Opening Day for the Garcias

[FacePlant]

Whats so bad about the OEM towers? My E Series looks pretty much identicle to the Sampson switchblade Ragboy is running. Really, how is one tower sooo much better than another??

[Razzman]

Not all NorCal lakes are like that... Take Lake Berryessa for instance. I wouldn't jump into that lake of crap!!! Now Englebrite from what I understand is turquoise in color and Folsom can be green during hot summer days. Tahoe is beautiful blue in color and New Hogans is rather clean IMO. Then there is the Sacramento River which is mud looking and the American River which is cold as he77....

Englebright is the clearest, prettiest water you'll ever see! I have a buddy with a houseboat there and it's just awesome. Unfortunately it's also small and consequently can be crowded when is hot.

[da.bell]

Englebright is the clearest, prettiest water you'll ever see! I have a buddy with a houseboat there and it's just awesome. Unfortunately it's also small and consequently can be crowded when is hot.

Along with very cold water.

[Razzman]

Cool, we are heading to Whiskeytown during the 4th of July to camp there with a few friends.

DA you are in for a treat! Whiskeytown has islands that have day use areas on them. They are a first come basis though so you have to get out there early, like 5:30-6AM early! But they are worth it, my favorite has a nice day use area with tables and a nice cove to park the boats and let the kids swim without worry. It's straight out from Oak Bottom campground and through a narrows between the islands, see below.

[Razzman]

Along with very cold water.

Yup and that's why we don't go there!

[da.bell]

Thanks Razz for the map. We already have reservations for a camp site but we will definitely take the boat to the location where you pointed out. Most definitely.

[Razzman]

Thanks Razz for the map. We already have reservations for a camp site but we will definitely take the boat to the location where you pointed out. Most definitely.

Yeah if you have a bunch of people it's great for day use and as a staging area for watersports. We had a family reunion there with about forty people so it worked out great.

[ragboy]

Is there any boat traffic on that lake? It appears that in all of your pictures there is not a single ripple. Look at all that butter goodness.

This early in the year, and on a weekday, just a couple of fisherman. I saw one X2 in a cove.

[ragboy]

Whats so bad about the OEM towers? My E Series looks pretty much identicle to the Sampson switchblade Ragboy is running. Really, how is one tower sooo much better than another??

Its a lot stronger for 1. But here is the thing, if you EVER have to lower your tower, the samson towers are amazing. 1 minute, super simple, incredible design.

http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6272

[dogbert]

Its a lot stronger for 1. But here is the thing, if you EVER have to lower your tower, the samson towers are amazing. 1 minute, super simple, incredible design.

http://www.tigeowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6272

While, not as deluxe as your tower, my Monster tower breaks down that way. I'll have to keep Samson Towers in mind when I finally upgrade to a new Tige.

[ragboy]

One of the great things about the samson tower is how it collapses, but also that it collapses on itself. You remove the speakers (15 secs) to reduce the weight, and bring it down. You don't need a pole, or anything, it just collapses on itself, and holds up its own weight collapsed. It doesn't rest on anything in your boat, not the gunwales, or any vinyl or anything, just itself.

[FacePlant]

Definitely a nice tower. I have not had the need to collapse my E Series tower yet, but is it fairly simple? The tower on my 2005 22V needed a big allen key and was a PITA to fold down. The E Series looks to be much easier, but I dunno......

[ragboy]

Definitely a nice tower. I have not had the need to collapse my E Series tower yet, but is it fairly simple? The tower on my 2005 22V needed a big allen key and was a PITA to fold down. The E Series looks to be much easier, but I dunno......

No, its a pain in the a$$. Those 2 supports on left and right, first you take out 2 keys for each side, then you have to remove them and put them somewhere, while someone holds the tower up. Not only do I think they would get scratched if you did it repeatedly, but I could see one time accidentally dropping them on the boat. Then when you lower the tower, you have to have something to rest it on. You need to make a wood stand, or put something on the gunwales.

Then putting it back up is worse. Those supports are harder to get in and line up correctly to get the keys back in. Also, if you have heavy speakers on the thing, it just makes it that much harder, cuz it is heavier.

With mine, my 17 yr old daughter disconnects the speakers and hands them to my 10 yr old, who puts them in the bow. 17 yr old and my 12 yr old son pull the keys from the front of the tower, then one key per support. You just tap with your hand to collapse and it comes down easy, my 17 yr old daughter can lower down herself, my 12 yr old is just to make faster.

Going up, 17 yr old lifts it up, my 12 yr old puts one support key in, then the other. then front keys and speakers. Simple.

[chpthril]

One of the things I like about the factory Tige tower is that you can fish your speaker wires through the whole thing, no exposed wires except where they pop out at the cans.

[ragboy]

You can on the samson also, but not with all those lights. On my factory tower, I had to run them around hinges for lights also.