is there a better fix for the 2011 2012 towers than an allen screw

[rsess]

My fold down tower was "fixed" in the recall by installing a semi permanent allen screw. Is nautique working on a better fix for this or do i have to unscrew it every time. I know about the thumb screw which i have on order, but not happy with the current recall fix. Please let me know.

[Hayden]

Not sure, we had one of the first 2011 towers and tower started to become lose straight away so they had to install new inside brackets as poor design on intial componenets, they started bending causing loose tower (recall). after this tower was much better but then they installed the thumb screw for back up ( I beleive there is a a design fault thus they back up screw to prevent any possibility of tower failing and falling down . We obviously have to unscrew when ever putting tower down which we have to do every ride as goes in super size car garage where we keep it.

Unfortunatley one side is squeaking again so will get dealer to look at it next season. great tower overall but some design floors which should have been tested/ fixed before release.
other issue is Z5 rack, if semi rough or windy it moves around and up and down on the front pins as there is movement. again its easy to get on and off but doesnt like anything other than perfect conditions.

Cheers

[Montana Boat Guy]

rsess and Hayden, to be sure I am understanding your question correctly are you asking if the "heel blocks" that are installed on all FCT5 towers are a permanent fixture on the tower? The "heel blocks" are the brackets attached by an allen bolt on the bottom and a tri-lever bolt on the top and are located at the rear of the tower and is attached between the two mating surface of the tower(tower foot and tower side section).

[GCSuper]

I have an 11 model 210 with the thumb screws added. The starboard side is starting to make an awful squeak/rattle noise that's driving me crazy.

[rsess]

yes that is what is was describing. When i returned the bolt to the dealer to have them make the simple locking lever mechanism tighter, i found out the fix was to PERMANENTLY secure it with an allen key. I have to lower the tower 4 times a day, so that wasn't a solution. I subsequent to this posting found out that the tri lever bolt was the LATEST solution to the problem. When I asked the dealer to order them for me, I was quoted 190 dollars for them. NOT HAPPY. A few too many unnecessary phone calls and emails and i didnt have to pay for them, but I am not happy about what appears to be a mickey mouse fix. Roswell, are you planning on a better fix soon for this engineering mistake. (I am a Professional Engineer)

[ccs]

Picking up our 2012 SANTE 230 tomorrow - hoping to not have any tower issues as desribed herein -- I understand there are always going to be things that can be imporoved upon - but I also reiterate my previous point of -- on a $100,000+ Nautique, all of these type items should never even be an issue - should have been worked out in the design stages or product testing etc.