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View Full Version : My Homemade Tower Build, Lots of Pics



Adrenalin
05-29-2013, 09:10 PM
So after shopping around and around and around for a tower, I decided to build my own. The prices for the universal towers and lack of support and possibly rattling led me to my decision to just build my own. I fab'd up this tower and mounts in a day with material I already had in my shop. To say the tower is solid is an understatement. Made 5x12 backing plates from 1" Marine plywood front and rear then used 1/4" aluminum on the underside of the backing plate. The mounts for the tower are 5x10 1/4" plate with a high durometer adhesive rubber on the bottom to protect the gelcoat. The tower is mounted using poly bushings that I machined. They are very rigid, but soft enough to absorb any vibration that could be created from normal driving. The Tower is made from chromoly DOM tube and is all mandrel bent. 1.75dia x 0.120" wall. The tow point is the home built tower go to, tow ball. I was afraid the tow ball was going to be ugly and was only going to be used temporary until I machined a new one, but its grown on me and I don't think its too noticeable. The tower has ZERO flex or sway side to side, and Zero vibrations.

Let me know what you think of this Tower build. I think it turned out alright for building on a Friday afterwork, letting the paint cure for 2 days, installing Sunday night, then boarding all day Monday! Not a bad Memorial Day weekend eh?

http://s22.postimg.org/vm2xjs8td/IMG_1151.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
Raw Materials

http://s18.postimg.org/vp29754h5/IMG_1063.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
air/hydra bender

http://s1.postimg.org/w5qmxkapr/IMG_1065.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
First Hoop / Front

http://s11.postimg.org/qgcne5243/IMG_1064.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
Shooting for 88" center to center. This was a little bit of a pain when you're man handling a 18ft stick of tube. It's like wrestling a bear! Especially when you are doing the second bend and 90% of the hoop is out of reach.

Salty87
05-29-2013, 09:14 PM
the white whale gets a tower...are there more pics? that's cool you have access to all of that.

Adrenalin
05-29-2013, 09:27 PM
http://s10.postimg.org/y2c76h4ux/IMG_1068.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
First Hoop mocked up in place. Hanging from the rafters. Wasn't the most fun lifting this hoop on and off and hanging it by myself.

http://s11.postimg.org/jm6y26yur/IMG_1070.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
another angle of the front hoop mocked in place

http://s8.postimg.org/7nqv2sc9h/IMG_1073.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
Rear legs are on

http://s12.postimg.org/tsdnsnyb1/IMG_1074.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
Rear Legs, You can see the bushings.

Adrenalin
05-29-2013, 09:28 PM
http://s21.postimg.org/m0u4mekkn/IMG_1075.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
Off the Boat and ready for some more tube!

http://s16.postimg.org/bv39sp9z9/IMG_1077.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
Second Hoop and some spreader bars

http://s23.postimg.org/n285gr5q3/IMG_1103.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
Burning it in with the glue gun!

http://s23.postimg.org/4o27qiit7/IMG_1128.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
All welded up, ready for a good cleaning, then paint.

Adrenalin
05-29-2013, 09:29 PM
http://s12.postimg.org/9b1w8i0z1/IMG_1138.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
Painted

http://s24.postimg.org/c0c99sqf9/IMG_1140.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
The 3 helpers putting in their time so we can ride in the morning

http://s14.postimg.org/bw1el04vl/IMG_1143.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
Pulled it out of the shop with a jeep then hooked up the diesel to it. The jeep turns easily, and the crew cab diesel does not!

http://s12.postimg.org/a5ofuj8tp/IMG_1183.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
After a long winter, getting some much needed ride time.

Adrenalin
05-29-2013, 09:30 PM
http://s17.postimg.org/l7aete2cv/IMG_1202.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
Added some board racks from DIYWAKE.com The price was better than me building a set.

http://s21.postimg.org/82fsswotj/IMG_1213.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
Bottom of the Tow Point

http://s24.postimg.org/rc4wcqy85/IMG_1211.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
rack

http://s24.postimg.org/dnkaxdcxx/IMG_1210.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
other rack

Adrenalin
05-29-2013, 09:30 PM
http://s12.postimg.org/4hmqhdtv1/IMG_1209.jpg (http://postimage.org/)
My White Tower for a 10th Anniversary White Whale Pirata

What do you think?

haugy
05-29-2013, 10:13 PM
Oh for the love of all things tubing. There is no way this is going to come out nice, so here it comes.

Did you do the cage on the crawler in the background? If you did, stop, step back away from the bender, and put the tubing down. You have a 10th anniversary Pirata, an extremely rare boat. Please don't destroy a legacy classic with backyard fabrication. Not to mention have you done any of the load calculations for something like this? I'm not sure if you are aware of the amount of load that will be on certain points of the tower depending on how it's built. Are you using two main hoops? How are they connected? How is the load dispersed from the main tow eye through the hoops and into the hull? How good are you at welding? Have you done structural analysis on your welds? Can we at least see your design?

