Tower Modification? Help me.

(whoisrockey) · (whoisrockey) **Join Date: Mar 2006** 06-01-2007, 3:43 PM

Hey question for all you guys. i have the option of picking up a phat budde tower but the problem is it doesnt have the mounting hardware which is like a ball joint that fits in a saddle dealio. instead i was wondering if it was feasable to just take it and weld some plates to the bottom and attach it accordinly with the under plate ect. i had a proflight tower on my last boat and that was how it was mounted and seemed to be fine? does that sound like it would be an issue? i called up phat budde and they told me $500 bucks just for the mounting hardware?!!!! i thought that sounded crazy. what do you guys think?

(keith2002) · (keith2002) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 06-01-2007, 5:45 PM

Buy something else. I got rid of my Phat Tower because it shook more than Mohammad Ali. I have heard good things about Monster Tower.

(tracktor) · (tracktor) **Join Date: Sep 2005** 06-01-2007, 6:00 PM

Call Samson Sports, if it's an older one the design is same/similiar. Samason's customer service is unbelievable........

alanp 06-01-2007, 7:01 PM

sam take it to a good fab shop and they should be able to take care of you.

(whoisrockey) · (whoisrockey) **Join Date: Mar 2006** 06-01-2007, 9:20 PM

ok well heres my deal. both the samson tower and the phat budde are like 2,500 to 2,700.
i can get this tower with no hardware for 500 bucks? can i possibly go wrong here?

(jpshaff01) · (jpshaff01) **Join Date: Jun 2005** 06-01-2007, 9:41 PM

From the website they look pretty sweet for 500 if you don't have to ship it i'm sure you can figure something out

(keith2002) · (keith2002) **Join Date: Apr 2006** 06-02-2007, 7:42 AM

Sam - Yes you can go wrong. Phat Towers are made to fit a specific boat, they are not stiff and the board racks don't work well. for just a few more $$$ you can get a better tower that will fit your boat.
http://www.monstertower.com/monster_tower.htm

(whoisrockey) · (whoisrockey) **Join Date: Mar 2006** 06-02-2007, 10:57 AM

im not a big fan of the monster tower look. i like the phat budde look. ive got other buddies that said they like the tower alot. anyone else here have any experiance with one?

(cyclonecj) · (cyclonecj) **Join Date: Jul 2001** 06-02-2007, 11:29 AM

You can get the tower mounting hardware from Pyramid Manufacturing on ebay

(whoisrockey) · (whoisrockey) **Join Date: Mar 2006** 06-02-2007, 8:08 PM

has anyone had plates welded to the end of a tower? most wakeboard towers seem like that is how they are mounted with round plates and backing plates as well. just curious if anyone has done this?

(tracktor) · (tracktor) **Join Date: Sep 2005** 06-03-2007, 1:17 PM

I have a Samson/Phat Budde tower. It was on the boat when I got it. I update the mounting feet from the old 1 1/2" round style that was on it to much bigger plates and added better reinforcements inside the hull. Samson hooked me up with all the new parts at a very reasonable cost. It works great and doesn't sway/shake or rattle any more thatn any other towers that I have seen. The board built-in board racks work OK and are great when you add standard fork ons as you can hold up to 8 boards. As for just welding plates on, that would probably work but it seems like alot of work when a call to Samson would probably yield better results..........

(whoisrockey) · (whoisrockey) **Join Date: Mar 2006** 06-09-2007, 1:13 PM

ok. fabrication done. tower is on. going out today to ride behind it. i put huge plates behind it cause i figured bigger is better. here are some pics let me know what you think. it went from just round tube to what it is now. Upload

(spoonman) · (spoonman) **Join Date: Aug 2005** 06-09-2007, 1:23 PM

Those screws/ bolts look a little small for the load

(dubguy72) · (dubguy72) **Join Date: Jul 2006** 06-09-2007, 10:32 PM

if i were you i would lay some fiberglass or plexis on the underside of you tower

the screws won't last but just my opinion

(carcrz) · (carcrz) **Join Date: Mar 2006** 06-10-2007, 5:54 AM

Those screws are definitely too small. It does all look good though.

(jlembas) · (jlembas) **Join Date: Apr 2002** 06-10-2007, 6:30 AM

Wow. Impressive job for a DIY! Somebody has had some experience and access to a fab shop. It is not easy making those plates and bending them so clean.

BTW, those screws are fine IMO as long as they bolt thru to a backing plate. I've seen plenty of towers mounted that way and they were fine(most Nautiques are mounted just like that).

(wakesetter101) · (wakesetter101) **Join Date: Oct 2005** 06-10-2007, 8:37 AM

Looks very nice. I would get some larger screws.

(whoisrockey) · (whoisrockey) **Join Date: Mar 2006** 06-10-2007, 10:10 AM

the screws are 1/4" stainless. they look small in the picture. they are actually pretty big. my old pro flight on my supreme had even smaller screws. they go through a huge backing plate. thanks for the input guys.