Tuna tower DIY

[Costamesaspearo]

Anyone build a tuna tower lately? I’m located in Southern California and was thinking of buying leaning post seat and adding a hoop and support legs. Any input? I would a shop weld on the hoop and support legs, here’s the lean post I wanted use. It would be going on a 2120 Parker and the top seat is removable for trailering.

 

[Mpellet]

Maybe a DJI Mini 3 Pro would be easier??

 

[warthog5]

A Good one is expensive.....One without controls is about useless.

The Shiny Stainless steering wheel was blasted to dull it down and stop flashing your eyes.

 

[Natedubs]

A Good one is expensive.....One without controls is about useless.

The Shiny Stainless steering wheel was blasted to dull it down and stop flashing your eyes.

Hi there. I have a 2530 and am interested in the tower design that you posted. Did you build that yourself? I am looking for a template that we can use to build our own. We have a shop with tube benders, welders, etc. Thanks in advance!

 

[warthog5]

No..... I did not build it... I had a Local Tower shop build it. The Box was built by Orca Fiberglass in Pensacola,Fl. They are slow, But build a quality product.

 

[paddykiller26]

A Good one is expensive.....One without controls is about useless.

The Shiny Stainless steering wheel was blasted to dull it down and stop flashing your eyes.

lol! What a comment. I used to use a bean bag on top and locate the fish. I got this and plenty of others with my useless tower without controls. I would do a hoop with a cooler on a 2120. If you don't have autopilot yet, get one with a controller.

 

[warthog5]

We used ours site fishing for Cobia. Communication with who is steering the boat sucked, because they could not hear well.... They could not See what you were seeing Well to maneuver the boat into position to serve up / present a bait. In the frenzy if the captain ran over , got to close.... The fish would Sound and never be seen again. Cobia have become Far and few between and I don't care about doing it anymore.... But That is how we use them here on the Gulf Coast. So I stand by what I said.... Furthermore.... Loading the boat on the trailer gives a Whole different / Better perspective than being in a Pilothouse. Same thing goes in manuring around congested docks...Especially with wind thrown in.

 

[Natedubs]

No..... I did not build it... I had a Local Tower shop build it. The Box was built by Orca Fiberglass in Pensacola,Fl. They are slow, But build a quality product.

Thanks for the reply. I’ll look them up.

 

[paddykiller26]

We used ours site fishing for Cobia. Communication with who is steering the boat sucked, because they could not hear well.... They could not See what you were seeing Well to maneuver the boat into position to serve up / present a bait. In the frenzy if the captain ran over , got to close.... The fish would Sound and never be seen again. Cobia have become Far and few between and I don't care about doing it anymore.... But That is how we use them here on the Gulf Coast. So I stand by what I said.... Furthermore.... Loading the boat on the trailer gives a Whole different / Better perspective than being in a Pilothouse. Same thing goes in manuring around congested docks...Especially with wind thrown in.

I guess you guys don't look for birds, kelp, floating debris, current breaks or dolphins like us in SoCal. There are lots of Parkers here in SoCal with controls, I have never seen anyone load it on a trailer up top. If you can't maneuver a boat in the cabin, you probably shouldn't be behind the wheel. My buddy has a 38' sport fisher with a tall tower, no controls, big loud twin Detroit diesels, someone would always be up top with binos and we used a hand held vhf radio for communication to the flybridge to spot marlin. Never an issue not having controls up top.

 

[Postal719]

Mine is going on next Monday. Full controls. I'm stoked. Fishing Boats Unlimited in Costa Mesa. Let's go! Happy fishing season!

 

[warthog5]

I guess you guys don't look for birds, kelp, floating debris, current breaks or dolphins like us in SoCal. There are lots of Parkers here in SoCal with controls, I have never seen anyone load it on a trailer up top. If you can't maneuver a boat in the cabin, you probably shouldn't be behind the wheel. My buddy has a 38' sport fisher with a tall tower, no controls, big loud twin Detroit diesels, someone would always be up top with binos and we used a hand held vhf radio for communication to the flybridge to spot marlin. Never an issue not having controls up top.

The answer is No . Not site fishing for Cobia. Put Controls on it.... It WILL open a New world.

It's like reef fishing here. Some can hold the boat on the spot.... Those are few and far between on a small craft.... Some anchor....And then GPS Trolling Motors came along. It's a Game changer.

 

[kalani3175]

Anyone build a tuna tower lately? I’m located in Southern California and was thinking of buying leaning post seat and adding a hoop and support legs. Any input? I would a shop weld on the hoop and support legs, here’s the lean post I wanted use. It would be going on a 2120 Parker and the top seat is removable for trailering.

Fishing boats unlimited is making mine right now I will have pictures soon. They are in Costa Mesa too!

 

[paddykiller26]

Fishing boats unlimited is making mine right now I will have pictures soon. They are in Costa Mesa too!

They did mine. You will be very happy with them. Father & son team.

 

[Postal719]

They did mine. You will be very happy with them. Father & son team.

Ya, they have been great. Super pro. I've been working with Jason, the son, and he has been very responsive. The tower is built and the boat goes up Monday for the install.

 

[kalani3175]

Ya, they have been great. Super pro. I've been working with Jason, the son, and he has been very responsive. The tower is built and the boat goes up Monday for the install.

We have the same date for install. See you there. I saw ur tower the other day its perfect

 

[Postal719]

We have the same date for install. See you there. I saw ur tower the other day its perfect

Rad! I'm super excited!

 

[kalani3175]

I guess you guys don't look for birds, kelp, floating debris, current breaks or dolphins like us in SoCal. There are lots of Parkers here in SoCal with controls, I have never seen anyone load it on a trailer up top. If you can't maneuver a boat in the cabin, you probably shouldn't be behind the wheel. My buddy has a 38' sport fisher with a tall tower, no controls, big loud twin Detroit diesels, someone would always be up top with binos and we used a hand held vhf radio for communication to the flybridge to spot marlin. Never an issue not having controls up top.

 

[kalani3175]

I will post pics next week but the rigging for the tower will be exactly the same as it is in the cab with the exception of the windlass. I even retrofitted the boat with the garmin digital switch so I will have control of every switch while using tower. With the addition of the second station I also decided to go add the smart key system. Which wasn’t necessary but super trick and truthfully wasn’t much more the traditional turn key ignition and no more kitting the key with my knee.

 

[warthog5]

The view and placing the boat on a trailer from a Crows Nest is 5 times better /easier. Face it... You can't see the trailer when you are in the pilothose and a boats length off the trailer.

As I said.... Controls up Top ARE a Game Changer. Seeing Birds, Fish schooling on the surface is All much easier to position a boat from the Tower. Docking, especially in a cross wind is better as you have a Much better sight pix of how close you can really get and not hit it. You Really should bite the bullet.... SPEND the $$$$ and move your Game up.

 

[warthog5]

rigging for the tower will be exactly the same as it is in the cab with the exception of the windlass.

Windless Remote is the Only way I do them. Hell I can adjust lines and position of boat from the beach when backed up to the beach for a day of parting and the tide is changing.
And Yes.... can control the Windless Anywhere on the boat.

https://www.amazon.com/Remote-Kit-Windlass-Wireless-3-Button/dp/B005FTUYQ6