New Dimension Tower, NOT WHAT, OR WHO?? THEY WERE....

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  • tiqueman97
    • Oct 2006
    • 81

    • Parrish FL


    New Dimension Tower, NOT WHAT, OR WHO?? THEY WERE....

    A while back, end of 06, I purchased a NDT for my 97SSN. What a fantastic tower. Fit was incredible, just the over all quality was outstanding.

    So a friend of mine got a 95 SSN about a month ago. Ordered a NDT for it, it came about 2 weeks ago and while I was on vacation, until yesterday, he finally got the chance to put it on, finishing it today. It first started w/ a phone call to me last week saying he finally got to unwrap it and there was a huge gouge across the top of the arch. DIDNT happen in shipping because there wasnt a scratch, dent, rip or anything on the packaging. He had it shipped to my office and I unloaded it off the truck and into the back of my pick up. Checking the packaging thoroughly, it looked great. Then came the install. Now I know they can get slightly "tweaked" in shipping as well as after the tubes are bent, once heated during welding there is often the chance that the tubes can "unload" slightly. HOWEVER, this tower was WAY out of wack. Just assembling it first on the ground, by looking at the 3 plus inches from one of the feet to the ground, you could plainly see it was WAY off. When I assembled mine first on the ground to get a feel for it, I had one foot that was maybe a half inch off the floor. The upper tower doesnt set right into the receiving "side rails". And with the side rails tweaked to thier correct location it still is way off. My install took about 2 hours. His over 11. I havent got the chance to see it complete on the boat but he says its no way comparable to mine.

    He also said that the guy he spoke w/ on the phone, Chad I think it was, said he just purchased the shop.??? Is NDT no longer Wayne????? If this is the case, my advice, STAY AWAY FROM NDT because thier new fabricators suck and the towers arent worth poo.

    As I said, I have one, purchased 2 years ago. OUTSTANDING TOWER!!! Its a shame if Wayne did in fact sell. He had a **** of a company to sell to someone who wants quantity, not quality. End of the day, no way I would ever buy one again. Im just so glad I got mine when I did!

    Thanks for listenin to the venting!
    Scott
    Past: 82 2001
    Present: 97 Super Sport / SAN
  • TRDon
    Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
    • Oct 2007
    • 722

    • MN

    • 1985 2001 1993 Sport carb GT40 2003 SANTE Excalibur

    #2
    RE: New Dimension Tower, NOT WHAT, OR WHO?? THEY WERE....

    wow, news to me. I did notice the prices went up slightly since I got mine in January and mine was a touch off with one front leg off the ground about 2 to 3 inches but it installed good and have had no issues with it since. I spoke directly with wayne into march about it.

    Anyone confirm that Wayne is not there anymore? I have pictures I am supposed to send him.

    Comment

    • ffmedic74
      Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
      • Jul 2003
      • 835

      • Lexington, KY


      #3
      RE: New Dimension Tower, NOT WHAT, OR WHO?? THEY WERE....

      I purchased one 3 years ago and it was great!

      Comment

      • TRDon
        Senior Member of PLANETNAUTIQUE
        • Oct 2007
        • 722

        • MN

        • 1985 2001 1993 Sport carb GT40 2003 SANTE Excalibur

        #4
        Re: RE: New Dimension Tower, NOT WHAT, OR WHO?? THEY WERE..

        Originally posted by ffmedic74
        I purchased one 3 years ago and it was great!
        sonebody didnt read the whole post :shock:

        Comment

        • tourpro
          • Jun 2007
          • 192

          • Muskoka, Ontario, Canada


          #5
          RE: Re: RE: New Dimension Tower, NOT WHAT, OR WHO?? THEY WE

          I am a welder / fitter by trade and although I don't make towers, I do weld pipe all day long. This type of job done well can be a dream to assemble but it has to be completed in stages, completely cooled and continue on. It can also be reheated in areas to bring things back in better alignment. This takes skill, don't try it at home or you'll make a mess.

          Even if ND hired a new fitter or a new welder quality could take a dump. Although I would expect someone to be doing a final inspection on these things before shipping.

          You could take a poorly fitting tower to a specialilty weld shop and have them teak it for you but that shouldn't be necessary with a brand new piece. Obviously.

          Thats too bad though, I had previously heard nothing but good things about these towers and I always liked the looks of them.

          Comment

          • Kevin_B
            • Jan 2008
            • 313

            • Greensboro, NC

            • 2008 SANTE 220 1990 Sport Nautique

            #6
            RE: Re: RE: New Dimension Tower, NOT WHAT, OR WHO?? THEY WE

            does anyone have any other good solutions for a somewhat factory looking tower for a super sport. I was really thinking of going NDT but maybe not now.
            1990 Sport Nautique

            Comment

            • wake_fun
              1,000 Post Club Member
              • Jul 2003
              • 1330

              • CA

              • 1995 Super Sport

              #7
              RE: Re: RE: New Dimension Tower, NOT WHAT, OR WHO?? THEY WE

              That sucks! Do you have any pics?
              Photo Album
              Ballast Install 1
              Ballast Install 2
              Amp Install
              PPass Install
              Alternator Install

              Comment

              • inboard60
                • Jun 2004
                • 66



                #8
                NDT towers

                My 96 sport (yellow) was one of Waynes first FCTs. He took several trips to the local Nautique dealer to make sure it was right. It was a little tall but overall it was excellent. I also took the time to take the boat to TN and pick it up so install was not mine. If Wayne sold then this is the second sale of tower businesses he has pulled off. the first one was the company that made MC towers. As far as I know CC or NDT are the only two options for the right look.

                Comment

                • Nbigger
                  • Mar 2008
                  • 79

                  • Fenton, MI


                  #9
                  RE: NDT towers

                  I was thinking about buying one of the ND towers for my 1990 sport nautique this winter I hope this gets fixed I really love the factory look and it is hard to find a used cc factory tower.

                  Comment

                  • tiqueman97
                    • Oct 2006
                    • 81

                    • Parrish FL


                    #10
                    RE: NDT towers

                    Hey all. Wanted to give an update. So I finally saw it installed on the boat Wednesday afternoon. Heres my thoughts...
                    At the end of the day, the tower fit quite well after all the "tweaking" he had to do to get it there. The gaps where the upper tower meets the side bars at the back worked out much better than he anticipated. So overall the fit came out quite well.

                    However, the condition of the tower was horrible. It didnt come just scratched, but gouges taken out of it here and there. Unfortunatley I didnt get any pics but I will. The worst was on the rear arch at the inside/ front of the bend on the top left. Not the longest, maybe 3 inches, but certainly the deepest and widest. It seems the aluminum was a little beat up before fabrication even began.

                    He did talk to NDT and they are sending him some money back for the cosmetic defects. Although that was a week ago and he hasnt seen anything yet.

                    All and all, its still not comparable to my NDT purchased a couple years ago.

                    I will keep you posted as to the outcome as well as get some pics up. I still have mixed emotions if I would have to buy one again????
                    Past: 82 2001
                    Present: 97 Super Sport / SAN

                    Comment

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