Is my ski pylon bent??
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: General Correct Craft Discussion
Forum Name: General Discussion
Forum Discription: Anything Correct Craft
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=48365
Printed Date: March-06-2025 at 11:11am
Topic: Is my ski pylon bent??
Posted By: 67 ski nat
Subject: Is my ski pylon bent??
Date Posted: January-28-2020 at 9:05pm
|
Hi folks. My ski pylon has a 5-10 degree bend/angle directly above mounting bracket I’m guessing the pylon should be straight and years of use bent above floor 67SN appears to be solid metal very heavy I was going to have it straightened but wanted to verify Thx much |
Replies:
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: January-28-2020 at 9:39pm
| Let’s see a picture. Most pylons were bent from the factory but not until 71. |
Posted By: 67 ski nat
Date Posted: January-28-2020 at 11:39pm
|
Thanks for that, working on pictures now (iPhone) http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forum/uploads/18449/F9710930-81BF-4316-9B68-C451A555D8B3.jpeg |
Posted By: 67 ski nat
Date Posted: January-28-2020 at 11:41pm
| http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forum/uploads/18449/AE2AE630-A21C-4004-95CE-D7D3FDCC84E5.jpeg |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 9:00am
 Daryn, That's not a 67 pylon but, as Tim mentioned a later intentionally bent. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
67 ski nat wrote:Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 9:08am
No, the graduations seem to indicate it’s a 67 as advertised... though the pic could be a little clearer to be sure. The bend is in the right spot for a factory pylon but I haven’t seen one this early with the bend. My early pylons like this are straight. Let’s get some clearer pictures and an overall length. |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 9:10am
|
Posted By: 67 ski nat
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 9:19am
|
It does have several graduations and extremely heavy, bent right at support mount floor level The first picture link ‘F97’ shows closeup of base Maybe I should try and fit it again and see if appropriate |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 9:26am
Tim, I'm confused. First you say it's a 67 then not one with the bend as early as 67. I still feel it's not a 67 pylon. Keep in mind many were dealer installed and I personally installed probably 10 of them back then in the late 60's. They weren't even the aluminum ones until the eary 70's. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: 67 ski nat
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 9:45am
|
46” overall (including 2.5” pin), sets into bronze plate glassed to hull Very heavy no aluminum |
Posted By: Riley
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 10:40am
| That's a mystery pylon...bent aluminum with graduations? |
Posted By: 67 ski nat
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 11:05am
|
Does NOT appear to be aluminum. Very heavy and solid It has been sanded for powder coating and rust removal Only looks aluminum |
Posted By: Orlando76
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 11:09am
|
Identical to dads ‘75 ------------- Please support The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 1976 Ski Nautique 351 Escort 1993 Ski Nautique purple and black 351 HO PCM |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 11:16am
Yes you are. I have not seen a factory bent pylon prior to 71. ‘67 was the last full year of those graduated steel pylons. Ive never seen a bent graduated pylon. The gentle curve of this one does sort of look like it was bent through use... the factory bent ones have a more distinctive (sharper) bend and it’s several inches above the floor. Now, I’m less familiar with the Cuda’s... the bent pylons do clear things like bench seats much better than the straight ones. Is this out of a SN? Aluminum pylons started in ‘73 btw... first with the small diameter then moving to 2.5” around mid ‘75. Solid straight steel was common 68-70 (smooth replacing the graduated) and then the same style (with a bend added) for 71-72. 71 and earlier usually painted but a lot of 72 were polished/chromed. The ring/finger style was consistent mid 60’s through 72, then the newer style (finger added later rather than bent) came in 73 and used through 87. |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 11:20am
No no, look closely- very different in every way. Diameter might be close but it’s a different material and style- both base and r/f. |
Posted By: Riley
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 11:43am
| If that got bent by use, there should be a dent in the motor box. What were they dragging? |
Posted By: 67 ski nat
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 11:44am
|
Yes 67 SN And the condition and mounting of bracket appeared to be original and never removed, looked 50 years old in there Pylon was rusted to support bracket I’m fabricating new support bracket If bent pylons were bent above floor that may answer questions This one bent below floor It was a Horton ski school boat so maybe tons of use, pulling docks etc?? |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 12:01pm
Before the powder, get it in a press and straighten it. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 1:01pm
The factory bent pylons don’t interfere the with the box... why would a similarly bent pylon from use interfere? We’ve bent pylons with 15+ people. Adding an extended pylon (with forward support) and continuing to pull from down low seems to effectively prevent that. |
Posted By: 67 ski nat
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 2:09pm
