Hondatech117 897 Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 Not that it matters much in this case, but there is a big difference (at least to the mfgr.) with a failing weld vs a failed tube. The two pictures below show a failing weld. In my opinion, nothing was done wrong by the mfgr. for these welds to fail. The two bases do not fully come together when the tower is upright and then tightened down. It is causing the nut to try to pull out, causing stress. I need to check, but I think, and hope, the cause is bad adjustment on the shock. It might be bottoming out before the tower rests on the base. I just need to get in there and look. If that's the case this failure would then be all on MB for bad installation. 002.JPG 003.JPG If you go back and look at the pictures posted in this thread you will see how the cracks are not in the weld, but next to them on the tube. In some spots the tube broke leaving a good bit of tube left attached to the weld. I'm just a lowly weldor, not an engineer so I can't tell you what tube should have been used, but this tube was clearly the wrong one. I also don't believe for a second that the tube failed because of tower speakers. I think it failed because of the load placed by towing. With all the people posting up their pictures it would be good to also note how they spend their time on the water. I'll guess and say most of the broken towers are owned by people who wakeboard more than surf, for example. In short, if I was the manufacturer I would be slower to fire the weldor, and quicker to fire the designer. Although, there is no way I would send some of those ugly welds out the door. That 3 tube tower that you have in the pics was made by Skylon wasn't it? And not Star One. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
UNSTUCK 112 Posted September 8, 2017 Report Share Posted September 8, 2017 I don't know. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
F21TOMCAT 11 Posted October 9, 2017 Report Share Posted October 9, 2017 Add me to the list 2013 f21 with 200 hours. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
H20king 109 Posted October 9, 2017 Report Share Posted October 9, 2017 Here is the skinny on the welds from my perspective. All the welds are cold rolled. None of the welds were internally perged with argon leaving the inside of the welds sugared and brittle. On the ones where the tube tore it is still due to improper weld procedure. More often than not the metal will tear before the welds does even on a poor welding job due to the heat affected zone. All these towers should be covered under warranty in my professional opinion. Just for reference I have been a union steamfitter/welder for the last 27 years with a few of those years spent as a weld inspector. None of the welds shown broke or not broken would have ever made it out of the door at any of our shops. Jake (((O))), Racer808, dobber and 2 others 5 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
dobber 115 Posted October 9, 2017 Report Share Posted October 9, 2017 Would it help if they welded in some gussets to keep the tower from swaying side to side? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Racer808 282 Posted October 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2017 Would it help if they welded in some gussets to keep the tower from swaying side to side? That's what my welder did, seems pretty stable. Sort of wish I would have paid him to polish it now cause I don't see myself getting around to that part now. As for the welds; What was explained to me is it's not the welds but the tubes they used. I was told they went to a more oval shape in lieu of the round & a thicker gauge metal which solved the problem. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hondatech117 897 Posted October 9, 2017 Report Share Posted October 9, 2017 That's what my welder did, seems pretty stable. Sort of wish I would have paid him to polish it now cause I don't see myself getting around to that part now. As for the welds; What was explained to me is it's not the welds but the tubes they used. I was told they went to a move oval shape in lieu of the round & a thicker gauge metal which solved the problem. When did the running change happen? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Racer808 282 Posted October 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2017 When did the running change happen? Not sure, they didn't tell me that. They just said the new tubes would negate the need for gussets. I take my speakers off these days, don't want to go thru this ordeal again so I haven't really put the gussets to test yet either. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AZ_MB 437 Posted October 10, 2017 Report Share Posted October 10, 2017 When did the running change happen? I think it started in 2015 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
AZ_MB 437 Posted October 10, 2017 Report Share Posted October 10, 2017 Not sure, they didn't tell me that. They just said the new tubes would negate the need for gussets. I take my speakers off these days, don't want to go thru this ordeal again so I haven't really put the gussets to test yet either. Are your speakers on the crossbar or side bars? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Racer808 282 Posted October 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2017 Are your speakers on the crossbar or side bars? The factory side position henry123 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
henry123 8 Posted July 20, 2018 Report Share Posted July 20, 2018 Racer808. My tower on my 2015 b52 broke This week. The nipples that my Bimini hooks on to in the front snapped off. And hit me in the head. Hurt like hell and I was bleeding pretty good. We turned a corner around a mountain a wind gust must of come up and snapped them off on both sides right at the weld points. So have the broken towers been covered by the warranty? I have one year left. Has anyone experienced this kind of break? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Racer808 282 Posted July 20, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2018 Racer808. My tower on my 2015 b52 broke This week. The nipples that my Bimini hooks on to in the front snapped off. And hit me in the head. Hurt like hell and I was bleeding pretty good. We turned a corner around a mountain a wind gust must of come up and snapped them off on both sides right at the weld points. So have the broken towers been covered by the warranty? I have one year left. Has anyone experienced this kind of break? Holy crap that's bad! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
brucepalombo 139 Posted July 22, 2018 Report Share Posted July 22, 2018 Racer808. My tower on my 2015 b52 broke This week. The nipples that my Bimini hooks on to in the front snapped off. And hit me in the head. Hurt like hell and I was bleeding pretty good. We turned a corner around a mountain a wind gust must of come up and snapped them off on both sides right at the weld points. So have the broken towers been covered by the warranty? I have one year left. Has anyone experienced this kind of break? Call your dealer. They have a fit. It’s a clamp that the poles slide into rather than around. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
