Big Air Wake Tower...Any Opinions?

[JoJoBetsy]

Hello all,<br /><br />I am going to install a tower in the next month and wanted to find out if anyone had any pearls of wisdom or pitfalls they'd like to share about Big Air wakeboard towers. Honestly, I cannot tell much of a difference between any of the aftermarket brands out there from their much hyped websites so the info I receive from friendly boaters here on the forums is actually worth waiting to find out before I [you] buy. <br /><br />So, does anyone have any opinions on the Big Air, or any other for that matter that doesn't cost and arm and a leg (there's some out there that do)? Thanks in advance for replying and hope everyone's boating season is a fun and safe one.<br /><br />jb

 

[paulie0735]

Re: Big Air Wake Tower...Any Opinions?

Pearl of wisdom = don’t do it<br />Pitfalls = your deck is not nearly strong enough to support a tower.<br /><br />If you really want some height than fit a high-pole, truth is unless your boarding ability is nearing that of a pro than the pole will do just fine. It’s cheaper, your insurance company won’t disown you and it can be easily stored away when you’re not using it.

 

[Speedwagon]

Re: Big Air Wake Tower...Any Opinions?

A wakeboard tower WILL crack your gelcoat. If you really want to do it, you need to reinforce the 'glass on the boat where it will bolt through. But even with reinforcement, your gelcoat is going to crack from the stress.

 

[tommays]

Re: Big Air Wake Tower...Any Opinions?

<br /><br /><br />the pole gets the job done <br /><br />

<br /><br />BUT they still land on ther HEAD most of the time <br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[JoJoBetsy]

Re: Big Air Wake Tower...Any Opinions?

Wow, that's a bummer. I liked the tower look and it just gets everything up and out of the way more than a pole will. The websites make you think that you get the box in one day and install it the next without any mention of gelcoat, fiberglass or whatever. I guess a pole and a full-size bimini will do the trick because I really like the boat. Guess I'll just take up slalom again, the boat is much more suited for that kind of fun.<br /><br />Thanks a bunch for the advice. I'll be honest, I heard "don't do it" before but I wanted to get the forum members' advice.<br /><br />Cheers and thanks again. jb

 

[Speedwagon]

Re: Big Air Wake Tower...Any Opinions?

Originally posted by JoJoBetsy:<br /> Wow, that's a bummer. I liked the tower look and it just gets everything up and out of the way more than a pole will. The websites make you think that you get the box in one day and install it the next without any mention of gelcoat, fiberglass or whatever. I guess a pole and a full-size bimini will do the trick because I really like the boat. Guess I'll just take up slalom again, the boat is much more suited for that kind of fun.<br /><br />Thanks a bunch for the advice. I'll be honest, I heard "don't do it" before but I wanted to get the forum members' advice.<br /><br />Cheers and thanks again. jb

Yea, towers are VERY hard on the boat. I worked(installing stereos) for a custom boat company in CA for a few months. And even when they reinforced the boat out of the mold for a tower, customers would have to bring the boat back for gelcoat repairs.<br /><br />I think the figure used, was 10lbs at the top of the tower equates to 100lbs of force at the mounting point. It's not a structural impact, as the fiberglass can hold up, but the gelcoat cannot.<br /><br />You can install a tower, but be prepared to have spiderwebs in the gelcoat. There's just no good way to avoid them.

 

[murphini]

Re: Big Air Wake Tower...Any Opinions?

my 2 cents:<br />I put a Monster Tower on my 20' I/O last year and after 50 hours of use (with a lot of pulling), I have been very satisfied. I'm not an employee or a shill for them, it just worked well for me. <br /><br />On their website are pictures of people's Wellcraft boats with towers installed. There are about 10 Wellcrafts in the Runabout section.<br /><br /> http://www.monstertower.com/customerphotos/index.htm <br /><br />I followed the instx, had thick enough fiberglass/gelcoat to not reinforce (using Monster Tower's instructions). They have both "rubber pads" and backing plates, and torqued properly, I can do serious pullups on it and its very sturdy.<br /><br />Drilling holes is the hardest part, just make sure you do it in reverse to not chip the gelcoat. Not familiar with Big Air, but probably same idea. My boat already has some spider cracks in other places, and the funcitonality of the tower trumps more cracks.

 

[ZR8RIDER]

Re: Big Air Wake Tower...Any Opinions?

My 96 sea ray has a joystick boom on it. Has been there for years. There are noc racks or marks in the gel coat. There are two mounting points. Strength is from a wire that attaches to the loop on the bow. It looks like a roll bar. I'm happy with this set up. Joystick has a web page if you want to check it out.