Wake tower reinforcing best practice

[wiegs]

I know that this has been covered but I want to make sure what I am going to do will work.

Since the weather in Wisconsin has been sucking, I plan to mount the tower and reinforce when the weather warms.

I will remove the tower and use 1/4" or 3/8" plywood (not marine grade or treated) with 2 part epoxy. I will redrill the holes after the epoxy dries. I don't plan to fiberglass over the plywood. I may seal with some good outdoor paint. Does this sound reasonable?

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: Wake tower reinforcing best practice

If you are going to go through the trouble do it right.

Use 1/2" or 3/4" plywood. Doesn't have to be marine grade, but soak it with slow curing epoxy to get it deep into the wood. Drill your holes so it all lines up right. Mix up a batch of peanut butter epoxy and coat the inside of the hull and the board to fill any gaps. (Don't forget any prep you need to do to the inside of the boat and the piece of wood).

Put the board, coated with PB epoxy on the inside of the hole and put the bolts through with the tower mounted. Tighten the bolts down to squeeze out some of the pb epoxy. The goal is to completely fill the gaps between the board and the inside of the hull creating a solid surface for the mounting to take place. Let it cure then tighten the bolts up to the proper specs.

 

[wiegs]

Re: Wake tower reinforcing best practice

Do you have to epoxy with the bolts in? It would be nice to be able to remove the bolts if needed. They would be glued in. What brand epoxy do you recommend?