Suggestions for permanently removing Wakeboard Tower needed.

[jacknbella]

OK, just bought a new boat, but it came with a heavy and clumsy wakeboard tower (see photo). Since it's kinda a pain to raise and lower it (and we'll never use it), we'd like to permanently remove it. Here's the challenge though...

The wakeboard tower is mounted in 4 locations, 2 on each side. It's simple enough to remove the screws, however, I'd like to place a nice metallic cover over the mounting surfaces so it looks visually appealing and won't rust. Does anyone know of a place where I could find something that would work here? Are there any aftermarket (or OEM) options available?

Thanks in advance!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Suggestions for permanently removing Wakeboard Tower needed.

you could get a metal shop, to make you some stainless plates the same size to go over them.

 

[salty87]

Re: Suggestions for permanently removing Wakeboard Tower needed.

that bottom support bar won't come off leaving the mouting plates behind?

if you posted this on wakeworld.com you'd get more specific answers on that model of tower. you'd also probably get some offers to take the tower off your hands too.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Suggestions for permanently removing Wakeboard Tower needed.

that bottom support bar won't come off leaving the mouting plates behind?

if you posted this on wakeworld.com you'd get more specific answers on that model of tower. you'd also probably get some offers to take the tower off your hands too.

Great idea....and to take it to the next step, offer the tower to the person that has the best aesthetic solution and provides the parts to do it.

 

[jacknbella]

Re: Suggestions for permanently removing Wakeboard Tower needed.

Those are great ideas, however, I'd like to keep the tower because it may entice a future buyer whenever I decide to sell the boat. That's not a bad idea though if nothing else works.

Thanks again!

 

[mikeneal]

Re: Suggestions for permanently removing Wakeboard Tower needed.

Like somebody said you could either make plates from aluminum or stainless or even have a fiberglass guy fill the holes in. I have made/added wake board towers to my last two boats though so i vote keep it.

 

[Hashi]

Re: Suggestions for permanently removing Wakeboard Tower needed.

Like somebody said you could either make plates from aluminum or stainless or even have a fiberglass guy fill the holes in. I have made/added wake board towers to my last two boats though so i vote keep it.

Yup...It would look cleaner if they were filled instead of plates.

 

[fdmsiv]

Re: Suggestions for permanently removing Wakeboard Tower needed.

Does it have to be stainless or even metal? A piece of painted wood or something along those lines.

Rustoleum makes some chrome spray paint. Not exactly the best looking, but cheap and easy

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Suggestions for permanently removing Wakeboard Tower needed.

You could go somewhere like Ace hardware and buy a flat piece of aluminum stock and make your own plates...Polish it or go with the brushed look..
I would leave the mounting holes so when you go to sell the boat you can have the tower mounted back on..
The tower will raise the resale value.

 

[jacknbella]

Re: Suggestions for permanently removing Wakeboard Tower needed.

Well, it would be really nice if there was an aftermarket solution already available. I tried searching thru www.wakeworld.com but found next to nothing on the subject. Does anyone know of any other website I could try?

Thanks in advance

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Suggestions for permanently removing Wakeboard Tower needed.

I doubt very much that you will find an aftermarket part for that.

Any metal shop could fix you up....

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Suggestions for permanently removing Wakeboard Tower needed.

Two suggestions:

1) Leave the side rails and take the rest off.....that gets rid of most of the bulk and there is no issue with covering holes etc.

~OR~

2) Remove the whole assembly and plug the holes with one of a number of broad head ss fasteners or a stud, a ss fender washer and a ss acorn nut.

 

[jacknbella]

Re: Suggestions for permanently removing Wakeboard Tower needed.

Since I haven't had time to completely remove the entire wakeboard tower assembly, I'm not really sure what lies beneath the mounting structure. Does anyone know what lies beneath??? A hole? A rubber gasket? etc???

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Suggestions for permanently removing Wakeboard Tower needed.

There has to be holes and backing plates from the inside..

 

[jacknbella]

Re: Suggestions for permanently removing Wakeboard Tower needed.

Get this, I just called the local college and spoke with an Industrial Technology professor and he said his class could "build" something for me for free in their metal shop for learning purposes!!! I just need to tell them what I want. What do I want then? Stainless steel? Polished aluminum? Titanium???

 

[bowman316]

Re: Suggestions for permanently removing Wakeboard Tower needed.

stainless steel is the only thing that will not rust.

 

[country_bumpkin]

Re: Suggestions for permanently removing Wakeboard Tower needed.

stainless steel is the only thing that will not rust.

show me a piece of rusty aluminum!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Suggestions for permanently removing Wakeboard Tower needed.

stainless steel is the only thing that will not rust.

show me a piece of rusty aluminum!

Ayuh,....

I've seen Alot more Rusty SSteel, than I have Rusted Aluminum....

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Suggestions for permanently removing Wakeboard Tower needed.

Get this, I just called the local college and spoke with an Industrial Technology professor and he said his class could "build" something for me for free in their metal shop for learning purposes!!! I just need to tell them what I want. What do I want then? Stainless steel? Polished aluminum? Titanium???

That's great, but I suspect that the reality may be a bit of a disappointment to them. It's a pretty simple problem for that much brainpower/manpower.
Although, if it is an exercise in problem definition, and then a group effort to design a practical solution as a class project, you may get something outstanding....not only will it cover the mounting holes but also double as a draft beer dispenser with a pop-up hibachi for cruising and grilling....

 

[jacknbella]

Re: Suggestions for permanently removing Wakeboard Tower needed.

I like the way you think!!! Is it summer yet???