WakeDirt 634 Posted July 23, 2018 Report Share Posted July 23, 2018 Just saw my old boat on Craigslist 14 f22 and he had issues with the Bimini mounts, cracked, on the second tower on that boat!! Lame Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sksurfing 11 Posted September 7, 2018 Report Share Posted September 7, 2018 Well, add me to the growing list of people with broken towers. I had no idea this was even an issue until I had my tower fall apart while towing my boat home from the lake. Now looking on the forums, I see I am not alone. Luckily this happened while in tow and not while my family was in the boat. Could have very easily hurt someone, or worse. It did, however cause significant damage to my boat interior. Tore some vinyl and took some chunks out of the gel coat. After looking at where it broke apart, it is pretty clear that the welds did not fail, but rather the tubes failed right next to the welds in the heat affected zone. The heat affected zone is where the properties of base material are altered through the weld process. Factors such as base material selection, filler metal, and weld procedures play into this. Not to mention the tower should have gussets to help stiffen it. On another note, the fact that MB is suggesting that we all buy new top tubes to weld in is ridiculous. These towers are chromed. You need to remove the chrome near the welds, as it will not weld properly otherwise. I have read several comments related to polishing afterwards, but that is no solution. The entire tower needs to be rechromed. Better off to start with a clean slate and have a properly designed tower that will last. I won’t be putting this tower back on without making major changes. Probably end up powder coating rather than chrome depending on cost. Might just end up buying an entirely different tower. I baffles me that MB is willing to risk all this bad press. We should all be posting testimonials on every tow boat site out there letting potential customers know what to expect from MB. This is beyond disappointing. onequicktang 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
onequicktang 120 Posted September 7, 2018 Report Share Posted September 7, 2018 Well, add me to the growing list of people with broken towers. I had no idea this was even an issue until I had my tower fall apart while towing my boat home from the lake. Now looking on the forums, I see I am not alone. Luckily this happened while in tow and not while my family was in the boat. Could have very easily hurt someone, or worse. It did, however cause significant damage to my boat interior. Tore some vinyl and took some chunks out of the gel coat. After looking at where it broke apart, it is pretty clear that the welds did not fail, but rather the tubes failed right next to the welds in the heat affected zone. The heat affected zone is where the properties of base material are altered through the weld process. Factors such as base material selection, filler metal, and weld procedures play into this. Not to mention the tower should have gussets to help stiffen it. On another note, the fact that MB is suggesting that we all buy new top tubes to weld in is ridiculous. These towers are chromed. You need to remove the chrome near the welds, as it will not weld properly otherwise. I have read several comments related to polishing afterwards, but that is no solution. The entire tower needs to be rechromed. Better off to start with a clean slate and have a properly designed tower that will last. I won’t be putting this tower back on without making major changes. Probably end up powder coating rather than chrome depending on cost. Might just end up buying an entirely different tower. I baffles me that MB is willing to risk all this bad press. We should all be posting testimonials on every tow boat site out there letting potential customers know what to expect from MB. This is beyond disappointing. Anytime anyone asks about MB i bring up the motor mount/shaft issues and tower, also let them know when these things fail (because they will) MB just turns a blind eye and leaves you to foot the bill! Its a shame, it really is. They seem to know how to build a hull that puts out a nice wave, price point is solid, doesn't have all the frills, but their customer service is a complete JOKE! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sksurfing 11 Posted September 7, 2018 Report Share Posted September 7, 2018 Well, I won’t be buying another MB after this. I used to be a huge advocate for their boats, but no more. I have suffered every common major issue that I’ve read about on here, and still stood behind the brand, because I loved my boat. Seems like a good day on the water makes you soon forget the poor service. Now I’ll be looking at torn vinyl interior and damaged gel coat with o remind me. onequicktang 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
meetloaf13 316 Posted September 7, 2018 Report Share Posted September 7, 2018 Model and year? Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk Quote Link to post Share on other sites
MXGUY741 157 Posted September 8, 2018 Report Share Posted September 8, 2018 Any pics? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sksurfing 11 Posted September 9, 2018 Report Share Posted September 9, 2018 Model and year? Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk It’s a 2013 F21 Tomcat with less than 150 hrs on it. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
sksurfing 11 Posted September 9, 2018 Report Share Posted September 9, 2018 Any pics? I had to leave for Europe on business 2 days after it happened. Won’t be back until the 20th. I’ll try to put some pics up when I get back, but they will look the same as all the others already posted on here. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
steve142 782 Posted September 9, 2018 Report Share Posted September 9, 2018 Glad I have that to look forward to... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
hothouse23 2 Posted July 28, 2020 Report Share Posted July 28, 2020 2013 MB WB 21 May no longer be relevant to most, but add my boat to the list of broken towers. Broke while on the water using my ski pylon, not the tower. I am the original owner and only knew this was a problem because of this forum. I’d been monitoring the welds and hadn’t noticed any signs of cracks until it happen. Big thanks to the people who’ve posted about this problem in the past to give me an idea of what to expect. Still love my boat but stinks this is almost guaranteed to happen to this particular tower with no assistance from MB. TXMC service department is no doubt the saving grace for for me loving my boat, although they don’t sell them anymore they still take care of me year after year since I bought from them. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Racer808 282 Posted July 28, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2020 That sucks, the breaks just pile up. Find a good local welder & have him add gusset supports & you'll be back in business Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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