Illusion tower or Switchblade ... what cha think?

[Tanner]

Ok so some of you all know about the power line that snapped my tower last week.

Since I'm making the power company buy me a new tower, I might as well get a sturdy one.

Samson thinks my tower is gonna sway with the 485's. I've always liked the looks of the Malibu illusion, and so I gave the malibu dealer a call. I can pick up the illusion for cheaper than the switchblade. And it's gonna be rock solid... just difficult to mount the 485's to.

I'd be happy w/ either one. I'm short, so height doesn't concern me. And I never lower my tower. What do you guys think.

Maybe time to bring back the Tigebu.

[Jeffe]

Post pics of both of the towers.

I cant recall what the switchblade tower looks like.

[Tanner]

Here's the switchblade on ragboy's boat.

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100397/IMG_1425/web.jpg?ver=12402186890003

And here's the Illusion

http://thumb8.webshots.net/t/42/43/1/52/14/309615214EiLyoa_th.jpg (http://sports.webshots.com/photo/1309615214065023248EiLyoa)

[Jeffe]

His boat looks like its all dressed up and nowhere to go :D


I am leaning towards the Illusion Tower...No offense ragboy;)

[zad0030]

Illusion :D

[chpthril]

Switchblade!

[chpthril]

Illusioon :D

Dang, Wannabecantspell! :p

[turbonine]

Will you be using a bimini frequently?

[zad0030]

Dang, Wannabecantspell! :p

Whoop. Thats what I get for posting from the Ipod...

[Tanner]

Nope, hardly ever. I was hoping you'd chime in Turbo. I've heard the Bu's bimini is lacking in functionality. Are they really that hard to put up?

[talltigeguy]

Are you sure that the Illusion will fit on your boat. The width is not very adjustable and a 1/2 inch might be a big deal, IMHO.

The illusion tower is too low. When I was searching for boats, I found a killer deal on a 247 Malibu, and if I liked the Illusion tower, I would be tallmalibuguy right now. Plan on selling the 485's if you get the Illusion. It is nice and solid, but is also short. That was my main issue with it. I don't like concussions much and was bound to get one. The bimini seems great to me. Very sturdy and my buddy just trailers his 65MPH with it up. So I don't even know how to set it up...it is always there.

The Switchblade has issues with mounting 485's to also. There are not two horizontal bars on that damn thing. It really is made for the Samson speakers. Two 485's would go at an angle and look...retarded. Look carefully at how the bars bend on the sides and where you would mount speakers. I very seriously considered one for my MC, but the lack of functionality for mounting a pod of HLCD's turned me off.

I haven't found the perfect aftermarket tower yet, but the newest version of the Titan for Malibu is the closest, I think. If the bu dealer can get you a new Titan tower then you should go for that. I called Titan and they said they only sell to bu dealers.

I did not get to hear about your 'tower of power' incident...what happened? Where have I been?

[Carter13]

Tall,

What speakers are you mounting on your OEM tower?

[Tanner]

Tall,
Thanks for the heads up on the illusion maybe not fitting. I'll measure tom. I figured since both boats had a 102" beam it would work no problems. But I was def. gonna measure, just to be sure! Thanks for the heads up though.

There's no need to sell the 485's with the illusion. It just takes some ingenuity... it's actually a very easy install. If you don't believe me, just look here.... there's a few. http://www.wetsounds.com/pages/gallery/installations/malibu/malibu.html They go on top of the tower. I could care less about the height though. Actually the Illusion is a simple install for 485's.... The difficult one is the Alpha Z, and I've already solved that as well.

As for the Samson, I've spoke w/ Samson in depth. They swear it'll work and be straight w/ some adjustment on their part to the light bar. I'm calling them w/ measurements tom. on how much straight bar I'll need for the clamps to fit w/o the speakers hitting each other. That being said, they swear they'll work. Even if they don't, I'm prepared to do some custom fabbing. Already did it on mine. I'm lucky enough that I've got access to a buddies machine shop and spent quite a bit of time as a kid in one. I've already solved the issue if it comes up.

[ragboy]

The thing is with samson, is they will build the tower to spec, and I am sure they will make it work. My tower MAKES my boat. I love that switchblade.

Some pics to help?

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100025/IMG_0852/web.jpg?ver=12215362730001

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100025/IMG_0848/web.jpg?ver=12215362730001

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100080/IMG_5962/web.jpg?ver=12104443770001

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100080/IMG_5963/web.jpg?ver=12104443790001

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100080/IMG_5965/web.jpg?ver=12104443830001

This one belongs on the samson website.