Good luck, and please take pictures of the tower BEFORE you mount it so we can ummm, see it.

wotan2525
05-29-2013, 11:08 PM
I think it's fine. The welding and fabrication looks goood. It's a little "old school" / boxy for my taste but I can't be throwing rocks seeing the monstrosity on my boat.....

Adrenalin
05-29-2013, 11:28 PM
Wotan- thanks. It may be a little old school, but I like it. Thanks for the comments.

Haugy- 'structional analysis' on my welds? "How good are you at welding?" Seriously?! Do you think I would attempt something like this if I can't weld? I realize your post was up before my pictures loaded completely, but thanks for bashing before you saw the pics. So to answer your 'constructive criticism' I weld like a boss will put my welds up against anyone not only for strength but looks as well. And as far as structural analysis, I am a mechanical engineer and have over built this to say the least. I know plenty have monster towers and like them, but not having any support running from front to rear legs on the sides doesn't sit well with me.

It may not look like the new swooping designs out there, I think some look a little goofy sometimes. I built it from scratch and for under $150.

Sirgonz
05-29-2013, 11:34 PM
Wotan- thanks. It may be a little old school, but I like it. Thanks for the comments.

Haugy- 'structional analysis' on my welds? "How good are you at welding?" Seriously?! Do you think I would attempt something like this if I can't weld? I realize your post was up before my pictures loaded completely, but thanks for bashing before you saw the pics. So to answer your 'constructive criticism' I weld like a boss will put my welds up against anyone not only for strength but looks as well. And as far as structural analysis, I am a mechanical engineer and have over built this to say the least. I know plenty have monster towers and like them, but not having any support running from front to rear legs on the sides doesn't sit well with me.

It may not look like the new swooping designs out there, I think some look a little goofy sometimes. I built it from scratch and for under $150.

Good job man I almost did the same thing when I had an older boat.... $150 is WAY better then 700-1k and yours is prolly stronger then the cheapo ones... Looks the right age style wise for your boat!

ramzak
05-29-2013, 11:41 PM
Looks STRONG!

Looks good!

As a Mechanical Engineer myself. I think it is probably overbuilt(a great thing!).

I don't think the Monster Towers, and other Universal towers have much more "engineering" in them than this one.

Great job!


about the boat being rare.... I don't think boats have the same value system and/or appreciation in price for rare models as cars do.... You didn't hurt the value of this boat at all. If some dude doesn't like it, there are three others that love it.

CornRickey
05-30-2013, 12:15 AM
Oh for the love of all things tubing. There is no way this is going to come out nice, so here it comes.

Did you do the cage on the crawler in the background? If you did, stop, step back away from the bender, and put the tubing down. You have a 10th anniversary Pirata, an extremely rare boat. Please don't destroy a legacy classic with backyard fabrication. Not to mention have you done any of the load calculations for something like this? I'm not sure if you are aware of the amount of load that will be on certain points of the tower depending on how it's built. Are you using two main hoops? How are they connected? How is the load dispersed from the main tow eye through the hoops and into the hull? How good are you at welding? Have you done structural analysis on your welds? Can we at least see your design?

Good luck, and please take pictures of the tower BEFORE you mount it so we can ummm, see it.

"Take it easy Francis"

Zim
05-30-2013, 08:33 AM
Could be worse... I'd say you did a good job. Wouldn't be my first choice, but neither would a Monster tower. I think the Monsters look terrible on just about everything. If I had to buy a tower, it would be from New Dimensions.

whammond
05-30-2013, 08:58 AM
I commend you for your construction and I think it turned out great. I'd love to build a tower, if only I had everything I needed at my disposal.

From a structural standpoint, I'm a structural engineer and you are probably fine. When I look at it, the only thing I would check is the strength of the bolt at the top for the towing ball and the weld at this location. From the picture, the weld itself looked fine, I just hope its large enough(if a fillet weld) to be able to handle all of the eccentric loads that will be placed on it depending on where the rider is located and how hard he is pulling obviously. Please note that I am assuming the tower connections to the boat are fine.

If you gave me all the dimensions for the bolt, nut, and that top plate that it goes through, I could easily check that connection for you (Hard to tell from pictures, but if you used a larger bolt then you should be fine as long as long as it doesn't tear through that plate that it is in). For the weld, looking at the picture, it's looks like a beast of a fillet weld which leads me to think you are fine.

