Wake Boarding - Rack/Tower Opinion

[Richard R]

Boat:<br />1987 Seaswirl 17'<br />OMC Cobra, 175hp 6cyl<br /><br />Overall the boat is pretty close to perfect for our family. <br /><br />However the kids have recently, to my approval, moved away from the abuse everything and everybody afternoon of tubing into the much mellower afternoon (at least for dad) of wake boarding. <br /><br />Now obviously, by the boat listed above it's not very close to perfect for wake boarding and myself not being a rich man.... can't justify the $30,000 - $50,000 for a boat so the kids can have the best ride available on the water today. <br /><br />However, I might consider putting one of those towers / racks on my current boat to help with a more upward pull and provide a place to put those boards.<br /><br />I have been told by one source that putting a tower / rack on a boat such as ours (under 20' and a stern drive) actually hurts the tow as the rocking action of the boat is amplified by the height of the rack / tower.<br /><br />Any opinions by current boarders?<br />Any opinions by boats similar to ours with a rack / tower installed would be appreciated.<br /><br />If at all positive, any recommendations for manufacture. Really want one that collapses as I constantly use my boat cover when towing or not in use.<br /><br />Docwater

 

[quantumleap]

Re: Wake Boarding - Rack/Tower Opinion

How about this: http://www.shuswapsnb.com/Towers.html <br />Also check out the tripod pylon further down the page.

 

[cinder1995]

Re: Wake Boarding - Rack/Tower Opinion

I have a 20' Bayliner and I use it for probably 80% wakeboarding. The tower did not affect the towing at all. It definately helps the wakeboarder out. I personally have a Barewest Tower that I put on about 3 years ago. There are a lot of tower manufacturers, however www.monstertower.com seems to be the best bang for the buck and it easily folds down. They put a lot of towers on unconventional wakeboarding boats such as ours.<br /><br />Hope this helps.

 

[Richard R]

Re: Wake Boarding - Rack/Tower Opinion

Hey... Thanks Quantum and Eric both of you point to the same tower.... that speaks loads for Monster!!<br /><br />Really appreceate the input!! <br /><br />I have seen thier (Monsters) adds they look close to what I'm thinking about, especially with the fold up concept but I'd really like to hear from a experenced boarder too. <br /><br />Unfortunaltly I just drive the boat and while I have been up on a board a couple of times I am an old skier who does see the extra action on the rope as a problem.<br /><br />As my several years reading this forum has proven, ask and listen... you will learn!!<br /><br />I know the vast knowledge in this group, such as any parents with kids who out perform in the wakeboard area, what do they think?

 

[datawire]

Re: Wake Boarding - Rack/Tower Opinion

Glad you opened this thread DocWater! My son has just requested we get him a wakeboard "cause it looks like fun". I could use some opinions on entry-level boards and any problems I might incur by pulling him with the ski eye. I don't want to go to the tower expense unless it's a necessity.<br /><br />We have a 22' Rivera Deckboat with a 5.8L Cobra.

 

[cinder1995]

Re: Wake Boarding - Rack/Tower Opinion

Hey there datawire.<br />You won't have any problems towing him behind the transom. However he will progress a hundered times faster with a tower, so it should be in the near future. As far as boards, just make sure the board matches his size and riding level. You can go to www.wakeworld.com and see specs on every board out there.<br /><br />DocWater.<br />I would consider myself an experienced wakeboarder and the make of the tower is mainly only which tower you think looks best on your boat. The important feature in a tower is that you raise the towing point by around 7', which means a world of difference to the boarder.

 

[Richard R]

Re: Wake Boarding - Rack/Tower Opinion

Thanks Datawire, Actual wakeboarding is a little differnet than skiing mainly just slower and after the boarder is comfortable the drivers goal is to get a hard enough wake at the correct distance for the rope.. or vise a versa. We run around 22mph with a pretty mellow pop from the hole (younger kids) My kids are on thier second year and they love it. We started with a Liquid Force board / Doubleup bindings....sorry not at home and don't have the model. Some times you can get last years graphics on this years board for a better deal.. and we bought off of Ebay which also helped.<br /><br />Hey Eric:<br />Thanks for the input, as your boat is a 20'er and mine is only a 17 it still sounds like the gain in height is worth the possible extra rope action. I may have to start checking out that expence as the kids are getting better..... THANKS again!!

