Wakeboard Towers

[OKANAGANGUY]

I own a 1992 Canaventure 17.5 foot with a 4.3lx v-6 I am wanting to install a wakeboard tower but am scared away at the prices. If anyone out there has any information on posibly a used one or a inexpensive new one. I would alternatively like to find a ski or wake tower pole. I have been quoted around 900.00 Canadian but would like to find a used or less expensive one. Thanks in advance for your advise.

 

[salty87]

Re: Wakeboard Towers

towers aren't cheap and you do get what you pay for. i got lucky and found a local builder that had made one that didn't fit the boat properly, fit mine like a glove. so, used ones can be tough in that they have to fit very well. i have a friend that bought a tower (new) and can't close his windshield all the way. it was either that or the tower would prevent him from ever opening it.

you'll probably have more luck finding a used pole. lots of people have upgraded from them over the years to towers. you should check out wakeworld.com and wakeboarder.com, they have classified sections. depending on where you are, there are local wakeboarding clubs in most majot cities. they frequently have stuff for sale too.

have you seen diytower dot com? that site shows homemade towers and installations. know anyone with a pipe bender and can weld?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Wakeboard Towers

if you can get a decent one for $900 jump on it.

 

[pjrogers]

Re: Wakeboard Towers

Hey Okanaganguy - I'm in Kelowna; where are you? On the tower issue, before you do anything more, find out if a tower can even be installed on your boat. The construction of some boats, especially older ones, is such that you simply can't safely mount a tower - the fiberglass is often too thin at the proper mount points and no amount re-enforcing with plywood and glass will give you enough strength to accept a tower. You might try calling one of the boat dealers in the Okanagan area to find out if installing a tower is possible on your boat. That's how I discovered that our '96 Glascon was not suitable. We wound up replacing it with a SeaRay. If you can put a tower on, I've heard good reports on the Monster Towers: http://www.monstertower.com/ . Not real attractive, but inexpensive and strong enough, so I've heard.

 

[tic]

Re: Wakeboard Towers

I may be showing my age here, but what worse way is there to ruin the clean lines of a sport boat than to put a wake tower on it?

 

[reka12]

Re: Wakeboard Towers

I have a monster tower on my '02 larsen 21lxi. It works great and folds down flat so I can store the boat in the garage.

Mike

 

[vandy21]

Re: Wakeboard Towers

Tic, In some cases practicality out ways aesthetics. Try www.Diywake.com , they are not the worlds prettiest towers, but if your just looking for something to pull you and provide storage they certainly do that. There are also a few threads in the wakeboarding forum of iboats which provide more information and more links. Good luck finding what you want, and tell us what you decide!

 

[salty87]

Re: Wakeboard Towers

tic- you are showing your age. i think boats look better with them and i know they are very functional. getting all the boards/bindings off the floor and into the racks makes a huge difference.

btw, my hull is an '87. i've had a tower for around 6 years and have had 0 issues with fiberglass thickness. it can be done, use backing plates.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Wakeboard Towers

i thought they were more for showing off the toys, and mounting those damnable speakers.

 

[OKANAGANGUY]

Re: Wakeboard Towers

I appreciate everyones advise. I have purchased a custom built wakeboard tower that is out of Regina Saskatchewan Canada. The tower looks very similar to a monster tower but costs less than half price shipped to my door. I paid close to 600.00 Canadian funds plus freight. I would be happy to suggest this fellow to any other folks once I have it installed and know that it is a good product. He has built and sold over 500 of these towers and has only ever had one come back. They are 2" brushed aliminum and fold down nicely. I like the design because it fits around my bimini top and does not interfeer with any of my covers. The gent I bought it from was very accomidating and is a welder by trade. By fluke I found out that he works with my brother in law and is a very reputable welder. He decided to go into business about 7 years ago when he wanted his own tower but was not prepared to pay the going rate at that time.

 

[brwalkersk8]

Re: Wakeboard Towers

Try diywake.com
They have new towers for $498 shipped to your door, then you just have to install it

 

[fourwinns17]

Re: Wakeboard Towers

Hi
Iam looking for a waketower for my boat and read your article on this guy in sask. How is the tower working out for you and do you have a contact for him.I live in alberta so Im pretty close to sask.Please let me know.Thanks

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Wakeboard Towers

i sent him a PM. hopefully he will reply, with contact info.

 

[Hashi]

Re: Wakeboard Towers

If your just starting to wakeboard, I would recommend that you just use the ski pole until you've learned to stand and go from side to side. Wakeboard towers are needed to get height on jumping the boat wakes. Heck, I've seen guys that just ride the wake right behind the boat and don't need the use of a tow rope.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Wakeboard Towers

that was the original wake boarding, with a surf board.

 

[salty87]

Re: Wakeboard Towers

you can let go of the rope if you're surfing, once you're already up

 

[amynbill]

Re: Wakeboard Towers

I may be showing my age here, but what worse way is there to ruin the clean lines of a sport boat than to put a wake tower on it?

Unless of course the reason you get a sport boat is to wakeboard

 

[rlb81]

Re: Wakeboard Towers

Is a wakeboard tower a stability issue with the rope anchored so high above the "center of gravity" (I don't know if that term applies to boats...)?

 

[oops!]

Re: Wakeboard Towers

Is a wakeboard tower a stability issue with the rope anchored so high above the "center of gravity" (I don't know if that term applies to boats...)?

yuppers it does..

and i havent heard of any problems yet...i think the really big deal is the beam.

 

[salty87]

Re: Wakeboard Towers

Is a wakeboard tower a stability issue with the rope anchored so high above the "center of gravity" (I don't know if that term applies to boats...)?

the only issues i've ever heard of are from people leaving their ropes floating out where another boat can run over it (other boat has to be too close to pull this darwin-like stunt off). you should never leave your rope out, never can tell what someone else will do...including getting your own rope wrapped around your prop.

otherwise, the higher tow point really does your lower back a favor. when the rope is tied to the transom, you get pulled downward the whole time. a tower also acts like a lever and helps pull you out of the water compared to a lower tie-off spot.