Best Affordable Tower??? Pre2200i WT

[bordo380]

Hey everyone. I was thinking about getting a tower put on the ole direct drive this winter. I'm sure there are heated debates on what is the best. I would like to know most affordable that may or may not fold down. Main reason I want it is for what little surfing we try to do and for a bigger coverage sun shade/Bimini.

I'm not against installing it myself. I'm a engineer, but def not an expert on a boat towers.

It's a 1998.

Thanks as always.

Aaron in DFW

[Bakes5]

A few thousand is a drop in the bucket. Get a Samson razor or blade and be done with it.

[bordo380]

This is true. Thanks for pointing me in the direction of the Samson towers. I really like the blade.

[Bjax]

Bought my first boat last January, a Mastercraft Tristar 190, and had my mechanic install an Aerial tower (his suggestion). I was happy with it and it didn't break the bank. I only used it for 4 months before buying a new Tige, so I really can't speak to its longevity… Aerial has a huge photo gallery so you can see what it would probably look like on your rig. They also offer decent bimini fit kits (Sunbrella canvas) that won't break the bank as well.
Looks like the Samson starts at $3500 and with the bimini add on, you are well on your way to $4500 without talking installation.
That kind of dough sounds like a start to a (new/newer used boat) bank account to me…

[ryfrutiger]

I would go Samson, the quality of the tower is second to none and they are amazing to work with. Can't go wrong with a Samson tower.

[ktm450exc]

I have a 1997 Tige 2200v. 6 years ago I installed a Monster Tower. I have not had any problems and the price was good. You want to make sure the tower will not cause any stress cracks in the fiberglass. I will admit the Samson tower looks better.

[BurnMac42]

I'm happy with my Indy tower....solid as a rock and I was pulling 260+ pder's out of the water no problem.....

[surfidaho]

Samson makes a solid tower. I installed an Aerial Airborne. As we do is surf and I have been happy with it for the price. If I was going to slalom or wakeboard a ton behind the boat I would probably seek to make it more rigid. Pic:
IMAG1630.jpg

[UNSTUCK]

This is true. Thanks for pointing me in the direction of the Samson towers. I really like the blade.

I have no idea what the purchase price of your boat is, but I bet it can't be more than $20k, and probably far less. So spending $3k on a tower is hardly a drop in the bucket. Unless it's a gallon sized drop into a 5 gallon bucket. So if your $20k boat now has a $3k tower on it, can you expect to sell the package for $23k? It's still a $20k boat. I'm guessing youre not using this boat professionally, so it's not making you any money. I'd bet money you could find a nice tower that works great that is more fitting to the boat you have.
-voice of reason

[Bryan]

I agree with the above "voice of reason"... I think going Samson and dropping 3-4K (Samson Razor) on a tower for this boat is not the smart money move. Your thread title asks for the best affordable tower, and while a Samson may be an "affordable" option on a newer 30-40k boat, in my head, it's crazy to spend a quarter of the boats value on a new tower.. Ive heard good things about Indy..

[bordo380]

Best Affordable Tower??? Pre2200i WT

This is where I was going. I got about 10k in this boat.
I pull a bunch of kids on the tube and if I'm lucky I get it loaded enough and get my wife to drive it so I can surf. She's pretty good though.
We also teach a lot of wakeboard kids off the boom and I barefoot some. It's a good all around boat.
The fly high boom ratchet strap gets in the way and I need more room for all the boards as well. Looking fwd to some racks.
I'll keep looking.

Thanks voice of reason.

[bordo380]

Samson makes a solid tower. I installed an Aerial Airborne. As we do is surf and I have been happy with it for the price. If I was going to slalom or wakeboard a ton behind the boat I would probably seek to make it more rigid. Pic:
[ATTACH]41172[/ATTACH]

Does it wobble?

[BurnMac42]

20150531_141757.jpg

Indy Tower

[chpthril]

Best Affordable Tower???

I think Monster has historically best fit this IMO. Better then DIY quality but not Samson price.

[retox1]

Like others have said, try the Indy tower. I had one on my old Mastercraft 205 and i was pretty happy with it. It was less shaky than the E-series tower that came on my Tige. I always thought it looked similar to a monster tower but with far better looking hardware and mounts. Samson makes some really nice towers, but i had a real problem justifying a $3500 tower on a boat i paid 17k for.

Another option on the lower end of the budget is a Joystick tower. Pretty simple design but its supposed to be really well made and very solid.