extra board rack for 05 SANTE 210

[texasfletch]

Santa just delivered an 05 SANTE to my boat storage unit....I'm stoked! I just need to work on my board rack situation and stereo related stuff now...

I have the stock flight clips now which are fine for 4 boards obviously, but I'd like to add a 3rd board rack to the boat to keep boards off the vinyl/floor.

Anyone have suggestions? brand/model I'm not opposed to mounting one on top of the tower if that's the best way to go. If this rack had the ability to hold a surfboard too...that would be a plus.

thanks in advance for any help

-mark

[Sinkoumn]

RE: extra board rack for 05 SANTE 210

There are two racks that I will suggest:

DIYwake.com has some very budget racks that are rather nice for $161ea.
http://www.diywake.com/shop/shopexd.asp?id=565

Or,

I am planning on getting two of the Monster tower racks (in addition to the two flight clips I already have on the tower). These are great in that they can be adjusted to fit smaller boards where the bindings hit (you adjust the distance between the fingers of the rack); in addition, they are very easy to remove if you need to fit the boat into a tight spot (like a garage), or it you don't want them stolen. These go for ~$230ea.

http://monstertower.com/accessory1.html

(they also have a surf board rack - http://monstertower.com/accessory7.html)

I don't know how well a surf board wil fit, as there are many different widths that are associated with the various boards - but I've heard of people cutting off the little rubber nub on the monster tower racks to fit a surf board.

Hope that helps a little, but in the end it all comes down to how much you're looking to spend and the fit of your surf board.

[texasfletch]

RE: extra board rack for 05 SANTE 210

the monster tower rack looks really nice, but do you think that quick release handle thingamajig might wear out after a while? ...become loose and rattle? I like how you can remove it, because my boat storage unit is pretty tight.(I can see it now....CRACK....just like riding into a garage with a bike on top of a truck) Are you planning to mount it on top of the tower or on your side-crossbars under the flight clips?

nice 97 SS....

[Sinkoumn]

I'd be rather surprised if the release handle would ever become loose (it is very similar to a bike tire in that if it get's loose, you just rotate the handle one full turn and latch it down again). I think the way the rack is designed will prevent any stress on the latch (especially the fact that it's not clamping onto a round bar, if you look close it is a square male/female connection, this will take a lot of the torque force that will be put on the rack).

As for setting the racks, I plan on either putting them right below (on the vertical bar), or just to the side (on the horizontal bar) of the rear leg connection - right next to the screws to latch the tower upright. See photo:


Thanks much for the compliment on the boat!

[Ponyh8r]

Mark,

We had one come loose and the whole thing fell of the boat. Luckily the two boards strapped into it were able to float it and we could recover the rack. They are pretty solid, just make sure to tighten them down every other time or so.

Mike

[jhiestand]

Sinkoumn -- I have Mako's on my FCT which have identical clamp mounts as the Monster racks. I initially tried mounting them on the horizontal bars just like you illustrated, but I couldn't keep them from slipping. The Mako instructions state they should be mounted on a vertical bar. I've had them on the rear legs where your second mounting position is located and they've worked great there, FYI.

A buddy of mine added a single Monster rack to his MC 205v for additional storage and I know a HL Broadcast fits in it. So far he hasn't had issues with the connector mechanism, but he's only had it a single season. I'm going on my 4th season with my Mako's and they have what appears to be a less robust screw-handle and I have to reposition the two lower ones every time I put my boat back in the garage (2-3 times/week). They've held up great and the ability to take them off is a huge bonus. I think you'd be fine if you decide to go with the Monster rack.

[texasfletch]

I won't be able to mount one on the vertical bar in the pic above, because my bimini is attached there. I'm gonn have to find something to mount on that horizontal bar...or be forced to mount something on top. The Monster rack manual says NOT to install on horizontal bars.....

[texasfletch]

anyone know the diameter of the lower horizontal bar on the 05 SANTE's flight control tower? ...and is it perfectly round...or oval? I'd go check my boat myself right now, but it's in a storage unit and I wanted to order a rack today if possible....

[mdboats]

texasfletch,

All the round tubing should be 1.875". Have you ever thought about putting an additional set of Flight Clips on the top of the FCT. I have always wanted to see that. The boards would drip on you is the only negative.

Mark D.

[mdboats]

Never mind "the top idea". I think the rope would get in the way.

MD

[texasfletch]

actually...I've seen pics of people placing other racks on the top....

I figured mounting one on the side would be a lot easier to get to...especially because here in TX we almost always have our bimini's up....

thanks for the info!