FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q:   Will your towers fit on any boat and why are your towers different?

A:   We custom build and design one tower at a time, each one is totally custom and one of a kind. We don't "pre-fab" towers ahead of time, this way you know your tower was built for your boat and your boat only. Ever see a tower at the lake which didn't quite look like it was made for that particular boat? Chances are it was designed for a different type of boat and made to fit. We take in mind the type of boat, body lines, mounting positions, bimini placement, etc. in the design of your tower. We custom CAD (computer animated design) each tower and know exactly what it looks like before we start to build it. It takes longer, and not as productive, but we don't do this to get rich, just give you a better tower that looks good on YOUR boat for an affordable price.

Q:   If your towers are 100% custom, why are they competitively priced?

A:   We manage our expenses by not spending the money in large marketing and ad campaigns. Ads don't create a better tower for you, just increases YOUR costs. We'd rather save you money for gas or new gear, give you a better tower, and have to talk to your friends about it, than pay for big ads and raise our prices.

Q:   I already have a bimini, can you make a tower that will allow me to use my existing bimini with the new tower?

A:   In most cases we can design and build a tower to fit your bimini, there is a fee involved but it is much less than buying a new bimini. We recommend you bring the boat and bimini by our shop to be measured for better accuracy in fit.

Q:   How long will it take for my tower to be custom made for my boat?

A:   Since we do custom work, it takes 2-3 weeks on average to complete your tower. We do have a rush service available for an extra fee.

Q:   Why are your mounts different?

A:   Our mounts incorporate a rod end bearing or Heim joint, to reduce stress from your boat deck by mount design.

Q:   What are Heim joints and why are they used?

A:   Heim joints are a ball and socket type joint that allows mobility in all directions. The benefit on your tower is that any movement or flexing in the tower is not transmitted to the boat deck as a torquing force, as it would be with a rigid mounted tower.

Q:   Will your mounting system reduce or eliminate stress cracking on my boat?

A:   We took into great consideration minimizing the stress to the boat. We believe our mounts HIGHLY reduce the amount of stress placed on your boat, especially compared to rigid mounts used on others towers. We cannot guarantee against stress cracking or make any claims as to the condition of your boat for a tower.

Q:   Will the tower fold back?

A:   Depending on where the tower is mounted, it will fold back. If your tower requires side mounts, there is a possibility that it will not be able to lay back.

Q:   Can I remove the tower from the boat, how long does it take and is it heavy?

A:   The tower comes off in just minutes, you simply remove four bolts from the mounts, the mounts stay on the boat and the tower removes with ease. The average tower weighs less than fifty pounds, typically two people can easily remove the tower in the same amount of time it takes to put on the cover of your boat and snap it on.

Q:   What kind of finishes can I have for my tower?

A:   We provide full service custom polishing and powder coating. Towers are available with the "factory" raw aluminum finish for affordability and allowing you to apply your own touch in finishing the tower. With the "factory" raw finish, you can powder coat, paint, polish, or brush your tower yourself and save money for gas or new gear! We usually can match custom colors with a color sample or polish your tower to a mirrored finish so shiny that it will make you run and grab your sunglasses!

Q:   What are your towers made from?

A:   We use quality 6063 aircraft grade aluminum tubing with and 1.9" OD, our mounts are from 6061 solid billet aluminum, and we use stainless steel mounting hardware.

Q:   How tall are your towers?

A:   Each tower is different for each type of boat and design, on average 55"tall, but custom applications typically stand 6' - 7' from the floor of your boat.

Q:   What about backing plates?

A:   We include 4-1" stainless steel backings, some of the other guys use thick steel plates or aluminum plates, we've found this sometimes increases the chances of cracking by "sandwiching" your flexible gelcoat and fiberglass with two hard inflexible materials. It's kinda like putting a potato chip in a hard cover book and closing it tight. We use a 90 durameter closed neoprene pad between the mount and the gelcoat to cushion the load and the Heim joints in the mounts displace stress on your fiberglass.

Q:   Can I install the tower myself?

A:   We recommend having your new MantaRay tower installed by a reputable boat service department, but you can do it yourself if you like. We have step-by-step instructions that will walk you through the process and feel free to call us if you have any questions. A rainy Saturday afternoon is perfect for mounting your new tower.

Q:   If I have a question that isn't on here, what do I do?

A:   CONTACT US We'll help you out!!