Wakeboard Towers

When we first started off in the sport of wakeboarding we did not have wakeboard towers. The first wakeboarders started off behind ski boats. We would wakeboard behind those boats and kept trying to find more and more ways of getting more air. The original ski boats were created to keep the wakes small. So wakeboarders started to do whatever they could to convert their ski boats into wakeboard boats. We noticed the more weight we had in the boat the bigger the wake so we started filling the boats up with sand, bricks, lead and anything else we could get in the boat. Then someone created the wakeboard pylon. The pylon was the first device that took the rope up and put it higher than the original ski pylon. This kept the rider from getting pulled back down when they would jump the wake. Another great product was released called the fat sac. These bags helped get thousands of pounds of water into the boat without the need to bring huge amount of weight with us to the lake. This combined with the pylon started taking wakeboarding to the next level. Riders were doing more and bigger tricks. When wakeboarders started riding being Doug Dukane’s fishing boat with a tall tuna tower and landing tricks that others were not even thinking were possible the idea came for the wakeboard tower. There was much debate on who really created the wakeboard tower and a ton of money was spent in court trying to prove who was really the first to market with the idea but in the end Ski Nautique – Correct Craft came out with the patent. Correct craft collects royalties based off their patent that they were awarded.

So why do you need a wakeboard tower?

Wakeboard towers have a number of great features for the wakeboard boat.

Gets the rope higher allowing the rider to get more air because they are not being pulled down by the wakeboard rope
Frees up space inside the wakeboard boat. Wakeboard towers do not have straps running back and forth to the boat like the old pylons did
Wakeboard towers have the ability to hold speakers, light bars, cameras, wakeboard racks for boards
Integrated bimini tops on wakeboard towers provide shade for the hot days in the sun
Some wakeboard towers even have surf racks incorporated into them for even more storage ability
Wakeboard towers are also much more stable than the wakeboard pylon. The pylons use straps and cables to secure the pylon to the boat. A wakeboard tower is secured directy to the boat and are super rigid today.

OEM or After Market Wakeboard Towers

Most wakeboard boats today will come with a wakeboard tower. All the major wakeboard boat companies have one or two styles of wakeboard towers for their line of boats. If you are buying a new wakeboard specific boat and if did not come with a wakeboard tower I would be shocked. Some of the wakeboard towers might look like another boat companies and that could be true. A number of the wakeboard boat companies have ‘borrowed’ ideas from each other. But basically all the wakeboard towers are for the reasons listed above. They will all come with add on products that will make your wakeboard boat better and more enjoyable.

OEM wakeboard towers

Custom fit for your specific wakeboard boat
Manufacturer warranty on the wakeboard tower and the boat hull
OEM accessories made just for your tower(it is all going to go together and match up perfectly). Racks, speakers, lights, camera mounts.
Custom powder coat usually available
Collapsible normally using some type of assist to make it easy to fold down for storage
Normally prewired from the factory for additional accessories(check with your dealer)
Going to cost you more than an after market wakeboard tower

After Market universal wakeboard towers

Normally adjustable(will fit a range of boats – can cause rattle)
Much cheaper than the OEM wakeboard towers
Normally only available in Polished or Black finish
Accessories might not be a perfect fit(might have some clamp slipping on accessories)
Might not look as good as an OEM wakeboard tower
Usually ready to ship fast from the manufacturer
Might have installation issues since most universal towers are now imported

After market Custom Wakeboard towers

Better fit than the universal wakeboard tower
Color can be selected to match your wakeboard boat
More stable than the universal
Normally more expensive than a universal but cheaper than OEM
Take longer to build

What are wakeboard towers made of?

Wakeboard towers are normally made of aircraft grade aluminum such as 6061 or 6063 to make them strong but keep them light. Most wakeboard towers are made with 1.5 – 3″ round tubing. You will find some of the newer towers that will have side mounts that are not round. The Malibu Illusion was one of the first towers on the market that was ‘reversed’. At first other wakeboard tower companies did not like the look but some have converted to a similar style wakeboard tower. Supra boats and Tige boats have similar style tower on their newer models. Mastercraft has also created a tower that is less ‘tube’ like. You can even find some universal towers that are made after the Illusion look. The mounting hardware for wakeboard towers varies between the OEM, Custom, and Universal wakeboard towers.

To install or not to install?

Can you install a wakeboard tower on your own? Yes. Many Universal towers have been installed by the average joe. Some good planning and measuring will make your life easy. You do need a few guys to help hold for installation but I have heard of as little as two people installing a Universal Wakeboard Tower. We have done a number of tower installations in our shop but have always used a few people to do the install so the gel coat is not scratched on the boat and the measurements are always 100% accurate. Read your universal wakeboard tower installation guides and watch the install videos if the company provides them. If you need backing plates check to make sure that they are provided with the installation kit. If they are not provided you might want to make some just to reinfoce the fiberglass mounting point.

If you do not want to tackle the install on your own check with your local dealer. They normally have an install rate for towers or check with the retailer you purchased from and see if they have a recommended installer in your area.

Should you buy online or in a local shop?

You are going to save money online. Most local shops will charge more than the minimum advertise price. Online you will find most dealers selling at MAP on tower products. Plus if you buy out of state you probably will not have to pay any sales tax. A large number of wakeboard towers are sold online every year. Some local dealers will not even stock Universal wakeboard towers. If you and your crew are good with the tools then I would say check out the deals online and see what you can find. If you and your crew do not have the time and ability to do the install then pay the extra and have your local shop do the work. The local shop will probably have some type of installation warranty and will probably have done a number of tower installs.