How Does A Wakeboard Tower Work?

A wakeboard tower is a crucial component in wakeboarding, kneeboarding, or wakeskating. It raises the tow rope above the water surface, reducing the downward pull experienced by the rider. This elevates the tow line, allowing for a higher upward rope pull and enabling more freedom in jumping, tricks, and flips.

A wakeboard tower is a versatile kit that mounts onto a boat to make water sports easier and make the boat look amazing. It is popular not only because it is necessary for proper wakeboarding but also because they are fully customizable. With a full range of speakers, racks, lights, and biminis for shade, wakeboarders can choose from various styles to enhance their wakeboarding experience.

A good wakeboard tower promises speed, maneuverability, and safety. A high tie-off point is achieved by raising the tie-off point, allowing riders to jump higher with more freedom and avoid getting caught in turbulence. Universal wakeboard towers can be installed by the average do-it-yourselfer in 4 to 6 hours. Once installed properly, aerial wakeboard towers can complete the boat’s on-water profile and create extra space.

The height of a wakeboard tower raises the tow point and provides more air when compared to a low tow point. Harpoon Wakeboard Towers offer a collapsible design, a distinctive forward sweeping shape, an LED lighted rope saver, and are available in brushed aluminum or other materials. Most wakeboard tower models use a single larger bolt per foot, which is loaded through the center of the foot.

In motorized wakeboard towers, the removable pin is replaced with a Linear Actuator, which fits inside the boat body and points upwards towards the rider. Overall, a well-designed wakeboard tower can significantly enhance the wakeboarding experience and make the boat look amazing.

Is wakeboarding risky?

Common Wakeboarding-Related Injuries. Wakeboarders usually have the highest risk of injuries on their head/ neck, arms, legs, and back.

Head and neck injuries – These are among the most common wakeboarding-related injuries. The head and neck are at high risk once you’re on the water. There are other risks, such as sustaining a head blow and ear rupture due to a fall.

Arm Injuries – Can be in the form of arm sprains and strains, dislocations, and contusion. There is also the risk of a bone fracture on the arm.

Back – Your back is at risk when wakeboarding as you may suffer a rib injury, strains, bruises, sprains, and even fracture.

How much does it cost to put a wake tower on a boat?

How much does it cost to install a wakeboard tower?. You should expect to pay between $1,000 to $1,500 to install just a wakeboard tower. The cost will vary depending on the boat shop you hire and their hourly rate. Also,the number and type ofaccessories you want will also increase the total cost. For example, electric accessories speakers and lights are east to mount but the wires must be run through the tower’s tubing then properly connected to a power supply.

What diameter tubing are your wakeboard towers?. We use 2.25″ diameter tubing for the main wake tower frame and 2.5″ diameter tubing for the top connecting section. All our clamp-on accessories ship with clamp inserts to match the diameter depending on where you install them.

What kind of aluminum are your towers made of?. Aerial’s wakeboard towers are made from 21⁄4,” outer diameter6061-T6 aluminum. 6061-T6 is a high grade aluminum alloy that is commonly used for airplanes, race cars, premium bicycles and other applications that require high strength and less weight. “T6” indicates the highest level of temper offered in wakeboard towers. To achieve a T6 designation,the metal isheat treated by precipitation hardening and involves two steps of solution heat treating and aging. Ultimately, the process changes the molecular properties and increases strength. There are different temper levels and smaller numbers indicate lower strength- T5 is weaker than T6, for example. It’s important to you because ithas properties that will make the tower suitable for wakeboarders, knee boarders and wake surfers. Aluminum, in general, is also great because it is light weight, corrosion resistant and easy to clean. Weight is important because it’s both easier to install and will have minimal effect on the boat’s performance and stability.

Why is wakeboarding bad?

Head and neck injuries – These are among the most common wakeboarding-related injuries. The head and neck are at high risk once you’re on the water. There are other risks, such as sustaining a head blow and ear rupture due to a fall.

Arm Injuries – Can be in the form of arm sprains and strains, dislocations, and contusion. There is also the risk of a bone fracture on the arm.

Back – Your back is at risk when wakeboarding as you may suffer a rib injury, strains, bruises, sprains, and even fracture.

Studies have shown that lacerations are the most common injuries, and then concussions follow after. Wakeboarders can suffer injury regardless of their skill levels; however, the kind of injury sustained varies as the wakeboarder gains more skill and tricks in the sport.

Can I add a wakeboard tower on any boat?