|
Thanks Gentlemen. Your comments lead me to think it is bent from use Straightening prior powder coat Much appreciate |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 2:55pm
I agree. What bracketry are you fabricating? ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 4:01pm
He's probably duplicating the (are you ready for this Pete?) non original piece of what looks like angle iron that runs between his stringers. Here's a picture of his boat's pylon posted by the previous owner when he bought it as a 300 dollar project boat  
|
Posted By: Hollywood
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 4:45pm
| Yes, your pylon is bent. |
Posted By: 67 ski nat
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 5:13pm
|
Oh bingo. Should I refab that support bracket. Thanks for finding that picture I kinda like the bracket |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 7:43pm
I kinda like it too. More pictures scattered through the link below Looks like the bend is right at the bracket so much like the age old chicken or the egg argument, it makes you wonder what came first, the bend or the bracket. I'd refab the bracket, but that's just my opinion. http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=35160&PN=1&title=another-sn-followed-me-home" rel="nofollow - link |
Posted By: Riley
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 7:50pm
Your poor boats... |
Posted By: Orlando76
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 8:30pm
Idk, my dads ‘75 is same style. Bend appears same, not saying it is. What’s different on R&F? Same graduations in same spot. The one in my dads is definitely less common than all the others I’ve seen. The above mentioned pylon is probably the only closest match. But the material is different. ------------- Please support The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 1976 Ski Nautique 351 Escort 1993 Ski Nautique purple and black 351 HO PCM |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 8:53pm
|
Let’s see a pic todd. You’re describing a 66-67 pylon pretty well, lol. I assume you see the steps/graduations at 4” and 12” below the bottom of the ring in his picture. None of the aluminum pylons have that- just a chamfer at the top. The 73-75 pylon is smaller diameter than the 76+ (2ish vs 2.5” diameter) but both are aluminum and share the same r/f. Ring and finger from 64-72 is the same, but different from the 73-87 style. Which does your dads 75 match? The most obvious difference is the finger, bent with a flat end on the early and straight with a round end on the later. |
Posted By: 67 ski nat
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 9:28pm
|
KENO. What’s next, pictures of all the fat chics I dated in high school That pic of previous owners bildge is embarrassing It is all new now |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 9:43pm
Daryn Try working on posting pictures again. Love to see the "new". ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 10:35pm
Um, those fat chics don't necessarily stay that way In the meantime, here's another shot of your pylon (before it was yours) showing the graduations that TRB is talking about and it looks like it might be pointing straight up. Kinda hard to tell It's in the link below, page 2 the 5th post down http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=39633&PN=2&title=1st-generation-ski-nautique-roster" rel="nofollow - link PS ...................I'll work on the chic pics |
Posted By: jbear
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 11:03pm
Following this thread for sure... john ------------- "Loud pipes save lives" AdamT sez "I'm Canadian and a beaver lover myself"... |
Posted By: Orlando76
Date Posted: January-29-2020 at 11:24pm
Useless picture but it’s all I could find at the moment. You can tell it doesn’t have the taper just below the ring. Its graduate steps are same placements and is a nominal 2.5” at the floor.  ------------- Please support The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation 1976 Ski Nautique 351 Escort 1993 Ski Nautique purple and black 351 HO PCM |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: January-30-2020 at 9:18am
|
It looks like a normal 73-75 pylon to me... later r/f, aluminum construction and just the chamfer at the top. If you’re saying it has an additional step/graduation somewhere along its length and is 2.5” at the base then that’s something I haven’t seen before. All 73-75 I’ve encountered look like yours and remain ~2” for the full length. Beauty ring at the floor (no welded flange). I’d like to see more pics of yours. Either way, it’s far different from the 67 version pictured. |
Posted By: Hollywood
Date Posted: January-30-2020 at 10:32am
| pancakes |
Posted By: quinner
Date Posted: January-30-2020 at 10:49am
Hah Ken, a few more posts down is my Blue Classic bought from Jake :) Wonder how my pole is, I know I pull from it A LOT, sometimes even push! ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1143" rel="nofollow - Mi Bowt |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: January-30-2020 at 11:04am
Does your pole "telescope" like the link below? It must have been optional But it is a good picture of a 67 pylon http://www.correctcraftfan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=24643&title=1960s-telescoping-ski-pylon" rel="nofollow - link |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: January-30-2020 at 11:14am
 Clear pic of the ~64-72 ring and finger from my 71:  |
Posted By: 67 ski nat
Date Posted: January-30-2020 at 11:23am
|
