Can I put a Tower on My Tournament Ski Boat?

[burris1980]

My apologies...but we are brand new boat owners and we just acquired a 1984 ski eliminator, tournament ski boat. We just got a wakeboard tower for the boat, it's 68 pounds, and I was just told by a friend that it could sink the back end of our boat because of the height of where the rope is located while someone is boarding . It's 19 feet. It has a teak swim deck that just barely grazes the water when we have some one hooked to the short pylon. Please let me know what other specs I can provide if needed.
Thanks!!
-Sarah

 

[salty87]

Re: Can I put a Tower on My Tournament Ski Boat?

never heard that a tower could sink a boat before. lots of old boats out there with towers...including my 87 supra.

no way that's gonna happen unless you're trying to lift sunken ships with it.

enjoy your new tower. towers are a great upgrade.

sweet looking boat, btw.

 

[spktho]

Re: Can I put a Tower on My Tournament Ski Boat?

You may want to make sure to reinforce a large area around/under where the tower legs attach to the boat.

 

[burris1980]

Re: Can I put a Tower on My Tournament Ski Boat?

Hey thanks! The more we are on it, the more we love it!
How would you suggest the reinforcing? Glass it?
Thanks!

 

[salty87]

Re: Can I put a Tower on My Tournament Ski Boat?

i didn't install mine, the guys that did it did real good. they used plywood backing plates and large washers. pretty simple but i've had no spider cracking of the gel coat. i think the plywood has a little more give than fiberglass which can be brittle. plus fiberglassing upside down is no fun.

 

[burris1980]

Re: Can I put a Tower on My Tournament Ski Boat?

I don't think the concern as that it's an old boat, I think the concern is that it's rides so low to the water with the way the boat is made. Sits on the water like this one (sorry we don't have a pic of ours on the water yet.)

 

[CaptainKev]

Re: Can I put a Tower on My Tournament Ski Boat?

I agree with reinforcing the attachment points. I find it highly unlikely that pulling a skier from the tower will cause you any problems.......except maybe an overdose of fun. During skiing, you adjust the attitude of your boat by using the trim. If find that your running a little high in the bow, lower the trim. Failing that, get some trim tabs. Smart Tabs are a decent, inexpensive option. There's all kinds of help on this forum regarding Smart Tabs and individually adjustable tabs like Bennetts. Be safe and enjoy your boat.
Kev.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Can I put a Tower on My Tournament Ski Boat?

I don't think the concern as that it's an old boat, I think the concern is that it's rides so low to the water with the way the boat is made. Sits on the water like this one (sorry we don't have a pic of ours on the water yet.)

It does not sit on the water like that when underway. My buddy added one to his response like the one in the picture and has had no problems.

 

[burris1980]

Re: Can I put a Tower on My Tournament Ski Boat?

I don't think we have trim? We have a direct drive. So the prop and rudder looks like the photo I attached (I attached one from the internet because you can see it better than in the one I took)...would we have trim in this case?? If not, is the something we can add on? tabs? (Or would we want to?:redface Thanks so much for all the reassurance!!!

 

[CaptainKev]

Re: Can I put a Tower on My Tournament Ski Boat?

I would mount the tower and give it a shot. If the attitude of the boat is such that you can't see very well over the bow, or it's much worse than without the tower, then go for the tabs. IMHO I like the Bennett individually adjustable style of tab. They are more expensive that the Smart Tabs and harder to install but they can compensate for listing and I feel that I can "tune" the boats attitude better. Both Smart Tabs & Bennett have superb customer service....either one of them will tell you the best way to jump. That's a way cool boat you've got.
Kev.

 

[sickwilly]

Re: Can I put a Tower on My Tournament Ski Boat?

I am totally missing something here.

Are you scared that someone wakeboarding behind the boat might be able to pull the back or side underwater because of how the boat rides in the water while underway because of the tower?

That is not going to happen.

They may be able to change the lean and direction of the boat a few inches tops.

Was this person putting this fear into your head trying to sell you a new wake board boat?

 

[salty87]

Re: Can I put a Tower on My Tournament Ski Boat?

my inboard has a manual 'trim' plate. some have none, some have hydraulic.

the tower won't noticeably effect the ride of the boat. your boat weighs alot more than a wakeboarder.

go enjoy it