Can tubes be pulled from a Wake tower

[stjeanb]

I just recently bought a 2004 Seadoo sportster boat 155hp with a seadoo factory wake tower. I was looking into pulling tubes from the wake tower. From my research on the internet most are saying that doing this is not recommended. Can anyone who owns this type of boat tell me if they have pulled tubes from the tower. I just don't want to damage the tower or boat if the tube will put too much pressure on it. Also does anyone know the best way to tighten a wake tower. Mine is not very loose but does rattle a bit.

Thanks

Brad

 

[davo]

Tubes due to the surface area in contact with the water will put much more pressure on a tower than pulling a wakeboarder, & a bit more than getting a slalem skier up on plane! It would prob be ok with a very light person on a med size tube on broken water. However I personally would not condone it & certainly wouldn't do it on my boat. If the tower was a custom fixed one(ie not collapsable) it would be a better option.

cheers

 

[seadooguynj]

If a skier/boarder gets caught on something they let go and the tension is gone. If the tube dumps the rider and gets caught on something the tube or your tower or both are going to break somewhere. The ropes that are used are designed for much more force than the tower can take if it gets hung up on something big, you will end up damaging something and even possibly hurting someone, or worse. I would not suggest it and I do not do it on mine (which is after market) nor would I do it on an OEM version either. Pull the tube from the thru-hull hook that does into the body (fiberglass) of the boat to avoid any potential problems. Good luck and be safe!

 

[Owen Birch]

What about skiing? Would you pull a skier from the tower? I have the 215hp Speedster, so power's not the problem. Is the wakeboard tower really just safe for wakeboarding?

 

[davo]

normal skiing with two skis would be fine. Single or slalem skiers put much more pressure on the boat & is not recommended. Besides skiing is much more comfortable once up on plane from a lower tow point.

 

[seadooguynj]

What about skiing? Would you pull a skier from the tower? I have the 215hp Speedster, so power's not the problem. Is the wakeboard tower really just safe for wakeboarding?

I agree skiing is safe, one ski would probably be fine once the skier is on plane. Kneeboard is good as well, I've never had a problem with that either.

 

[timeman]

I've been pulling skiers and single tubers with my factory wake tower for 6 years and it's just like new, no cracks, bends, loose bolts....

 

[stjeanb]

Thanks for the reply's. It's good to know what others are doing with their boats.

 

[dothadoo]

I believe it is recommended by Sea Doo not to pull tubers and slalom skiers from the tower, which echos what everyone has said. They mainly do this because they do not want any kind of lawsuit against them if something were to happen. Although there is more stress on the tower and connection points on the deck from the tower, the chances of something actually breaking or cracking are relatively low, but as for me and my tower, I will just use it for wakeboarding. In truth though, think about the purpose of the tower, which is to be able to jump a little higher by getting the tow point higher in the air. Ski boats can get the same result with a ski pole, if for some reason they do not want to invest in a tower, (about $300 vs $1000 or more for a tower).

 

[James.Moon]

I don't use the tower for tubing as BRP does not recommend it. I am curious though - what would be the reason to use the tower? Will the tube plane better?