Yes that link looks just like mine, had it straightened yesterday Will post some pics of new floor, bildge pump and pole when done Nearly All foam has been removed from boat, pretty clean now This pylon detail was good conversation to have. Pete do I have permission to refab that bracket, seems necessary Otherwise only pin holds pylon from moving, wobbly?? |
Posted By: 67 ski nat
Date Posted: January-30-2020 at 11:26am
|
Anyone else have a support bracket under floor What holds it steady |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: January-30-2020 at 11:27am
| The pass through at the floor is what normally holds the pylon in place. Some have added a welded flange to clamp the floor more tightly (this is what cc did on the ~75-79 SN. |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: January-30-2020 at 11:27am
No, cc didn’t add any stringer clamping system until the aluminum engine cradle came in ‘80. |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: January-30-2020 at 11:42am
Correct. The pylon was mounted from the factory with the pin and socket at the keel and then at the floor with a hole through it and typically a 2x spanning the main stringers. No metal except the beauty ring. The dealer install was pretty simple. The socket at the keel many times was already glassed in from the factory so it was just hole saw at the floor, insert the pylon and screw down the beauty ring. Daryn, I suspect that camp that had your boat damaged the 2x at the floor and then added the angle between the stringers. ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: 67 ski nat
Date Posted: January-30-2020 at 11:45am
|
Good info TRB, thanks I’ll have it made and try it, test fit |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: January-30-2020 at 11:49am
What made? ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: 75 Tique
Date Posted: January-30-2020 at 11:52am
My ski tique presumably started with the pylon just supported by the wood floor. Some previous owner put this metal support in, kind of like the one shown above. As you can see, it got bent. Pylon not bent, just this support. Not sure if I did it, but may have happened with a few four man pulls.   I tried shimming between the pylon and bent support but that never worked so I had three ideas on the table. 1- go back to all wood, like original 2 - remount this same support a little farther forward so it contacted pylon again (tho new holes so close to old holes in potentially less than super solid stringers concerned me) or 3- start fresh. I went to a neighbor who is pretty good with such things. He said, Oh, I'll whip you up a new one, which he proceeded to do that afternoon with some stock he had laying around.  Well, I was a little concerned that that one of the four holes for the mounting screws was 16/10,000s off, but decided I could live with it.  It bolted to the stringers in 6 spots. Notice how the top support piece is not welded on but bolted on. That was so it could be removed to access the center bolts. Guy thought of everything. He's pretty handy. This other project he is working on was on the other side of his shop.  ------------- _____________ “So, how was your weekend?” “Well, let me see…sun burn, stiff neck, screwed up back, assorted aches and pains….yup, my weekend was great, thanks for asking.” |
Posted By: 75 Tique
Date Posted: January-30-2020 at 12:04pm
 ------------- _____________ “So, how was your weekend?” “Well, let me see…sun burn, stiff neck, screwed up back, assorted aches and pains….yup, my weekend was great, thanks for asking.” |
Posted By: 67 ski nat
Date Posted: January-30-2020 at 12:19pm
|
Pete and 75 tique, my non-oem bracket looks just like 75’s first one, only mine was made of angle iron and not bent like 75’s (your flat bar bent Nice looking new one, I’m feeling better about re-fabrication of bracket now Waffles |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: February-10-2020 at 1:30pm
To bring this full circle, I found a pic of the ‘75 stepped version. Very different than the 60’s stuff and I’m guessing a partial year only offering? I have seen other 75’s with the normal (full 2.5”) style used 76+. The top portion looks to match the 73-74 style before the transition to larger diameter. 
|
Posted By: 67 ski nat
Date Posted: February-10-2020 at 4:58pm
|
Thanks TRB. My pylon and finger matches the 60’s version good to know it’s original Having it powder coated today (anodized silver aluminum). Kinda looks stainless |
Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: February-10-2020 at 5:18pm
|
You do know they were originally white right? ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: 67 ski nat
Date Posted: February-11-2020 at 5:30am
|
Sure most I see are white It looked really nice in bare metal after I cleaned And sanded it Thought a stainless color would match other metal hardware |
Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: February-11-2020 at 12:58pm
|
I painted mine silver as well but tired of it. When I redid the boat I went with the white ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: 8122pbrainard
Date Posted: February-11-2020 at 1:06pm
 Yes, keep it original!  ------------- /diaries/details.asp?ID=1622" rel="nofollow - 54 Atom /diaries/details.asp?ID=2179" rel="nofollow - 77 Tique 64 X55 Dunphy Keep it original, Pete < |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: February-11-2020 at 3:09pm
Daryn You might want to remind "Mr Original" that there's plenty of non originality on your boat, just like there is on his Tique.
|
Posted By: 67 ski nat
Date Posted: February-11-2020 at 4:47pm
|
I understand original for sure, and need that input But powder coating is superior to paint I can not find stainless color paint, so that color is good base I can always paint white over stainless coating like Gary S If it does not look right I can paint white and clear |