1/2 towers on smaller boat - The Hull Truth

Psycho D · 06-29-2003, 08:29 AM

i would love to put a 1/2 tower on my Formula 233, but i worry that it may be too small of a boat AND that it may slow me down some due to drag. Are there any other pluses or minuses with 1/2 towers (radar placement, etc)? Any thoughts?
d

yachtjim · 06-29-2003, 11:47 AM

I'm putting a hard top on mine. Just to clarify your question:

hard top= fiberglass structure over helm to provide shade

half tower=same as hardtop but made of cloth

marlin tower=a second helm station directly on top of hard top or half tower

tuna tower= a second helm station with its own floor well above the hard top or half tower.

Are you considering a Marlin Tower? They put Marlin towers on the 24 Albe, so why not...

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Cracker · 06-29-2003, 01:37 PM

Just out of curiosity what do they call the towers without steering stations that are on top of hard tops? Are they marlin tops? They look like they would be a great spot to see birds but I see quite a few without steering stations? Just curious.. Thanks..

Libra · 06-29-2003, 02:15 PM

crows nest

Hawkeye · 06-29-2003, 03:46 PM

With my hardtop I lost about 4 mph. Wind blows you around a little more also. But is worth it for shade, cover and solid structure to hold on to. I thought about a crows nest but felt it would never be smooth enough to get in it.

Hawkeye

Psycho D · 06-29-2003, 04:17 PM

Yachtjim. Thanks for the vocab lesson. My buddies out here intermix half tower with crow's nest. i mainly wanted one to get a better view of birds and paddies. Sounds like they may be kinda scary to use in smaller boats according to Hawkeye.
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Hawkeye · 06-30-2003, 04:36 AM

Hey D, remember I have the exact hull you have. Now a flatter bottom boat would be more stable. Just a crows nest with no one up there is not going to hurt you much. I would go for it as there are time when I could use one but not many. Its just $$$ You were asking how much you loose in speed. I was able to hit 50 pretty easy with the single 225 and no hard top but never got to run it much without the hardtop. Now with the hard top best top is 46mph.

Hawkeye

Sailor · 06-30-2003, 05:57 AM

quote:Originally posted by Psycho D:
Yachtjim. Thanks for the vocab lesson. My buddies out here intermix half tower with crow's nest. i mainly wanted one to get a better view of birds and paddies. Sounds like they may be kinda scary to use in smaller boats according to Hawkeye.
d

I used to run a Mako 25 with a Tuna Tower and with twin Yam 150's, she would run around 45. Uncomfortable? NO!! Fun? Absolutely. Worth every penny IMO. The view on your baits is awesome and you can see fish a whole lot sooner.

Psycho D · 06-30-2003, 07:42 AM

One more question. If i went with a crow's nest, how would that effect the placement of a radome? i assume that it would go behind the nest on an extension, but could it be placed out of the way while up there (i could just see someone grabbing on to it or being pushed back against it) Thanks.
d

ps Hey Hawkeye, what motor shaft length are you running on your Formula?

Hawkeye · 06-30-2003, 07:51 AM

25" shaft. They didn't offer a 30" shaft in the suzuki or I would of got it. I put my radom on the front peak so to speak. If you had a crows nest it would be on the rear and out the way of the radome.

Hawkeye

Psycho D · 06-30-2003, 11:00 PM

Hey hawkeye. Just curious, why would you have preferred the 30 inch shaft? i really hope this boat performs as well as advertised. i think i am putting more hours into it than at work, and i haven't even pulled the cockpit floor yet.

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Hawkeye · 07-01-2003, 04:23 AM

When you are out in 5 and 6' seas, I have seen water come over my engine quite a few times. It would just give your powerhead a little more clearence from the water.

Hawkeye