towers on old boats

alot of people have, what yr and model. Some have used off the self universal towers and a lot of them look pretty ugly they don't flow with the lines of the boat and look like a jungle jim sitting on the gunnel. Others have made custom towers that look pretty sharp. If you are a do-it your-selfer then it's not that expensive to build, but if you pay someone to custom build one it gets a little more expensive then the off the self towers.

I like the forward swooping one myself pretty sharp looking but the only thing I don't like about it is that I don't think it folds down for storage and has to be removed not sure haven't looked into that much.

My $.02,

If you want the boat to be a show piece. Don't
do it.

If adding a tower will maximize you enjoyment of the boat, go for it. I'd just be sure that structurally your boat can handle it.

IMO, Monster is still the best price performance option out there. I think they are now up to about $1100 shipped. Malibu uses t*tan towers on many of their boats. If you like the t*tan, I'm sure you can find one to fit.

I like the newdimensiontowers for looks. They make custom towers which look like the new FCTs used on the newer correct crafts. Just makes the boat look like a correct craft IMO. However, they are about $2200.

BKH

Its the classic original vs. functional thread, my personal taste is to make them look as close to original, but perform as good as or better than a modern boat. I ski/wakeboard behind my boat at least 20 hours a week in the summer, but 3-4 times a week I clean out the toys wipe out the interior, run a cloth over the chrome, put up the flags, and cruise with friends or family down to the local watering hole on the lake. This year I am adding a flite pipe which I hope will get me higher on the wakeboard but still come out for cruising. A compromise on the wakeboarding/skiing end to be sure, but I think my little mustang would look silly with a big tower. It's just too small. Its all about the compromise that works best for you I would never give anyone the business about doing something to thier boat that makes it more useful to them. Alright if someone puts one of those wooden 2x4 towers up on thier CC I might change my mind, but the kids that did that with thier no-resale-value-to-begin-with tri-hull are folk heros in my mind.

-Joe.

Paul; PLEASE say you're just kidding...jbear

Don't ruin your boat with a tower.

Dude,

I put a tower on my 84 nautique, check it out im on the forum page as well(Shawn) I think second page. I know yours may look a little different but at leat it will give u an idea. I bought a Roswell tower,I think of all the towers i saw it went best with the boat and that was my main concern. Id definatly do it if I was you. I know alot of people dont like the idea of ruining their original look but i personally love the way it makes the older boats look by still keeping that real retro look, sweet! Plus if your lookin to start wakeboarding or already do then you know its a necessity. Anyway just thought Id give you my story either way best of luck and hope it works out for ya. Shawn

Paul,

You know I've been giving this some more thought. If you had a common boat, it would be one thing. But . . . you have a 43 year old boat, and a rare model at that. Assuming it is in pretty good shape, it would be hard to add a tower.

Then again, guys chop up classic cars all the time to make street rods.

Not a simple decision.

BTW, great deal on that tower Surroundsound.

BKH

Paul: I say again, PLEASE say you're kidding. I agree with BKH. I've seen pics of your boat. It is rare, almost one-of-a-kind. Keep it the way it is.

My .02

jbear

I was just wondering if they made any "mini towers" for older boats. I remember seeing a smaller tower on a sport nautique a couple years back in the boat buyers guide. I thought they looked really sharp! I dont like the look of some of the sky scraper towers. They just dont fit the boats. If I were to put a tower on our boat it would have to be a "mini"

Also, How much stress do these things have on the boat? I have a buddie that has some bad spider cracks from a monkey bar. Just wondered if it was different from a tower.

Anybody need to me to say my opinion on this? I'm with jbear - it's a joke right?

The classic CC police have been put on alert.

PS: My NOS Airguide speedo is all hooked up and still setting on the floor of my boat (between my feet) where it is waiting for me to cut a hole in my dash - I have not yet been able to drink enough beer to be able to point my drill towards my dash. (Although I did drill holes in the back of the boat to mount the pick-up. I am still having nightmares about that.)

Hell yea....I thought i was the only one having nightmares about drilling holes in my boat....Officially I wont be putting a tower on my boat and thanks for the swift kick to wake me up!!! Oh and no it wasn't a joke...I guess....all in good humor! But i really did think about it for a while.

Thanks again!!

Thats funny stuff 64!!!

Oh, you mean THAT kind of speedo. I had a horrible image of an old man in a Speedo.

Mrs. jbear tossed out all my speedos years ago. Said they weren't for guys with a shape like mine. But they used to be all we wore. Big thrill footin' in a speedo. Had to make sure not to fall tho!

BKH; Glad to see your post. Hadn't seen ya for a few days.

john