FCT tower project!!

Been tossing around the idea of a tower for my 79SN and decided to go for it! With the help of a family friend "Chuck"(Meticulous fabricator/welder)I decided to build a tower for obvious reasons$$$ based off new dimensions FCT. So far we found some 11/64 stainless steel and now in the process of finding out whether a friend of Chuck's will bend the pipe("only guy I'd trust to bend up something like this" is what he said when I talked to him earlier. Some of the things we talked about were having the mounting feet, backing plates, ect machined, stainless hardware everything will be recessed, delron swivel from Overton's yada yada. Should be very nice when finished if everything works out accordingly. Chad from New Dimensions Towers(Great guy/very helpful/informative) wanted 1575(tower)200(powder Coating)180(to ship) Looking like $1200 to do it ourselves.



Any pre-build advice or opinions would be great!
                             Shaun

Who's boat is that?

I believe that boat belongs to Larry Camp, surroundsound64. If I recall, he was the first 81 and older SN to have a newdimension tower made. Towed the boat back to Tennessee to have the pattern made. BKH

Chris,
   Not much other than work, Clinton was our first time out and you guys made it a great experience. I was planning on running speaker wire with a grommet and sealing it with silicone so i could add tower speakers later but i hadn't thought about a stern light, that's not a bad idea. Alan is planning on coming over Sunday to get me headed in the right direction on the floor/stringer repair. So I guess it's time to buckle down and get some things done. Any dimensions, measurements, photos would be awesome. Right now I'm still waiting to find out about getting the pipe bent though.

   

I think you would spend more than $1200 if you plan to powder coated. If $1575 would buy the tower, not powder coated, why not put your effort in driving to pick it up. The difference is $375 and you know it will be perfect fit. I bought a use FCT and adapted to my SN 87. The modification were expensive but still I saved some money but not much.

Chris, Decided to take Anthony's approach. Found a great deal on a fct1, Thanks Kurt! Just brought it home tonight.

Oh yeah, but the driving killed me:(

I'm scared to cut it up..

Shaun,
I put a FCT on my '87 a couple of years ago...

The following is where I got my inspiration:

http://www.planetnautique.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=452&highlight=

Here is what I did:

http://www.planetnautique.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&t=3153&highlight=

I know they are not the same tower or boat, but thought some of the techniques we used might be of some help.

If you have any questions, I'll be happy to try to help.

Good luck, and post pics when you're done!!

Glen

(PlanetNautique seems to be down right now, but the links are good)

Thanks Glen, I was trying to find a 2nd gen fct, but this was a deal I couldn't pass up.

malibud wrote: If you use aluminum you have to get the right gauge I think it 4000.

4000 what? Gauge?

Are you referring to a 4000 alloy?

Just for everyone's information if someone is thinking of fabrication, a 4032 aluminum is:
Medium hard, is just under the half way point of all aluminum's in yield strength, not a alloy that is recommended for welding, has fair corrosion resistance, very poor forming and workability qualities but does machine well.

Shaun,
Keep the pics coming as the project proceeds. You got a deal, I got a tower off my boat and cash, win win. See you around this summer.

Kurt

99 Air, now essentially a Sport

nau7iqu9 wrote: Pete, Any idea what alloy CC used for my fct1 in case i need some tubing?

I don't know what was used originally but I can take a good guess at it. 6061 is available in tube, would give you the weldability needed, a decent yield strength, mid range hardness and still be a alloy that can be bend without too much of a problem (with proper equipment/mandrels). It's corrosion resistance isn't as good as some others but still very good. If it was around salt water, it would need anodizing.

6061 is a good choice how about 5052 ?

Waterdog wrote: 6061 is a good choice how about 5052 ?

The 5052 may not be the greatest choice. It's forming and working is better but thats because it's yield strength and hardness is lower than the 6061. The biggest problem is you may find it's not available in many tubing sizes. It's typically used for small dia. soft tube applications