Tower rattle

[unclejessie]

Has anyone had any problems with their 2004 SAN towers rattling? Mine is pretty loose on one side and rattles. I can't tighten the bolt any more because when I fold it down it binds and will snap the bolt if I force it.
The tower is basically not straight, or at the least the mounting peice that is welded on isn't straight.

Thanks.

[Grant_West]

I wouldnt call my a rattle. I used to have a squeek in the tower where it would bolt up. When I had my tower powder coated they powder coated in the place where the tower connects after been folded. The painted sufraces would move against each other so slightly and cause a squeek. I used paint stripper and removed all the power coating to both surfaces and the squeek has gone away. Could this be what is causeing you tower to rattle

[unclejessie]

I actually get that squeek as well. I never heard it until one night I was driving out in the dark at Lake Don Pedro to get a friend who ran out gas, and since it was real quiet, I heard it. Since then, I listen for it and hear the squeek occasionally, but usually the radio or other sounds overpower it.

The rattle is mostly when I am driving in chop. You can feel it by pushing and pulling the tower leg on that side. There is literally 1/16 to 1/8 inch gap wher the top and bottom peice are bolted. When the tower is folded down, there is no gap on forward side of the juction and 1/8 inch gap at the rear...telling me the bolt isn't sqaure with the tower.

Anyway, thanks for the input.

UJ

[Roddbod]

I had the rattle problem on my 04 as well. Mine was ratteling on the passengers side of the tower. I took it into my dealer and they fixed it. I was concerned that I wouldnt be able to fold my tower down as well but it folds down no problem and doesnt rattle at all. I will try to find out what they did to fix the problem.

[Grant_West]

Ok Im just now understanding your problem. Yes the tower might seem to be crooked. But its not Its just the way it folds thy all have some sort of gap.

This is what I would do. I would make a plastic shim or spacer that would take up the gap that your talking about. It may have to be shaped like a wedge or it may just need a flat washer looking spacer.

Look for a peice of Delron (plastic) and then have a washer made/machined out of it. It sands very easy and is tough enough to work for this type of job. I bet you can find round bars of delron and then use a saw to cat the aproprate size and then drill a hole in it and you will have the spacer you need

[unclejessie]

Roddbod, where was your boat serviced?

Whitechocolate,

I will consider making a washer myself, but first I want to see what CC does in trying to fix this.

I am trying to get a feel if this is a common problem or not. So far only you guys have repsonded... nothing like the leaking ballast valves... ironically, evryone's seems to leak but mine... mine work just fine... but I have the rattling tower!

UJ

[ecarlson3]

Jessie -

I have an 04 SANTE and haven't heard much of a rattle, but have had trouble with the tower being crooked. My tower came with nylon washers in the hinge where the rotation occurs to put it in the down position. The port side was crooked enough that it destroyed the washer. The solution the dealer used last year was to loosen the bolt. Still crooked, but doesn't destroy the washer. Makes the tower looser on the port side though. We are still working on it and may replace the tower this winter. I recall another post about 04 towers and several people had issues with them being crooked. The guys from Mid Ohio Nautiques said they have "adjusted" many a tower. They might be able to give you some tech advice.

[NautiqueJeff]

The guys from Mid Ohio Nautiques said they have "adjusted" many a tower. They might be able to give you some tech advice.

My boat came from Mid-Ohio, and my tower is absolutely perfect. I know that the dealers have to adjust just about every new tower, and Mid-Ohio seems to have it down perfectly.

[unclejessie]

ecarlson3,

I also have the nylon washers and have done just what you say. The port side is loose so it wont' destroy the washer or worse, shear the bolt.


Are the new towers any better in this regaurd or could they suffer from the same problem?

UJ

[Roddbod]

Unclejessie,
My was serviced at Ron's Marine. He is the dealer I bought the boat from.