Ski Tower (Struggle)

The point is you don't need a tower to ride a wakeboard.

emccallum wrote: Very interesting thread. From what I see, most of the 50K plus wakeboarding boats I see are just cruising around blasting music, with wakeboards still on the racks! Most of them cant ski, so they tube or wakeboard! Around here, wakeboarding is more image,than talent. I usually tell the kids to try something that takes effort....skiing. Or as my T-shirt says "If it was easy, they would call it wakeboarding"

I would argue that wake surfing is even more about image than talent.

I think it is very hard to get really good at wake board, skiing,or surfing. They are different, but all very difficult to get really good. But people don't want hard challenges, they want easy.

For many people its tough just to get up on a water ski. Wake boarding is easier and most people will get up on the first day. Surfing is even easier and most people can throw the handle (with the right wake) on the first day. Not surprising surfing is taking off in popularity, just wake boarding did when it came along (poor water conditions have something to do with it as well, but again, that all comes back to what is easy. It's not easy to get up at 5 am for good water). Of course tubing is even easier, and sitting in the boat with a beer and loud music perhaps the easiest.

I don't have a problem with 70 or 100K boats. It's their money, do what they want. I do have a problem when the same people can't afford a house, have to sell the boat the first month they are out of work, etc. Again, not my problem, but it disturbs me.

What does bother me is the lack of common sense, courtesy, and safety which seems prevalent regardless of the price of the boat.

BKH

I also disagree with worst ski boat in history. I wouldn't trade an 88 2001 for and 88MC ever. Sure, the wake is a little smaller but the 3 event wake is much better along with tracking, ride, and comfort are far superior. 2001's were revolutionary in their day.

mdvalant wrote: Yea Chris, my buddy has an incredibly hard, hard on, no hole, can't fit in (I'm not a huge guy) all jammed up on you, forever lol They still are, they always will be.

How long did it take you to copy/paste that Mollywood?

OP here. Wow, what a thread. Thanks to all that took time to respond. Some great advise on some post and others just plain junk. I asked for opinions and that is what I got. Thanks again to all that took the time.

I realize that the 89 SN may not be a classic in some opinions but as far as the look of the older boats I will consider it a classic and I guess thats what counts. It is still almost in showroom condition as far as the interior goes. With the wet sanding and new decals it will once again look brand new. The original question wasnt if he needed it or not to wakeboard but if it looked right and what peoples opinion was. He can do just fine with the short pylon but I was going to use the tower in place of my extended pylon in order to free up floor space by attaching wakeboards to it and possibly one day adding a radio to the boat and using it to attach speakers.

I learned to ski behind a chapparel and was pleasantly surprised by the 89 SN wake when we got it as by this time I was slaloming pretty regular and actually to the point of competiting some. I also liked it for the kneeboard wake as it was large enough at those speeds to do flips off of. And at faster speeds I could cross the wake barefooting. Anyway, to make a long story short I was extremely happy with the performance of the boat and I am still happy to this day, even with all of the new bigger Nautiques out there.

My original question was as to the looks of booms on the older SN and my struggle with adding one to it. I love the looks of the towers on the newer boats but just wasnt sure I liked them on the older boats. I am going to just stick with the extended pylon and stay away from the tower. I know that the boat is meant to be used and that is exactly what we are doing. We will continue to do it also, however we will do it with a pylon and no tower.

Gonna keep it original. Thanks to all that took time to reply.

when you get tired of dealing with the skylon and tripping over boards on your floor go with a custom tower like mine or one from these guys
new dimensions tower

i just checked the photo in your diary...i change my opinion...keep the '89 the way it is and get a beat up '82 and put a tower on it for the kids...

MI-nick nice tower! I bought a '78 5 years ago {2:00 am on ebay} I have a friend that has a 79 SN that has been wiped down everyday, and looks like it did 30 years ago, i would slap him if he started cutting holes for a tower... Mine on the other hand, had no pylon when I bought it, had more rot than fiberglass, now has a cut down pylon out of a tige'. and a custom tower on the way, when you buy a boat for $1225 bucks, it doesn't mean a lot, I have had the privilage of using 2008 206's on the ski team. a late 70's early 80's nautique is hands down better for wakeboard and barefoot, and + tower, a great combo.

Soooooooo, Here's an update. I did put the Big Air "H2O" tower on my 89 SN. I am very happy with it. The company was GREAT to work with. I did not like a machine burr on the inside of one of the connections, and they sent a new one out no questions asked. I also changed my mind about 2 of their tower racks, and they exchanged them with no problem. I am ordering their 3 color bimini top as we speak. It folds with the tower for storage. The tower itself looks good, does not make any noise, and flips down in minutes. Fixing the storage issue is almost the best part! I ended up with 2 racks that hold knee boards, wake surf and wake boards. I even was able to stick skis on top of a wake board when the wake board was placed in the knee board slot. I put on some speakers from "Boss" that were bigger than I thought they were, and I got screwed by BUY.com and thedeepdiscount.com on an amp and PA system to boost the sound. I will be fixing that for next season as well. The "air" was really good and my 360's improved immediately. I am now in the search for ballast for next season as we plan on adding wake surfing to our talents. Installation was not too tough and outside of errors I made, was not too frustrating. If you are in the market for a good tower that is about 1/3 the price of the stock towers, this is a good buy.
Tom

first, I have too agree with Hollywood, You can do flips & other tricks on a wakeboard with out a tower. Go to the wakeboardreport.com There is a video of Scott Byerly behind a outboard malibu, No ballast and std ski pole.

Second in the diaries section is a picture of my 87 2001 witha Joystick Pro tower. Realitively inexpensive (via ebay) relatively easy install and it was solid, folded fairly easily.

2001. com has a section with pictures of a lot of 2001's with just about everyones tower so you can see which you like the looks of.

For me, The Sky High is a slight pita but like the boom (also a slight pita) it's there when I need it. I am under a canopy on a boatlift and like the convienience of not having to cover my boat.


Pete, Unless your loking for some serious air tubing, you should be fine without the tower, but for you I suggest the tower and flyhigh combo.

Adding a trolling motor on the front of my 92' Ski Nautique.

Looking for expert advice on mounting....Off the front or just in front of the passenger side windshield?

harddock wrote: Pete, Unless your loking for some serious air tubing, you should be fine without the tower, but for you I suggest the tower and flyhigh combo.

Kevin,
I've been really feeling my age lately and the tube pro circuit is really getting tough. Pretty soon I'll be in the seniors class. In the meantime, I'm really thinking I need a "crutch" to aid my tubing so I'm contemplating going with a set up like this on my Atom. Won't cost much as it's just some 2x2 carbon steel tube and I've got the MIG welder out in the shop. What do you think?

OK heres the pic

seacamper wrote: OK heres the pic

Now THAT is a damn funny picture. Amazingly, they haven't figured out that you can use the tower to pull the skier as well. That dude's about to get a serious rope burn on his hands.