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100080/IMG_5966/web.jpg?ver=12104443860001

Notice all the boards, and weight up there.

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100167/IMG_7548/web.jpg?ver=12215361140008

Even the 8ft mini longboard.

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_0292/web.jpg?ver=12215349730004

It was choppy on this day, and the long board moved around, tower was steady.

http://gallery.me.com/ragboy/100238/IMG_0289/web.jpg?ver=12215349700005

[turbonine]

Nope, hardly ever. I was hoping you'd chime in Turbo. I've heard the Bu's bimini is lacking in functionality. Are they really that hard to put up?

The bimini for the illusion is very simple and very easy to use. It is also very tight and snug as Tall said. Every boat owner that sees me put the bimini up for the first time always has this "thats it" look on their face. It really is that easy.

The tower is also as simple to to put down, literally takes 8 or 9 seconds. It does take two people to put down though and you should use a stand to rest it on versus on the dash.

I think one of the best attributes that gets overlooked is that the drivers view isn't obstructed at all with the Illusion tower.

If you need any photos or videos I can send you some.

[MoneyPity]

When I tore up my Tige E-Series Tower I went with a Sampson based on some of ragboy's comments and other comments on various sites. Since I only have the
20V I thought the Switchblade would look out of scale to the boat so I went with the Razor w 1 mounting plate for the lights, 1 wake board rack and 1 slalom rack and the Sampson Bimini. I have a set of PRO 60's on it and it has no wobble it's more stable than the stock and so far no blessed rattles. I needed a tower that would be easy to raise and lower and the Razor does that well. The Bimini also is easy to put up and take down.

When raising the tower you feel the weight of the speakers until you get to a certain point and then it is easy to get up. The one thing I need to figure out is how to get my Pro-60's to point straight backwards and not at off angles. Mine was an insurance replacement and overall I am happy with the Razor vs stock. It Razor seems rock solid for my needs and I would think the Switchblade is to. Speaker mounting is the key concern.

The tower is setup to use Samson Speakers with their quick release and how they integrate with their mounting plates.

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv320/moneypity/DSCN0040.jpg

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv320/moneypity/DSCN0046.jpg

[ragboy]

Yes, I had the 2007 Tige Bimini, which was a nightmare. The designer of that, should have been shot. The samson bimini quick and simple.

[MoneyPity]

x2

[dogbert]

Ok so some of you all know about the power line that snapped my tower last week.

Since I'm making the power company buy me a new tower, I might as well get a sturdy one.

Samson thinks my tower is gonna sway with the 485's. I've always liked the looks of the Malibu illusion, and so I gave the malibu dealer a call. I can pick up the illusion for cheaper than the switchblade. And it's gonna be rock solid... just difficult to mount the 485's to.

I'd be happy w/ either one. I'm short, so height doesn't concern me. And I never lower my tower. What do you guys think.

Maybe time to bring back the Tigebu.

I'd go with the illusion. I'm tall and I'd pic that tower/bimini combo over the samson....sorry ragboy (your tower does look sweet, tho).

[kko]

so im curious why is the alpha z not a choice.You say you have the 485 problem worked out.That would be the only issue that would keep me from getting it.The alpha z folds so much easier than the illusion.From my personal experience with both the illusion and alpha z (we sell Tiges and Malibu) i prefer the alpha for looks and ease of putting it up and down.
I have never seen a samson in person but i like the ones i see and if it where my boat i go with it because i dont like the height of the other 2 just their look.Good luck.

[Jason B]

Alpha Z

[talltigeguy]

The other thing to consider is that the 485's on the malibu tower are going to be very far forward in the cabin. You can plan on evacuating almost all the rear cabin when you turn them up. With my buddy's Illusion, the pro 60's are right next to the driver's ear on the stock locations. I suspect where you plan to put them will be even worse.

The top of the Samson tower is very similar on both the razor and switchblade, note in this pic that a pod of speakers is going to face outward and will be skeewampus higher towards the center.

This is Money pity's razor, note the angles of the rear bar:

http://i695.photobucket.com/albums/vv320/moneypity/DSCN0046.jpg

I spoke to Scott at Samson when I was considering it, and he thought that part of the stability of the tower would be compromised if they straightened out that bar for me, and he strongly discouraged it. If you straighten it out and it works great, let me know. I even had a buyer set up for my X45 tower when I finally decided I could not do it.