Will a Wakeboard Tower fit on my boat?. The Boatworld range of wakeboard towers will fit a wide variety of boats. Our towers fit boats with a width of between 66in (1.67m) and 108in (2.74m) which means they will fit anything from a quite narrow, to a beamy boat.

They are designed to go onto a GRP deck and hull and fitting them is really straightforward. We even have a narrow and standard sized option on our Vertigo tower range to cater for boats that in the past haven’t been able to have a tower fitted due to the narrowness of their boat.

Is it easy to fit a Wakeboard Tower?. To fit your new wakeboard tower, the best method is to assemble your tower to the side of the boat. Using a tape measure, you can estimate the width of the tower, there is a telescopic beam across the centre of all the towers so you can adjust to the width required for your boat. This means they are easily adjustable. Typically it would take 2 people, 3 to 4 hours and you’ll require a basic toolset, including a drill to do this.

How much does it cost to install a Wakeboard Tower?. To fit your wakeboard tower it would cost between £100- £150 for a professional to fit. We do provide step by step instructions with our towers, so people who like the challenge, and consider themselves as ‘handy’ would be able to fit a wakeboard tower themselves, with the help of a second person to hold the tower in place whilst drilling.

What is the injury rate for wakeboarding?

Wakeboarding is a popular water sport that has the potential to produce serious injuries. To date, there has been only one article describing an injury caused by wakeboarding.Wakeboarding injuries are common.Analysis of data obtained from physician and patient questionnaires.Analysis of questionnaire data obtained from 156 orthopaedic surgeons and 86 wakeboarders.Of 156 orthopaedic surgeons completing a wakeboarding injuries questionnaire, 49% reported no wakeboarding injuries, 36% reported treating at least 1 wakeboarding injury, and 15% had never heard of wakeboarding. Fifty-seven orthopaedic surgeons reported 122 injuries, of which 47% were either anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears (31%) or shoulder dislocations (15%). In addition, 21% of all the injuries were some type of fracture. Of 86 wakeboarders completing the injuries survey, 77% reported sustaining an injury. There were 82 reported injuries in this group, of which 34% were either ACL tears (17%) or ankle sprains (17%).This survey of wakeboarding injuries demonstrates that serious injuries can occur from participation in this sport. The most common injuries reported were ACL tears, shoulder dislocations, and ankle sprains. In addition, 21% of all the injuries were some type of fracture.

To read the full-text of this research, you can request a copy directly from the author.

… Among reported injuries related to wakeboarding in the literature, there are anterior cruciate ligament tear, shoulder dislocation, ankle’s sprains (Carson Jr, 2004;Narita et al., 2004), bone fractures (Baker, Griffin, Brauneis, Rue III, & McGwin Jr, 2010), intracranial bleeding (Chia, Goh, & Chan, 2000), talar head fracture (Ibrahim, Jordan, Lotfi, & Chapman, 2015), proximal brachial biceps tendon rupture (Pascual-Garrido et al., 2012) and traumatic hand amputation (Woodacre & Marshall, 2011)….

Can you wakeboard behind a boat without a tower?

A wakeboard tower solves the problem of a low tow point by raising the tie-off point. With a higher tow line, you can jump higher with more freedom to do tricks and flips, and the rope will be well above the water so it doesn’t get caught in turbulence. A higher tow point also helps you get up on your wakeboard much easier. While it is possible to wakeboard without a tower, we highly recommend adding one to get the air you’re looking for when performing tricks.

Other Wakeboard Tower Benefits. Although the extra hang time you get with a wakeboard tower is the most popular benefit, there are plenty of other reasons why you should get a wakeboard tower. You can use your wakeboard tower as a support beam to hold onto while maneuvering around the boat. Not only can you use the tower for wakeboarding, you can also use it for other water sports, including water skiing, kneeboarding, and wakesurfing.

With a wakeboard rack attached to your tower, you can store your wakeboards, water skis, and even wakesurf boards so they are out of the way. Having a rack installed on your tower frees up valuable space on your boat’s deck, allowing you to move around freely and ensure your boards are protected.

Are wakeboard towers worth it?

You may be wondering if you even need a wakeboard tower. No, you don’t need a wakeboard tower to wakeboard—but it’s much more fun with one! It’s very simple. Towers allow you to achieve more hang time when you are doing tricks while you are wakeboarding. You can jump higher on your wakeboard and enjoy more time in the air for awesome tricks when you have a wakeboard tower. Sounds pretty cool, but how does a wakeboard tower achieve this?

