Extended Pylon

What are your opinions on extended pylons?

I was thinking about getting one, since I don't really want a tower. Are there any downsides? I would think it could put more torque on the joint where the pylon meets the hull.

Any recommendations on what type to get?

Thanks

I think the extended pylon is an excellent idea! The extra stress is tamed by a cable to the bow, and since you own a Correct Craft, you have the perfect anchor for the cable, the bow lifting eye! You can ski with passengers in the back seat, without fear of being decapitated. I plan on mounting a clamp-on top on mine, the only drawback I can see is, you have to cut a hole in your bimini top. As for the guy that had trouble with his pylon, I could pull a house down the lake with mine!

Have to agree with marks on using the lifting eye as an anchor point. Take a good look at how these eyes are installed, they are meant for vertical loading only. There is very little reinforcing in the deck to resist any lateral loading.

Secondly, the load path on the original pylon is now changed. The plyon anchoring is designed to resist the eccentric forces applied when pulling a skier. When the height of the pylon is increased you are now asking the pylon supports to take a vertical load that they were not designed for.

Third, there was an accident locally where the bow cable failed, I do not know if the cable failed or it was installed wrong. Regardless, the result was that the person in the observers seat was injured by the added pole section when it snapped off the original pylon and kicked back. No one in the back seat at the time or I am sure they would have been injured as well.

Then again, I am sure that the manufacturer's of these extended pylons cover all these things in their warranties so the resulting claims for medical bills and hull repairs would be covered items. On the other hand they probably tell you they are not covered, wonder why?

My boat's a '79 Ski Nautique. I don't want to screw a tower into it, that's why I was investigating the extended pylon. They're a little less intrusive and leave the boat looking mostly original

66polyhead,

Didn't mean to ruffle your feathers, but, the later boats are not built like yours. For starters, there is no bulkhead in the bow. I have not gotten behind the fuel tank, so I know nothing about the stern eye. I agree with you that these eyes are anchored well, however, there is no lateral reinforcement at the deck for the bow eye (at least not in the '78).

Vertical loads are no problem, yet an eccentric load will will force the shaft of the bolt sternward through the glass deck. Even when you take the vectored load into account, you are dealing with about a 2000# side load on the eye. When using these eyes for tying up at a dock, 150# would be a high loading. Anything more and the side of your boat be ground fiberglass from the beating it took.

But, hey, I'm just a dumb structural engineer that tends to worry more about safety than I should. When in doubt, it is prudent to check with the original manufacturer. You can bet that if I were considering adding a pylon (or tower) to the '78, I would be talking to the designers at Correct Craft and not relying on the sales pitch of some aftermarket supplier.

Have an 86 2001 with a Fly high atached to the lifting ring. 5 years and no problems yet.

I've got a "skylon" installed in my 88' and love it. The attaching point is a nylon (rope reinforced)band that slips through the winch point eye on the front of the bow.so the stress is spread out over the front of the boat instead of the lifting ring. I personally think that towers due nothing asthectially pleasing to the eye but that is my pref. Plus are easily removable or lowering when you go under that low lying bridge. Easier to store in the garage as they take up no room inside the garage either. Just store it on the wall. My pylon has another ring at midpoint just in case you wanna strap on that slalom ski for a fast ride. Don't ski with anyone that skinny that you won't be able to see in the mirror. Less holes in the boat the better off you are. Besides should you sell it at a later date someone might not want a tower on a 79'

BUCKEYE if you take a small pounch you can drive the roll pens out that hold the ring on and it will slipp right out thats what i did but i like the flitepipe thing ive thought about fabbing one up and putting my ring back on

RYAN.good to hear from ya !
big poles & towers are ok i guess.
but i'd have to add a second story to my lift dock.
hell,the 3rd floor could be a sundeck.ya know for sportin bikinies & thongs & such.i'll check with the local planning & zoneing comission on the lake.

Kenny, I'm in agreement with you. You don't want to ruin a classic like yours with a tower. I think they look great on the nautiques '82 and up. But to put one on an older original boat, it just isn't right. That is unless you follow Rob's course and customize the boat so that it becomes more of a classic hot rod.

As for the sun deck...that might be good in either case.

Hi I'll add my .02 I installed a 10 foot pole on my 1975 nautique had to remove the eye on the pylon to start (big pain) then within a week the whole pylon was moving in it's place, my solution was to fabricate a wafer thin sleeve to pound in for the pin and socket in the very bottom of the boat next made 2 plates 4"by 6 or 8" to sandwich at the floor, stock was only 4 by 4 works great and I'm very glad I did it I also go throgh the bow eye for the stap not the front ring   good luck!!!