.

For $1000 (or less), it is without a doubt the best tower I've seen. It is rock solid both during hard pulls and when cruising down the river unloaded. There are no rattles/sqeaks/shimmies nothing. Its bases are very gelcoat friendly. The installation went smoothly.

I like the look of the proflight swoop tower, but they couldn't (or wouldn't) make one for my boat (at the time I checked). I like the Samson tower as well. I have a friend who has one. It is very solid, but the MonsterTower is just as solid (no kidding) and costs less.

Of course styling preference is an individual thing, but the MonsterTower has gotten plenty of good remarks in the little time I've had it.

To remove the MonsterTower, you have to unscrew 4 socket head capscrews (allen bolts). Some other towers use pins which would be faster, but also invite rattles. I would much rather spend an additional minute or two with the bolts then have a rattle trap.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

pooser · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 4738

im pretty happy with the way my pro flight swoop tower looks(havent ridden with it yet) I got a great deal i just had to spend ten hours in the car the day i got it to go to Modesto and back. it was well worth it.