Wakeboard Towers Have a Higher Tie-Off Point. Without a wakeboard tower, your rope is most likely tied to the back of the boat at a point that is fairly close to the water. This kind of low tie-off point has the effect of constantly pulling you downward—when you jump, the rope is at a downward angle and pulls you back down almost immediately. The rope can also get caught in the turbulence behind the boat, making it harder to get up on the wakeboard and do tricks.

A wakeboard tower solves the problem of a low tow point by raising the tie-off point. With a higher tow line, you can jump higher with more freedom to do tricks and flips, and the rope will be well above the water so it doesn’t get caught in turbulence. A higher tow point also helps you get up on your wakeboard much easier. While it is possible to wakeboard without a tower, we highly recommend adding one to get the air you’re looking for when performing tricks.

Do wakeboard towers fold down?

Does the tower collapse forward or backward? The Razor, Switchblade and Saber tower fold back. The Blade, Harpoon and Reverse Arch folds forward. The Edge tower will fold forward and back both.

Samson Sports specializes in building custom made collapsible wakeboard towers. With over two decades of innovation and new technology, Samson has become the benchmark for those who can’t compromise on performance. Every tower we make is built by our expert craftsmen in our shop in the USA. We started in 1999 with a goal of building the best towers that would compliment any boat and treat our customers as we would want to be treated.

Blade Wakeboard Towers feature a distinctive forward sweeping design, precision CNC billet side panels, an LED lighted rope saver, and the convenience of gas assist shocks for effortless and weightless collapsibility, all meticulously crafted with durable 2.5″ aircraft-grade aluminum tubing.

Edge Wakeboard Towers offer a range of options, from collapsibility for easy storage, to your choice of brushed aluminum or powder-coated finishes, custom-designed mounting hardware, and the option for a standard design or a sleek Crowned Top design, all available in both 2″ and 2.5″ tubing sizes.

Is wakeboarding harder than wakesurfing?

Wakesurfing is a fun and exciting sport that requires balance, strength, and skill. Unlike wakeboarding, which can be more physically demanding and challenging, wakesurfing is generally considered to be easier to learn and suitable for riders of all ages and skill levels. It’s also a great way to enjoy the water and get some exercise while enjoying the thrill of riding the boat’s wake.

Wakeboarding is a water sport that involves riding a board while being towed behind a boat. The rider stands on a wakeboard, which is similar to a snowboard but with bindings that attach the rider’s feet to the board. The board is designed to be buoyant and provide stability on the water’s surface.

As the boat accelerates, the rider is pulled along by a tow rope attached to the boat and uses their body weight to control the direction and speed of the board. The rider carves back and forth across the boat’s wake, performing tricks and jumps as they gain experience and confidence.

Is it okay to pull a tube from a wakeboard tower?

While it may be tempting to use your wakeboard tower to pull a tube, it’s important to prioritize safety and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines. Pulling a tube with a wakeboard tower can compromise stability, safety, structural integrity, maneuverability, and even warranty coverage. Instead, invest in a proper tow bar or harness specifically designed for towing tubes. This will ensure a safer and more enjoyable experience for everyone on board.

Is wakeboarding easier with a tower?

Do I need a wakeboard tower for wakeboarding?. No, you do not need a wakeboard tower in order to wakeboard from a boat. However, a wakeboard tower does make it much easier to wakeboard, kneeboard or wakeskate.A wake tower gives much higher tow point that helps keep the tow line elevated. The elevated tow line helps the rider pop up off the wakes for doing aerial tricks. As a beginner, you could use your ski tow eye hook but it’s limiting and frustrating compared to a wakeboard tower.

An addedadvantage of a wakeboard tower is that it give your boat a lot of customization options. You can mount additional speakers, lights and a larger bimini to increase shade. Ultimately, a wakeboard tower is a serious upgrade to any boat that has many benefits: it makes it easier to wakeboard, adds fun and functionality, modernizes a boat’s look, and greatly increases the resale value.

Whichwakeboard tower fits my boat?. Depending on the wakeboard tower model you choose, it will fit any inboard boat with beam with of 67″ to 102″. Beam width is distance from one side of your boat’s hull to the other, located approximately where your tower will be placed. It is a good idea to take a look at your boat to see where some good options for placing mounting feet are. From there, you can measure distances across and in between front and rear mounting locations. Remember, all Aerial wakeboard towers feature mounting feet that are hinged- this gives you the option to mount to the top of your hull, side or at an angle. There are lots of options.

What is the point of a wake tower?

So wakeboard towers started showing up on boats. And they really were so that you could tow a rider more efficiently on a wakeboard. And that is because the higher toe point that a wakeboard tower.