Another Boat Thread--Help needed. Pulled the trigger on a jet.

Yeah, apparently Master Craft has started putting hinge systems in the towers on theirir wakeboard boats. Wanted to go check those out. Trying to figure out how to leave the anchors in place, and add some tab hinges with large "set" screws to tighten on friction washers.

If we hinge at the top at the four courners, and hinge down on all for uprights somewhere, we may be able to just lay the whole thing flat in the bow of the boat. We will have to figure out something to do with the cross bracing. Small hydraulic cylinders would be great to lock it in position.

Have a friend with a metal fab shop lined up to take a look.

Thought about trying to find a set of small hy

Monster Tower makes them for MC and they are in Maryville.

http://www.monstertower.com/Home/The...4/Default.aspx

Guy has a pretty good reputation. He might do it for you or just sell you the best hinge?
Pick up a calendar too!

Shread, thanks for the info!! Will track him down. Only about 2 hours away.

You must be getting psyched. Hey maybe see if the guy can wrap those seats somehow, even if it's just trash bags and duct tape - they're gonna be coated with bugs when it gets to you (it'll probably clean right off but what the heck).

those are not bugs that's bait collecting:biggrin:

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Originally Posted by iceman

You must be getting psyched. Hey maybe see if the guy can wrap those seats somehow, even if it's just trash bags and duct tape - they're gonna be coated with bugs when it gets to you (it'll probably clean right off but what the heck).

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Good point. I wondered if they would fold down too. I hope he doesn't find a hail storm between here and there.

Yep, this is worse than sitting at a desk watching it dump powder all day and not being able to get to the mountain.

Dez Moinz last night

I pulled an all nighter working on an appellate brief in a murder case while she slept at a truck stop.

Most of the towers here hinge at the base, and use a cotter pin type set up off a post on the floor. Not really a trip hazard, since the only time the tower is down, is to go under a bridge, or trailering. It is pretty effective, but that tower is gonna need at least another pair of bottom feet added. I would hinge it down low. No use in having 4 ft of tower sticking up, plus the wiring would prolly have to be lengthened a bunch more in that scenario. From the base, it is just a matter of the wiring being able to travel with the tower, not travel inside it, if that makes sense.

If you bring it to Monster, they will pimp it out. You'll be wakeboarding off that thing.

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Originally Posted by warthog

Most of the towers here hinge at the base, and use a cotter pin type set up off a post on the floor. Not really a trip hazard, since the only time the tower is down, is to go under a bridge, or trailering. It is pretty effective, but that tower is gonna need at least another pair of bottom feet added. I would hinge it down low. No use in having 4 ft of tower sticking up, plus the wiring would prolly have to be lengthened a bunch more in that scenario. From the base, it is just a matter of the wiring being able to travel with the tower, not travel inside it, if that makes sense.

If you bring it to Monster, they will pimp it out. You'll be wakeboarding off that thing.

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The teenagers would appreciate the wakeboard tower. Unfortunately they don't appreciate the cost of gasoline.

Hopefully in Tennessee as we speak!!! Picking her up around noon tomorrow!!!!

Home. Got her here last night. Didn't realize how big it was. Boat itself is 23.5, plus the jet and swim deck. Probably nearly 26 feet total. Console is massive. Top of the console is flat with a raised lip to collect junk, about 4x4 square.

Unfortunately two issues. One, Clerk's office is closed so I couldn't get it registered to use for the weekend. Bummer. Bunch of asshole wildlife officers would love to pop me in a minute retaliation for screwing with them in court.

Had a bolt get lost in transit that goes to the lever that controls the position of the diverter bucket. Means no reverse and it always moves forward. Remember, like a jet ski, there is no neutral. Spent yesterday and today engineering one. Will get a factory part en route Tuesday.

Put new batteries in it, cleaning the bug juice off the T-Top from being on the road almost 5 days.

Idiot former owner put about 50 fucking decals on the boat and trailer. It is taking me nearly an hour per decal to warm, remove and clean the goo. Damn.

Ken

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Originally Posted by TNKen

Unfortunately two issues...

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But you didn't blame either of them on the guy in the White House, thanks.

Enjoy the boat, man. I've been studying charts and trying to memorize them, which would be a lot easier if I actually had a memory.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...px-Cameras.jpg

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Originally Posted by iceman

But you didn't blame either of them on the guy in the White House, thanks.

Enjoy the boat, man. I've been studying charts and trying to memorize them, which would be a lot easier if I actually had a memory.

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Navionics app for Droid and iPhone is pretty sweet for that purpose. You can use it on the boat as backup too.

bet previous owners wife doesn't think he's an asshole now that someone else is pumping the jet.
enjoy the ride and keep a look out for big logs.
bf

You can use something like this to hinge it
Attachment 116317
http://atlantictowers.com/store/towe...ng/prod_7.html
call a good tower maker in NY or FLA and see what they suggest. I had a friend in Baldwin NY (Atlantic Towers) who always came up with something

Quote:

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Originally Posted by refried

You can use something like this to hinge it
Attachment 116317
http://atlantictowers.com/store/towe...ng/prod_7.html
call a good tower maker in NY or FLA and see what they suggest. I had a friend in Baldwin NY (Atlantic Towers) who always came up with something

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Thanks. I don't know whether it is worth hacking up what I have, or just starting over with a clean design. I am leaning toward clean.


Just had it out for a few minutes. Went out early to avoid the H20 poo-poo. Very very different than a prop driven boat. There is no neutral position, just a point where it kinda stops moving. It will start in any position, forward, neutral, back, full throttle, half throttle, whatever.

Reversing is totally opposite than a prop boat. Turn the wheel to the right in reverse, it backs left. Pull back on the throttle and the boat goes straight wherever it is pointed. Hammer it and it will turn on a dime, if you can stay in the seat. Kinda like the middle engine ski boats doing a power slide.

Full speed turns are interesting. Boat starts the turn, then if you add turn, it will power slide around.

No power steering, all the power you can crank. Wheel is a 3/4 turn lock to lock. 7 o'clock position to the left, 5 to the right.

More time in the lake before hitting the river.