Pulling a Wakeboard

[cbruns16]

My family recently purchased a 2004 220 Sundeck. Currently we use the default tow point at the stern of the boat by the swimming platform. I've started to wakeboard more and more and am looking into changing the tow point to get more air and hangtime on jumps.

Does anyone has experience installing Wakeboard Towers or Pylons in Sea Rays? I'm anxious about self-installation of either of these because many of them require drilling into the boat.
How much does it usually cost for a shop to install them?

Also, when towers are factory installed are they still only screwed into the frame of the boat or do they attach to a stronger infrastructure? I worry about installing a pylon or tower that will just rip out of the boat with too much force.

Any advice would be very helpful. I'm looking into maybe a pylon for now to see if its worth the extra height before spending the money on a tower or is a tower worth the expense?

Thanks

 

[First Born]

You may want to get to know billandamy as he just went through the process of adding a tower, this may be helpfull. Good luck as you decide which road you want to go down.

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8866

Wesley

 

[cbruns16]

Thanks thats very helpful. The part of the bamini not fitting worries me but still helpful.

Do you know anything about pylons?

 

[sdl22]

I was being pulled by a low tow point just above the swim platform for two seasons. This year we bought the 230 select w/ the tower. There is no comparison between a tower and a transom pull. Invest in a tower. Plus it is 90% easier to get up as well. My advice would be to get your dealer to install. A wake boarder puts alot of stress into the anchor points of the tower. If you install and run into glass cracks.. it could be trouble.... My two cents.....

 

[billandamy]

My family recently purchased a 2004 220 Sundeck. Currently we use the default tow point at the stern of the boat by the swimming platform. I've started to wakeboard more and more and am looking into changing the tow point to get more air and hangtime on jumps.

Does anyone has experience installing Wakeboard Towers or Pylons in Sea Rays? I'm anxious about self-installation of either of these because many of them require drilling into the boat.
How much does it usually cost for a shop to install them?

Also, when towers are factory installed are they still only screwed into the frame of the boat or do they attach to a stronger infrastructure? I worry about installing a pylon or tower that will just rip out of the boat with too much force.

Any advice would be very helpful. I'm looking into maybe a pylon for now to see if its worth the extra height before spending the money on a tower or is a tower worth the expense?

Thanks

As Wes (First born) had pointed out, I went through this 2 months ago.

First, let me say I did a LOT of research on towers and pylons. Specific to Sea Ray and other boats, as well as a bunch of different manufacturers. Especially on actual wakeboarding bb's.

For the money, I felt Monster Tower gave the best product (though I would have paid even more...the price was a great bonus!) and a reputation that is unreal. Not one person anywhere had anything but great feedback on this tower and the people at MT.

For my boat, the mt2 unit was best due to the natural spread of 85" front to back, as that is exactly where the already beefed up parts of SR sport boats are in the hull. SUPER thick glass with reinforcement...I think Im pretty accurate to say it is abotu an inch thick. DO NOT worry about breaking the fiberglass/gelcoat. Holes are drilled in a boat all of the time, and doing it correctly (reverse drilling slowly through) means it will be just fine. As well, one good thing about a tower...all holes are ABOVE the water

Is it worth getting a tower? Absolutely! I have 2 friends with pylons, 2 with towers. The pylons get in the way in the boat. It takes a little while to set up, and has a little too much flex imo. I also fear the point it rests on the floor. It still does not give you board storage, so the boars are still in the boat.

The towers give you MORE room in the boat, since you can put the boards on the racks, seems more stable, and trust me, the hull can handle the mountings! ESPECIALLY a SeaRay.

As a matter of fact, yesterday Slacker (Matt) and my buddy Al went off my tower together at the same time...Matt on a wakeboard (nice air Matt!) and Al on a kneeboard. I trust it that much.

If you need any further advice, feel free to ask away. And look over my install thread. I have more pics of the actual install if you need as well that I have not posted.