Tower

nitsuj819 · Newbie Joined: 10 Jun 2008 Posts: 15

I'm building a tower out of muffler pipe. The design is basicly a 2" straight piece and a 2" piece with a 45 degree angle coming together to form a Y into a 2 1/2" piece going across the top. It has a trailer ball to hook the rope onto and it's welded together, but I noticed a little bit of play when I shook it side to side on the boat, the boat is on its trailer right now. Im going to test it out today to see how it works, but I was wondering if the little bit of play (about 3 inches) is going to be a problem.

Brit Rider · Posted: Jul 16, 2008 1:54 pm Post subject:

If you have fixed mounts it almost certainly will be. IF you've put joints at the bases of the tower legs (which move easily) then you may get away with it.

I'd think about bracing it up a bit if I were you.... Do you have any pics we can see?

thomas12 · Newbie Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 38

that will be a heavy mofo if it is steel

photogmkr · Newbie Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 13 City: Saint Louis

photogmkr · Newbie Joined: 24 Jun 2008 Posts: 13 City: Saint Louis

Here are a couple of pics.

nitsuj819 · Newbie Joined: 10 Jun 2008 Posts: 15

Here are some pics. When I took it out on the boat yesterday it didn't shake too much but I think I am going to add some corner supports,thanks.

Here is how I mounted it to the boat

jrhurst · Outlaw Joined: 15 Jul 2005 Posts: 138

your tower to boat mounts are deff gonna give it flex , and may be a problem . Other than that , it looks decent and it deserves an A for effort .

Brit Rider · Posted: Jul 17, 2008 9:11 am Post subject:

nitsuj819, Yikes - I really think you need to go back to the drawing board there. You'll be cracking the deck in no time.

You need a much larger surface area present on the outside of the deck (as well as inside - this may already be there). 3"x3" would be a good place to start. I'd also look for at least 3/8th thickness of glass there, if its not, you will want to build that up.

The reason you are getting flex is related to several causes... looks like you need quite a bit more bracing and the wall thickness of that tube is likely a bit on the thin side.

I'd do some reinforcing on the tower and get some cheap mounts from DIYWAKE.com if I were you. This should get you sorted Smile

Hope that helps...

nitsuj819 · Newbie Joined: 10 Jun 2008 Posts: 15

Thanks, I'll probably end up getting the mounts from DIYwake.com, but I am leaving for vacation saturday and will be on my boat all next week, so I was wondering about a quick fix. I do have a piece of wood on the inside to brace it and was planning on getting some larger washers for the outside and putting up metal corner braces, any other ideas would be great.

GuitsBoy · Posted: Jul 20, 2008 6:20 am Post subject:

The wood will definately help. use a fairly large piece of ply on the inside. The outside might be better off if you go buy some large fender washers from home depot and sandwish in some rubber or neoprene. Thatll buy you some time at least. Throw some rustoleum or something on that tower to dress it up too! Smile

bftskir · Outlaw Joined: 14 Jul 2008 Posts: 118

make sure your insurance is in full effect. those bends on the back sides will weaken the tower and it might fold on over...so be careful, i was once in a boat and my friends homemade pylon ripped out narrowly missing the passengers....just be careful.

the bodj · Newbie Joined: 28 Jul 2008 Posts: 8 City: moorpark

kartman · Posted: Apr 20, 2009 4:37 am Post subject:

how thick is the fiberglass at the mounting points? did u add any glass to it?

PYTHONLAF · Newbie Joined: 17 Aug 2009 Posts: 7

All I can say is W Shocked

W

franzflip · Criminal Joined: 29 Apr 2009 Posts: 97

Well done, awesome job! I like it Very Happy

Ranger305 · Newbie Joined: 24 Jul 2009 Posts: 3

photogmkr, how is your tower holding up? Can you posta pic of how you attached to the boat?