How much is the Tower/speakers/racks "worth" on a used boat?

[Carso]

Hi
When looking at used boats how much would you value a tower/racks/speakers? I am looking for an older direct drive that would either have a tower or one that I could put a tower on. I know there are tons of sites / places / options when it comes to towers/racks/speakers from but can anyone give me a ball park of what I would need to spend to add a "decent" set up to a boat? Seems like it might be easier and cheaper to hold out for a boat that has all this already ?
Thanks for your thoughts

 

[Rinker97]

Re: How much is the Tower/speakers/racks "worth" on a used boat?

That's a hard question it all depends on what you want. I would say $1300-$3000. $1300-$1500 for everything, for a universal tower.

 

[SeanT]

Re: How much is the Tower/speakers/racks "worth" on a used boat?

I would agree with that.

 

[kyle f]

Re: How much is the Tower/speakers/racks "worth" on a used boat?

Depends a lot on whats there, qulaity and what not.

A Monster tower with a set of fixed position board racks and a pair of Bazooka tubes... about $1500.

A more custom fit (maybe factory) tower with high quality swivel racks, Wet sounds Speakers and enclosures, with lights and all wired up nicely... could be on the order of $3000 worht of accessories.

 

[Carso]

Re: How much is the Tower/speakers/racks "worth" on a used boat?

Thanks for the replys - so definately somewhere between $1500 and alot.

More than the price though - is a tower a "must have" - I found a boat that comes with a wakeboard pole/pylon - would you "settle" for this? - Thing is I live in Alberta and would get to use the boat maybe 8-12 times a season - my extent at wakesports so far is crossing the wake a few times on a skate - haven't even tried a wakeboard yet - sure looks like fun though and is something I will try - my kids love tubing and are starting to learn to ski but I haven't talked them into trying a skate or board YET. Cash is not plentiful and it might be a stretch to buy a boat and then spring for a couple thousand more for the "extras". But everytime I am out on the water I look with a tinge of green at the "nice" boats with the towers and speakers - just seems to be they have more "fun".

Could I stick a rack on a pylon to at least get rid of some of the stuff off the floor? Decent speakers in a boat instead of on a tower?

Thanks for your thoughts

 

[kyle f]

Re: How much is the Tower/speakers/racks "worth" on a used boat?

At this point, I wouldn't trade my Tower and speakers for anything... but I use my boat.... A LOT. Honestly, it is more fun with a boat like mine because... the rider always gets to listen to music to. We have planty of room to carry all the skis, boards, tubes etc without having crap all over the floor or peopl ducking under crap.

Understand though, mine is 23' with a very high tower (Skylon Pro) and a custom Fiberglass enclosure that hold 4 Tidal Audio 6X9's. Powered off a 6 Channel 600W JL Audio Amp with 4 6.5" Wet Sounds speakers inside and a Polk Momo Sub.

I don't have you average set up... but again... we use my boat A LOT! At least once a week from May thru September and some in October and March. Some weeks in the summer we go out as many as 3 times. So, its definately worht the investment for me to have all the "nice" things that come along with a nice boat. When you compare the cost to what you would spend on vacations, dinners, gas to drive different place, tickets... etc to enjoy other hoobies, its pretty much a wash.

 

[Carso]

Re: How much is the Tower/speakers/racks "worth" on a used boat?

Boating season from March to Oct!!! - What I wouldn't give for that. Here we are lucky if its June to early Sept - Unless your hard core and wear a full wet suit! - and that is if the weather gods are on your side - honestly we can and have gotten snow EVERY frickin month of the year. Sometimes I wonder why....

I guess finding the right balance between wants and needs is likely the way to go. - sure would like the ability to at least get some crap off the floor and a place to tie a tube to.

Thanks for the time.

 

[SeanT]

Re: How much is the Tower/speakers/racks "worth" on a used boat?

I live in Alberta too and we're out average twice a week, sometimes 4 or 5 especially as the end of September approaches.

 

[Carso]

Re: How much is the Tower/speakers/racks "worth" on a used boat?

Nice! - would be a definate plus to be at the lake. Maybe someday.
Thanks

 

[kyle f]

Re: How much is the Tower/speakers/racks "worth" on a used boat?

Boating season from March to Oct!!! - What I wouldn't give for that. Here we are lucky if its June to early Sept - Unless your hard core and wear a full wet suit! - and that is if the weather gods are on your side - honestly we can and have gotten snow EVERY frickin month of the year. Sometimes I wonder why....

I guess finding the right balance between wants and needs is likely the way to go. - sure would like the ability to at least get some crap off the floor and a place to tie a tube to.

Thanks for the time.

I carry and Air pump that plugs into the 12V Outlet... I just blow up the tube on the water. (I hate tubing). Then after it dries, deflate and fold it up.

 

[SeanT]

Re: How much is the Tower/speakers/racks "worth" on a used boat?

I bought one of those and the damn thing only charges when plugged into 12V. It won't turn on with the power adapter inserted! Some sort of safety feature. I think I'm going to open it up and unhook whatever wire is doing that.

We carry a foot pump on board too.

 

[kyle f]

Re: How much is the Tower/speakers/racks "worth" on a used boat?

Mine is free of that crap. What is nice is it has an on off switch... so you can plug it in and move to a different area of the boat without all the noise.

I also carry a water pump for my extra fat sac when we surf.

On my boat are the two pumps,
Two tubes
Pair of Skis
Slalom Ski
Surfboard
Two to four wake boards
Anchor
Wet Suit
Ski Rope
Wake Board Rope
Surf Rope
Two Finders
Four Docking Lines
2 Batteries
6 Channel Amp
9 Life Jackets
Cleaning Supply Bag
Throwable Floatation Device
Emergency Signaling Kit
Fire Extinguisher
4 Towels
450lb Fat Sac
then whatever else anyone seems to bring...None of what is listed is in the floor or out in the way. Its really nice to have all this with you when you head out for a day. This even leave room to toss a gym bag or something under the bow filler cushion for clothes if we are over nighting on a friends house boat or somethign, and still not have anythign in the way.

Oh yea, and built into the floor is a cooler capable of holding 30 cans of... you favorite beverage. Toss in a 64gallong gas tank and they still seemed to find room for 2000lbs worth of ballast in hard tanks under the floor, and the rear lockers are big enough for me to sit in an close the lid... Im 6' 200lbs.

My advice to anyone looking at boats. Dont under estimate the storage vs. how often you care going to use it. As mentioned previously, I am not your average boater. I put 125 hours on this boat the first season I owned it. We are on it a lot and spend a lot of time doing different activities. I actually use everythign mentioned I have onboard at least once a week, well except for the throwable cushion, flares, and fire extinguisher (thank god!).

Adding items like the tower speakers, and the stereo in general is cheap and easy compared to the need for space. I would worry about how much boat you are gettign for your money first, and upgrade the stereo slowly.