Wakeboard/Ski Towers

[BigBoatinOkie]

I don't do any wakeboarding, but I do lots of skiing, slolom skiing, kneeboarding, and tubing. Do those towers enhance the experience of the activities I mentioned, or is it mostly for wakeboarding? Do they make it harder to plane when towing with them. They sure do look cool. Thanks.

 

[sebber83]

Re: Wakeboard/Ski Towers

Never use the tower for tubing, there has been documentation on severe injuries and even death, as far as Wakeboarding and Kneeboarding goes, then yes, the tower really makes a difference, even for novice riders. Most evident is how much easier it is to get up for a novice behind a boat with a tower, pulls you straight out of the water!

my 2 cents...noooooo tubing!!!

 

[cwhite6]

Re: Wakeboard/Ski Towers

What exactly is the danger to tubers? Pulling the tube out from under them or getting it to airborne? I can see how that would happed with the higher elevation of the tie point. Just curious.

 

[Fastrd400]

Re: Wakeboard/Ski Towers

Pulling a tube that is tied to the tower puts an extreme amount of force on the tower. The tower can and will at some point rip of at the mounts. You should never ever tow a tube with your tower.

 

[sebber83]

Re: Wakeboard/Ski Towers

there are documented cases when the tower ripped off its mounts and crashed into passengers at the rear of the boat, in at least one instance, a young female sitting on the rear sun pad was killed.

 

[skibrain]

Re: Wakeboard/Ski Towers

A wakeboarder, kneeboard or skier will let go of the handle if overwhelmed by line tension.
In all of those activities, it is the RIDER'S responsibility/skill to manage slack in the line.

A tube is tied directly to the boat via tower/transom/ski pylon/tow eye - whatever. With tubing, it is the BOAT DRIVER's responsibility to manage slack in the line.

A multi-person tube is not only much heavier than any single skier, it can't let go of the handle. If the tube swings out to the side, slows down, falls below planing speed and sinks or comes to near stop... when the inattentive boat driver continues to motor on at 20 mph..... WHAM.

There is a momentary extreme load. (three adults + big wet tube = 500# easily) With the leverage of a tall pylon or tower on a lightweight boat, it is enough to rock the boat over hard (I've seen passengers thrown out of their seats by this) or bend and collapse ski pylons, or pull out mounting points. or give a pretty good case of whip lash to riders, break ropes.....etc.

If the driver is on the ball and understands the above distinction, towing a tube from a pylon or tower CAN be done at no risk to riders and equipment. I'm just not real confident in the driving skill of the general boating public.

 

[piper_chuck]

Re: Wakeboard/Ski Towers

If the driver is on the ball and understands the above distinction, towing a tube from a pylon or tower CAN be done at no risk to riders and equipment. I'm just not real confident in the driving skill of the general boating public.

+1 on that thought. I've seen way too many idiots who looked like they were trying to kill or maim the person(s) on the tube.

 

[Tabes117]

Re: Wakeboard/Ski Towers

We enjoy the tower for wake boarding and knee boarding.

 

[JeffMinocqua]

Re: Wakeboard/Ski Towers

We too have an Ebbtide 2300 (2004), I was wondering what tower you purchased, and how difficult was it to install? I also agree, that towing a tub is only from the rear of the boat.

 

[mxfever]

Re: Wakeboard/Ski Towers

Personal opinion - Wakeboarding/skiing/kneeboarding are much more fun from a tower. You get right out of the water and when wakeboarding it's easier to get more height since you aren't naturally getting pulled back down being hooked to the back of the boat.

I would never think of tubing from a tower. Just the added weight from whipping tubes seems to harsh on equipment. There is a Master Craft on our lake that I've seen pulling 3, 3 person tubes from the tower. You read that right. 9 people on tubes from this tower. You can see the tower moving back and forth from shore when you see them go by!

 

[SeanT]

Re: Wakeboard/Ski Towers

I don't pull slalom skiers from my tower. I use the ski pylon that was designed into my boat. When they cut hard, I don't want that sideways force on my tower mounts.

I pull kneeboards, wakeboards, and we have a short handle for surfing that I pull from the tower.

If it's a smallish person on double skiis, I'll probably pull from the tower as well just for convenience.

I will never ever pull tubers from the tower. I don't care of the tower is welded on to a steel frame. I've used the ski pylon on occasion though when I don't want the rope dragging. My transom mount is really low, and I'd invest in a tubing booster ball except that my kids kneeboard now and don't tube much.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Wakeboard/Ski Towers

I don't pull slalom skiers from my tower. I use the ski pylon that was designed into my boat. When they cut hard, I don't want that sideways force on my tower mounts.

Not to mention it would be miserable trying to ski from a tower. Rope up way too high on turns and the boat rolling on every cut.

 

[SeanT]

Re: Wakeboard/Ski Towers

Great point.

Hey, would the higher pull point help new skiiers out at all?

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Wakeboard/Ski Towers

Great point.

Hey, would the higher pull point help new skiiers out at all?

I would think that it would make it more likely that they would lean forward, but I've never tried skiing off my tower.