For now, I think I am going to put my old Tyrants up on the tower and see how I like it. If I get enough moola for my MC speakers, I might do a threesome with a single 485 and a pair of Pro 80's. Who knows what I will do.

[Tanner]

The reason I wasn't considering the Alpha Z is b/c I didn't like the way it looks on the 24Ve's... so I'm assuming the same will go for the 24V in my case. I LOVE how it looks on the RZ's and Z1. It also looks good on the 22Ve. Just something about it doesn't fit on the bigger boat IMO.

[turbonine]

The reason I wasn't considering the Alpha Z is b/c I didn't like the way it looks on the 24Ve's... so I'm assuming the same will go for the 24V in my case. I LOVE how it looks on the RZ's and Z1. It also looks good on the 22Ve. Just something about it doesn't fit on the bigger boat IMO.

It looks too short on the 24.

[ragboy]

The speaker placment that tall mentions is a big deal. The placement on the samson tower was only about 6 inches farther forward then my old. And you can get blown out at the back of the boat, when you are playing them loud enough for the rider to groove. I think it would be obnoxious to get those big 485s that far up front, as far as sound goes, but hey, you may like that.

[Tanner]

It looks too short on the 24.


Exactly!

[formandfunction]

I think the sampson looks better.

[ragboy]

OK, I see the 485s on the bu illusion. Now, if this is your thing, then go for it. But looks more like the boat Huggy Bear would be driving around.

http://www.wetsounds.com/media/gallery/installations/malibu/images/007.jpg

http://www.wetsounds.com/media/gallery/installations/malibu/images/008.jpg

http://www.wetsounds.com/media/gallery/installations/malibu/images/009.jpg

http://www.wetsounds.com/media/gallery/installations/malibu/images/035.jpg

http://www.wetsounds.com/media/gallery/installations/malibu/images/039.jpg


not my thang.

[G-MONEY]

I don't get it...many of us from what I have seen and heard have some unreal systems with just 2 485 for 4 pro 80's or 4 pro 60's ect... How much louder do you really need to be? No one I know boards at 1000ft back.

[Tanner]

LMAO.... I'm only talking about a set of 485's and a pair of MB8's! No need for all that!

I have no clue why you'd need all that.

[Carter13]

A pair of Pro 80's powered correctly are plenty.

[dogbert]

OK, I see the 485s on the bu illusion. Now, if this is your thing, then go for it. But looks more like the boat Huggy Bear would be driving around.


not my thang.

If it were Huggy Bear, it would have fuzzy pink dice and more bling...LOL. May Starsky or Hutch :D

[Tanner]

A pair of Pro 80's powered correctly are plenty.

Eh.... that's in your opinion. I personally don't like the sound of a pair of 80's. wayyyyyy to harsh. I do however loveeeeeeeeeeee the 485's!

[MoneyPity]

With 15 off on my boat with just the Pro 60's my skiers hear the tunes admittedly we have the volume up high and I shut down the house speakers so I can hear myself think.

Because we are skiing there is not a lot of music your likely to listen to ripping at 15-20 off(or more) so just a simple pair of W's work. I regret trading my Pro80's back to Wet Sounds and getting the 60's because of issues with the e tower but thats life.

We will get into boarding or hydrofoiling this year(most likely hydrofoiling because of knee) and I am sure we will be able to listen to the music foiling.

As pointed out my speakers on the Sampson angle out. We are going to see what we can do about this.

[ragboy]

Cant the WS speakers mount on the cross bars, like mine are mounted? with just 90 deg change in WS mounts? Or do WS mounts only go that one direction?

[chpthril]

Cant the WS speakers mount on the cross bars, like mine are mounted? with just 90 deg change in WS mounts? Or do WS mounts only go that one direction?

The new SS swivel clamps will, they come std on the 80's and 485's and are an upgrade on the 60's and MB8's.

[MoneyPity]

The new SS swivel clamps will, they come std on the 80's and 485's and are an upgrade on the 60's and MB8's.

PM sent.

[ragboy]

The new SS swivel clamps will, they come std on the 80's and 485's and are an upgrade on the 60's and MB8's.

That should take care of the issue, that is how mine are mounted.

[MoneyPity]

The new mounts will work it is just of matter of putting a few more bucks into the boat.

Right now putting more $$ into boat is not an option.

It is still house that has priority in these recession based times.