2001 Tige Metcraft Tower SNAPS...

[Bog]

regarding the wakedesign tower, I have seen a couple 03's with really crappy welds that broke over time. I dont know about 04

[NICKYPOO]

I'm really torn on this issue. Yes, those towers suck. It's no secret. All of you who have them know this. I had one and I new it sucked. So who is to blame? Metcraft for building a weak tower? Tige for putting them on their boats? Boat owners who know they have a weak product but refuse to take responsibility for the weak product on their boat? I'm gonna get grilled for this one but, I think it's the boat owners. It's not like these things are breaking right off of the showroom floor. If one did, then I would be looking for answers. Over time, everything will break. That is why I replaced mine before it broke. You can't own one of those things and not know that eventually it is going to break. You can't really fault Metcraft. They were contracted by Tige to build that tower. I would bet they could have built a better one but, at what cost? Tige could have had a better one built but, at what cost? Why do you think they build different towers now? If that tower was so great, why don't they still use them? Does anyone know what the factory warranty was on those towers?

[lee]

The towers has a one year warranty.

[NICKYPOO]

There you go. Thanks Lee.

[Cheeky]

I did replace my 2001 because I was unhappy with how much it swayed and the design in general. Before I bought the boat, the previous owner had the tower repaired under warranty. The H bar never broke on my while I had it. The bolts on the rear base kept snapping (apparently you are supposed to loosen them whenever you lower the tower, but I nver knew). I got a deal on a 2005 tower on never looked back. Thanks to Lee for working that one out to make it work on the boat.

[LovinPowell]

I am amazed at this thread, I don't even know what kind of tower I have, I have a 2005 21i that I bought a year ago. Did Tige still use metcraft towers then or did they change before that? I hope that I don't have a metcraft tower, what a pain.

[bcskypilot]

I called Tige about buying a new tower from them direct since the Metcraft Tower failed. I was told the new towers wouldn't fit the 98 22i I have though. Lee are there any options available for a custom tower since you guys build your own now? My season is almost over so waiting a little while wouldn't be as painful if we could work something out...

Thanks,

Brian

[xpjim1]

So I will most likely get toasted for this but I had a Metcraft on my 2002 20V and one on my 05 24V. I have to say I liked the 2002 model better as it seemed more solid. The 05 has some sway but I was the one who made the decision to buy it. I wanted the Samson Razor but ran out of money. Maybe I was lucky and did not own the tower long enough for problewms or Metcraft improved there design.

[bcskypilot]

The metcraft tower I had always had some sway to it. The sway went hand in hand with the rattle I could always count on. For me, at my skill level and riding style I it was practical still so I never griped about it. I liked it with the board racks built in and I thought it looked pretty good as well. Till it broke anyways^

[lee]

We do not build towers in house but have a metal fab shop that can make a tower to fit any boat. We also have a machine shop that has made some parts for us so we can attach piviting or rotating board racks to the 2005-2006 Tige towers. Hope to have some pictures of the racks soon.

[bcskypilot]

Lee is it possible to get the contact info for the shop you are talking about. I would be interested in seeing if they could build a tower for my 22i.


Thanks,

[Zacky]

Nickypoo-

How are you going to hold the owners responsible? That is one of the most ridiculous things I have heard. I, for one, am not an engineer. Therefore, I cannot look at the makings of a tower and have the ability to tell whether or not it will stand the test of time. Sure, the tower swayed and creaked. Most do. Was that an indication that it would eventually snap? The windshield on my Tige flexes and the dash vibrates and rattles. Does this mean my boat is falling apart and will eventually sink? I am lucky that it only snapped in one place compared to the others that have snapped in two or three places.

Has Metcraft publically acknowledged this problem to the owners or Tige? I have never received notification. Until they do, then they obviously stand behind the integrity of this particular tower, and see the breakings as a mere fluke rather than a manufacturers error. By doing this they are opening themselves up to huge liabilities. Hopefully, the next tower that snaps will not cause serious injury or death. In this day and age, Metcraft would lose and lose big. Did manufacturers not learn anything from Firestone Tires?

Is it a coincidence that all of these towers are breaking in the exact same places? The only way an owner can be held responsible is if Metcraft acknowledges the problem (through a recall of some sort). Then, if the owner chooses not to have the tower fixed, it's on the owner.

I agree that all things eventually break. But three years and 200 hours later? Come on...

[NICKYPOO]

Zachy,

Outstanding reply. Excellent points throughout. However, I liken those particular towers to a paper clip. If you bend it back and forth enough times, it will break. I agree with you that Metcraft should have put some sort of notice out about those towers. That would have been the stand up thing to do.........I also agree that Metcraft is opening themselves up for a world of hurt. My point was that you dont need to be a rocket scientist to figure out that that tower is jenky. I knew it when I bought the boat. At the time, it was a Tige and it had a tower with board racks. I needed it. I eventually paid the boat off and it was staight to Boss to have a tower built that would hold up as long as my Tige. I was just lucky that the Metcraft didn't break before I got rid of it.

[bcskypilot]

Finally had a chance to go out and price what it was going to cost to fill in the holes and gel coat where my Metcraft tower used to set. All I can say is wow^ I know the dealer I am working with will do it right to assure what ever new tower I mount will have a nice secure place to rest. They also know how crazy I am about the look of the boat so I am sure I'll never even see where the holes used to be. I have 2 bids and the lowest one is $1,700, It cost more then I anticipated but has to be done. Anyone else made this type of gel coat repair? Cost about the same? I'm also going to give metcraft another call...

[lee]

That is way too high to fill those holes. Our fiberglass man in Nashville gets about $600 for that job.