Structural Integrity for tower?

[Chris2]

I am in the market for a used (2000 and newer) bowrider or deck boat for family fun, skiing, and wakeboarding, I started skiing when I was just over 6 years old and would like my kids to experience this as well. I haven?t been in years but would like to start wakeboarding, so I want a boat with a tower (to see how bad I can hurt my 30 year old body). My question is there some model boats that you just can't safely put a tower on without risk of damaging the hull?
I have been told (by a Glastron dealer) that you can't put a wakeboard tower on some boat models due to the strength of the hull, is this true and what models can/can't have towers installed?
Thanks for the help.

 

[Tabes117]

Re: Structural Integrity for tower?

I know some boats do have thinner fiberglass hulls then others. I cant give you specifics. I added a wakeboard tower to my 05 ebbtide. I should say I had my dealer add the tower, peace of mind. Two summers of use and no problems. You have to add backing plates to the tower mounting feet. This spreads out the stress to the hull. Be prepared for some aches! I am 41 and boys still yell to me to jump the wake. Neck and back pain, I smell like Ben Gay on Mondays.

 

[derekpfeiffer]

Re: Structural Integrity for tower?

One big thing to check into is the effect it will have on the hull warranty. Many boats now have lifetime hull warrantys. I know that Larsons glass their hulls differently when they are sold with towers. I had asked them if I could put one on my boat and they said if there was a problem with the hull that it might get touchy on who pays for it if it's got an aftermarket tower on it.

Just something you might wanna check into...let us know what you end up buying

 

[kyle f]

Re: Structural Integrity for tower?

Some boats have re-inforcement pads in the areas that a tower will attach. Others do not and you have to install some pretty thick wood behind them for the bots to distribute the stress properly. If not, you will start to see crasking the the glecoat, and them possibly in the glass itself.

 

[salty87]

Re: Structural Integrity for tower?

i'd say the dealer was pretty much talking out his butt. you can put a tower on just about anything. i added one to my '87. i used wood backing plates, no stress cracks. yet, you can find boats that are only a few years old with stress cracks around tower mounts, gas caps, railing bases. stress cracks are kinda like blisters...sometimes they are worse than others. over-tightening screws is a great way to cause them though.

there's no way to list which boats can't take a tower. i wouldn't try it on some old boats (pre 1980) but most modern boats can take it...with a little reinforcement. backing plates aren't the enemy, they're used for lots of things.

 

[FLWakeRider]

Re: Structural Integrity for tower?

Agreed with Salty.
Most boats from what I have seen may not be able to have them without any backing, but all you have to do get some wood. If you want to go the extra mile, some long flat steel brackets in between the wood and the underside of the hull.