Awesome job though, enjoy.

http://i44.tinypic.com/30tl9w6.jpg

haugy
05-30-2013, 09:18 AM
Haugy- 'structional analysis' on my welds? "How good are you at welding?" Seriously?! Do you think I would attempt something like this if I can't weld? I realize your post was up before my pictures loaded completely, but thanks for bashing before you saw the pics. So to answer your 'constructive criticism' I weld like a boss will put my welds up against anyone not only for strength but looks as well. And as far as structural analysis, I am a mechanical engineer and have over built this to say the least. I know plenty have monster towers and like them, but not having any support running from front to rear legs on the sides doesn't sit well with me.

It may not look like the new swooping designs out there, I think some look a little goofy sometimes. I built it from scratch and for under $150.

Do you know how many engineers I know that "are good at welding"? Do you know how many cages I've seen fail? Do you know how many guys I've pulled out of crushed rigs because they thought their welding was good? Too many. I'm not talking about my welding, because I think mine sucks. And I'm aware of it. I've welded on all kinds of equipment, but most of the time, lives don't depend on it. So I don't take chances with it. I did 80% of my crawler. The things that mattered, cage, cage/frame mounts, etc I had done by guys that I know can build, and their reputation is based on proven results. So when you have someone's kids in your boat underneath your cage that you say is solid and it collapses on top of them or parts go flying, what will you say then?

Your pictures don't load so I can't see squat. The ones I first saw now aren't there. Try imagebam.com or something like that. But from what I can see, no way in hell I'd ride behind that. I've seen the load these towers take. You get a big boy on a wakeboard and having a hard time getting up, you will be amazed at the load created. This isn't a cage that is supposed to take a compression load, it's exactly the opposite. The load is now PULLING with forces you can't imagine to separate those welds. That's why I ask about your welding skills. Anyone can get steel to hold together.

You made it yourself, congrats. I applaud you for that. That's how some of the coolest ideas come about. But at the same time, I'm a die-hard. I care about these boats more than most of the classic cars I've worked on. I'm very passionate. And since they are few and far between, even more so with your 10th Anniversary edition, I get bothered when I see things like this. Yes, I think it looks goofy as hell. I think it ruins the look of the boat. And yes, it will hurt resale having a back-yard tower on it.

But as I've said to others, it's your boat, do what you want with it. But if you come to a public place and ask opinion, don't get upset when I tell you mine and you don't like it.


"Take it easy Francis"

He's an adult. Do you want me to coddle him like a 5-yr old who just lost a soccer game, or do you want me to tell him the truth? I'm nobody to him, so my opinion shouldn't matter. He put a goofy looking tower on a boat, a rare boat to boot. That's like putting 28" donks(rapper wheels) on a Duesenberg.

MESupra
05-30-2013, 09:27 AM
Awesome job, the tower fits the era of the boat to a tee, excellent fab skills and more than strong enough! We boarded behind a Wellcraft 190 classic with a 7' sch 40 steel pipe and 2" trailer ball somewhat welded on to the top and held into place with some grk screws and 2x6 pressure treated boards, the pipe passed down through the ski locker lid into a cement block. It held for two summers of boarding 3 guys 2-3x's a week.

Tower on the jeep looks great too.


Nice work serving Haugy too. Glad to see he is a senior member, how about a demotion.

haugy
05-30-2013, 09:51 AM
Awesome job, the tower fits the era of the boat to a tee, excellent fab skills and more than strong enough! We boarded behind a Wellcraft 190 classic with a 7' sch 40 steel pipe and 2" trailer ball somewhat welded on to the top and held into place with some grk screws and 2x6 pressure treated boards, the pipe passed down through the ski locker lid into a cement block. It held for two summers of boarding 3 guys 2-3x's a week.

Tower on the jeep looks great too.


Nice work serving Haugy too. Glad to see he is a senior member, how about a demotion.

What are you, 12? Wow, trailer balls? And it was "somewhat welded"?

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7019/6488414073_1cb53293df_z.jpg


And "serving haugy"? Again, are you 12? All he stated is the he is an awesome welder. Hey guess what, I'm great at brain surgery, I'm the best in the country.....................want me to operate on you? You can trust me right? I just said I was the best at it..............

And the "senior member" shows how long I've been here in relation to the amount of posts. It's not a title.

Jetlink
05-30-2013, 10:15 AM
Alright guys, opinions have been expressed here and as it seems emotions are flying high as well. Please try and refrain from mud slinging and name calling going forward.

wiatowski
05-30-2013, 10:26 AM
Think I'll stay out of this one.... maybe not. If you like the tower that's all that matters, but I totally understand Haugy's point. It's a rare boat and no one know these things better than him. I gonna defend him cause he's just stating his opinion. I'm not a huge fan of the tower but hey, not my style, not my boat. Good on you for building it though, I think it looks sturdy enough, but I'm no expert. I will say my bought tower has a lot of shake to it if I put my board racks up high no matter how much I've tightened it, so I can see why you wanted to build your own.

Once again open forum and if you put it out there not everyone's gonna like it. Haugy's given me my lumps, but I still respect his opinion. Love that white whale though. :)