Best Affordable Tower??? Pre2200i WT

[Bakes5]

My only regret is not spending more on my boat initially and getting something a little newer. So I paid about $17,500 for my 98 2200v in spring of 2009. since then I probably have spent about $10-15k on lake cabins, about $4-5k in dry suits and wetsuits, easily $7-8k on skis, boards, and foils, about $2000 a summer on gas for boat and tow vehicle = $12k in gas, $1000 on perfect pass, $1000 on props, and probably $2k on repairs and maintenance for the boat and trailer.

That comes out to about $44k over the past 6-7 years....not counting the boat or tower. I have zero regrets on spending $4500 for my Samson razor on my $17,500 boat. I love it every time I use the boat. It absolutely transformed the look of my boat and has been very solid

If you are gonna sell in a year, get something cheap. If your gonna run it till the engine blows then put another engine it then get the Samson. I have zero regrets and an on getting another 6-7 years out of it.

[Bakes5]

Also, everyone is dead on right about not getting your money out of the tower. My boat is still a $15-16K boat....maybe. Even if I put a new $10,000 383 stroker in it, it would still be worth only $16-18K....maybe.

In the end, don't expect to get any money you put into it back. You are buying memories with family and friends. Easily the best money I have spent.....unless you count my mountain addiction and photography habit.

Obligatory pic

[retox1]

My only regret is not spending more on my boat initially and getting something a little newer. So I paid about $17,500 for my 98 2200v in spring of 2009. since then I probably have spent about $10-15k on lake cabins, about $4-5k in dry suits and wetsuits, easily $7-8k on skis, boards, and foils, about $2000 a summer on gas for boat and tow vehicle = $12k in gas, $1000 on perfect pass, $1000 on props, and probably $2k on repairs and maintenance for the boat and trailer.

That comes out to about $44k over the past 6-7 years....not counting the boat or tower. I have zero regrets on spending $4500 for my Samson razor on my $17,500 boat. I love it every time I use the boat. It absolutely transformed the look of my boat and has been very solid

If you are gonna sell in a year, get something cheap. If your gonna run it till the engine blows then put another engine it then get the Samson. I have zero regrets and an on getting another 6-7 years out of it.

This is great advice. I had the same reasoning when i had my Mastercraft and went with a Indy tower instead of the more expensive and better options. I knew i was only keeping the boat till i could afford something newer and nicer and i knew i would never get the extra money back when i sold it. Some of the money i saved by going with a cheaper tower i used to replace the carpet and put new vinyl on a few seats. Those are things that do increase the value of the boat.

[surfidaho]

The Aerial is waaay more stable than the Metcraft that came with my boat. I have no problem running WOT across the lake with boards in the racks. My point was that it has a lot of screws and bolts that hold it together and if you were frequently getting after it on a wake board this could be an issue. If you are pulling a tube or a slalom skier you should use the pylon anyway. I do have a friend that is like 270lbs who surfs with us and no issues thus far. I have the black version and it looks as good today as the day I put it on. No issues with my gel coat from the mount points either.

[Ruger761]

I ended up buying a Big Air H2O tower. Been happy with it so far. Wish it set up just a touch taller, I hit my head on my speakers often It was a simi-custom just a few measurements you have to do for it. I ended up putting a backing plate on where it attaches to the boat. Price was within budget. I custom fit my old bimini top to it.

IMG_2556.jpg

[NICKYPOO]

I spent 4K on my tower and it's totally been worth it. No shakes, no rattles. Having a rattle trap over your head with a ton a crap strapped to it just kinda sucks. Having something completely solid pays for itself every time you hit the water. Mine has been out of production for 10 or so years and the company is long gone but, if I had to do it again, I'd buy a Samson Razor in a heart beat.

[Bryan]

Bakes5... Are those surf boards in a Bimini rack or are they just hanging in that rope looped around your tow point?

[NICKYPOO]

Bakes5... Are those surf boards in a Bimini rack or are they just hanging in that rope looped around your tow point?

As many times as I've seen that photo, I've never noticed that. One thing though, those look like kneeboards.

[Bakes5]

kneeboards. There is a rope looped around the nose of each kneeboard and then around the tow point. Worked pretty well to keep them stable until I mounted some speakers. Now the Bimini is a little lower and the boards don't fit very well. I'm thinking about getting some on top of the tower surfboard racks. We kneeboard less these days as perfect water is more of a premium in Colorado than it was in Louisiana.

I do wish Samson had that Blade tower out when I was in the market. Not sure I would get 3 slalom skis, 2 wake boards, 2 knee boards and a hydrofoil secured to a Blade but I do like the look.

Anyways, boat lines are pretty classic. If you put a generic cheap after-market tower on an older boat it will look like an older boat with a cheapo tower. If you put a modern tower on an older boat, it will look like a newer boat....albeit with less freeboard and no pickle fork. Most people who are not boat people think my 18 year old boat is a year or 2 old. A large part of that is the somewhat modern tower....well modern for 2008.

In any case, like I said before, my only regret is not buying something newer initially.

[lancehon]

If you need board racks let me know, my buddy is the one that builds them. I think they're marketed through Agenda now. i love mine- so much better on boards and always out of the way!

[UNSTUCK]

If you need board racks let me know, my buddy is the one that builds them. I think they're marketed through Agenda now. i love mine- so much better on boards and always out of the way!

I do! One rack that fits two surf boards and one that fits a surf and a wakeboard. PM me. Thanks.

[TeamAllen]

If you need board racks let me know, my buddy is the one that builds them. I think they're marketed through Agenda now. i love mine- so much better on boards and always out of the way!

Those surf racks look great. How about a TO group buy?

[lancehon]

^^ill have to ask him about the group buy. They're designed to hold 1 surfboard but we stack 2 on them all the time. I've put wakeboards and kneeboards on mine as well.

[TeamAllen]

Thank you! That would be awesome if it can work out.

[TeamAllen]

Luncheon, any luck or word on a group buy for those surf racks?