 

[salty87]

Re: Wake Boarding - Rack/Tower Opinion

a tower makes a world of difference on almost any boat. another thing a tower is great for is getting boards off the floor and into the racks. they are worth the money.<br /><br />there's really not much rope action, it may look like it from the boat but the boarder is much further back and not effected by it. when riding over rollers, the rider will feel the boat rocking before the board does but it goes away as soon as you clear them.<br /><br />the only issues you'll face installing a monster tower, i also recommend them, is thickening the glass where you mount the tower legs. i've seen monster's install instrux and they cover this too.<br /><br />go for it, the ride inside the boat and behind it is better with a tower and racks.

 

[WSUDERMAN]

Re: Wake Boarding - Rack/Tower Opinion

DocWater,<br /><br />We have been wakeboarding behind a 19'6" boat pulling from a skihook for the last 3 years. This last winter we had a custom tower made for the boat and let me tell you - what a difference! We have taught many people how to wake board and prior to the tower it would take 3 - 5 trys to get someone "out of the water" on a wake board. Now with the tower and short rope - 1 -2 trys and they are on their way! And for those of us who have been wakeboarding for a while its great!<br /><br />I will say that your source is correct about the rocking action being amplified by the tower, HOWEVER - ALL boats rock, no matter how much you paid for it or how long it is. Up until about 2001, most ski and wakeboard specific boats where under 20'... If the rocking is a problem the best way to reduce it is to add a ballist system...

 

[Richard R]

Re: Wake Boarding - Rack/Tower Opinion

You guys are great!!<br /><br />iboats and the vast knowledge of it's users teaches us newbies once again.<br /><br />Sounds like the kids will be very happy once dad gets off his rear and moves on this new venture. Will have to check into the different brands, features and cost.<br /><br />Really appreceate all the feed back and information, enjoy!!!

 

[ae708]

Re: Wake Boarding - Rack/Tower Opinion

Last Saturday we had a cookout at our lake house. We were taking a break from skiing sitting in a lawn chair having a cool one. Some visitors next door had a deck boat. Low and behold I looked over and here they come down to the boat with a 2x4 "A" frame. They mounted it, tied it off to the bow with some line and proceded to pull a wakeboard. I expected the thing to collapse at any time but they had a great time witn no mishaps. Ugly to be sure, but a hell of a lot cheaper than 900 bucks for a monster tower. Sure surprised me that it worked.

 

[datawire]

Re: Wake Boarding - Rack/Tower Opinion

Thanks as well everyone, you are all a great help.<br /><br />Art - My son was reading your post over my shoulder, and immediately said OH NO YOU DON'T and ran for his mother. It seems they all think I over engineer to the point that the boat would be completely boarded-up and might sink from the weight of the nails I would use... Geeezze

 

[ae708]

Re: Wake Boarding - Rack/Tower Opinion

I can relate to that... I've been told that I have a tendency to overbuild. But hey...my stuff doesn't fall down.

 

[Richard R]

Re: Wake Boarding - Rack/Tower Opinion

BWAAWAAAAaaaaa <br />yep coming from an old machinist, now shade tree designer, I tend to not only over build but it takes me years to get the design right... <br /><br />Never thought about wood, wow a new trend!! <br />Rats... can't chrome plate it, that'll never fly for the kids (or me), they're into looking kewl. <br /><br />My boy talked with a friend that has a Barewest tower, collapsible, and they really like theirs.... <br /><br /><br />Nobody here local does Monsters, still checking?

 

[datawire]

Re: Wake Boarding - Rack/Tower Opinion

Bump^

 

[NCOffSeason]

Re: Wake Boarding - Rack/Tower Opinion

Mine is a Wake Air tower and we love it. The speakers rock and the racks keep the boards up and out of the way. <br />

 

[NCOffSeason]

Re: Wake Boarding - Rack/Tower Opinion

 

[summit1]

Re: Wake Boarding - Rack/Tower Opinion

Does that tower fold down? Aside from monster towers, what does a tower like the one above run?

 

[garycinn]

Re: Wake Boarding - Rack/Tower Opinion

Here are some more tower options with costs:<br /><br /> http://www.wakeside.com/page/W/CTGY/wakeboard_towers

 

[reference123]

Re: Wake Boarding - Rack/Tower Opinion

We have an 18' boat that we put the boss slider tower on. It was just over $700.00 and is great. The Barewest towers are also nice and very affordable. Fun to ski behind as it allows you to cut farther and great for wakeboarding. <br /><br />We also added smart tabs which took care of any rocking action we might have had before.<br /><br />We looked at both Mako and Monster Tower racks. Ended up with a monster tower wakeboard and ski rack. The only negative we have had is the screw that holds the mount to the tower. On rough water, it will loosen and the tower starts to rotate. I finally used the strongest locktite which seems to solve the problem for a month or so. I looked for an option to put a lock washer in but there is not enough room. I dont know if the Mako rack would have had the same problem.