Upgrade tower on 98 Air Nautique?

[blaw66]

Hi,
I'm looking at an Air Nautique tonight with the original tower. Is it possible to upgrade to the newer style without leaving unsightly holes where the original used to bolt on? I've seen a few places on this site where people with older Air's have a newer style tower but it seems like the back supports are further back from the trailing edge of the windshield than the original.
Thanks!

[wcccparts]

1998 tower

If you want to use a Nautique tower, you will need to fill the old holes, gelcoat that area, and redrill for the newer style tower. As you suspected, the dimension between the tower feet between the original 1998 tower and the newer style are not the same.

[AirJeff]

RE: 1998 tower

Yup, for best results you'll want a gelcoat guy to take care it. If they are good you won't be able to tell where the holes where! We took some cleats out of out boat and there is no way to tell where they were. :grin:

[blaw66]

RE: 1998 tower

Thanks for the info guys, good to know. I looked at the boat tonight and think the gelcoat guy would have to be real good. All around both stern-side mounting locations where the factory tower is bolted are very noticeable spider cracks in the gelcoat. I figured the sub-structure would have been strong enough to avoid stress cracks like that, have you ever heard of this? (or did this guy run into a bridge or something...) I'm also looking at a 2002 for considerably more $$, a stronger boat?

[Miljack]

I have a 99 Pro Air with the original style tower that you are considering. Ours does not have any spider webbing of the gelcoat on either the front or rear mounts. I looked at a couple of other 97/98 Airs w/orig. towers that did not have that spider webbing of the gelcoat. I would check the underside of the gunnels to determine if the backing plates are still under the tower feet.

I have done some research on updating to the new tower, it's no problem. The front feet *might* line up, but the rears will need new holes. I've seen some people that just cover up the original hole mounts with some gator grip or something like that. It does happen to be a place where the driver will rest his arm while driving.

New towers from CC $2200-$2400, you install. I think that some people here took advantage of the New Dimensions winter sale and picked up replica FCT's for about $1700?



Jack

[mfloski]

FYI, i have a 99 sport and when i bought it it did not have a tower. I put a "new style" FCT on it. The dealership actually did the install. The new tower from mounting pads were wider than the older style towers. They had to "squeeze" the front legs together and bolt them down. because of this i can not fold the tower over. For me not a problem, but might be something to consider. The pressure on the hinge from the front legs being squeezed together will not allow it to break over.

[jonfo]

I put a 2000 FCT on a 1995 Super Sport and it was easy and we didnt have to bend the legs in. Folded perfectly. Paid dealer $2100 + tax for it and installed it ourselves. I remember the dealer recommended a hull reinforcement kit but we never did that and never had problems.