Wakeboard Tower Rattles

[fx4tonka]

Just picked up my 2004 Sportster 4-tec a week ago. It came with the wakeboard tower already on it. I took it out on the water for the first time this past weekend and couldn't believe how much the tower rattles. It was non-stop metal clinging off metal. The water was pretty choppy but I assumed the tower would be quiet. Any ideas on how to fix this? Anybody else experience this problem with theirs?

Thanks in advance for any help!!!

 

[JESSECONSOPOLUS]

the hull design is junk for choppy water, have you checked all your bolts and nuts that hold the tower in place? what brand of tower is it? towers usually rattle a bit but i just crank my radio up a bit more lol--- i will ask our techs.:cheers:

talked to our techs, the boat is a good all around boat so the choppy water shouldnt be an issue, he stated those boats can take a beating. He also said to check the mounting plates inside the boat where the tower connects. they may be backed off a bit or missing alltogether. srry man wish i could help more. maybe some rubber between the mounting plates and the hull?????

 

[shamski]

If it is the factory tower ... expect the rattles. I have the 2003 year sportster 4tec with the factory tower (assume that is what you have), and am living through it.

jesseconsopolus, is on the mark though ... check the mount points and make sure they are solid.

I think where a lot of the movement ,that allows the noise, comes from is the mount point. If you take a look at the tower connector to the mount point, the connector allows the tower arm to move in the connector (there is a groove that it slides in) -- not much but probably 1/2 to 3/4 inch of movement. On each side of the tower, and all the mount points, that can add up and allow significant movement, sway, and noise from the tower.

The other issue I have been having with this tower (and 2004 Sportster is the same design), is two of the welds giving way (have a thread on hear about it) on a recurring basis - which I think is also due to this movement as we haven't really been using the tower for skiing or wake boarding.

Other than that it is a great boat, and tonnes of fun on the water.
As Jesse said ... turn the tunes up a bit louder and enjoy (but watch the welds).

shamski

 

[murray5p]

Went to my dealer today to check out the 2010 230 challenger sp and they changed the wake bar, the very same one that rattles and sways on my 2009 challenger, very poor mounting and design. the new ones have a bit of and alum. angle iron over the corner and a hole new tube design, looks like a larger tube as well.If I have any more rattles and shacking going on Im requesting the upgraded wake bar and mounts, the dealer agreed because he said there has been trouble with them from the get go.:rant:

 

[fx4tonka]

If it is the factory tower ... expect the rattles. I have the 2003 year sportster 4tec with the factory tower (assume that is what you have), and am living through it.

jesseconsopolus, is on the mark though ... check the mount points and make sure they are solid.

I think where a lot of the movement ,that allows the noise, comes from is the mount point. If you take a look at the tower connector to the mount point, the connector allows the tower arm to move in the connector (there is a groove that it slides in) -- not much but probably 1/2 to 3/4 inch of movement. On each side of the tower, and all the mount points, that can add up and allow significant movement, sway, and noise from the tower.

The other issue I have been having with this tower (and 2004 Sportster is the same design), is two of the welds giving way (have a thread on hear about it) on a recurring basis - which I think is also due to this movement as we haven't really been using the tower for skiing or wake boarding.

Other than that it is a great boat, and tonnes of fun on the water.
As Jesse said ... turn the tunes up a bit louder and enjoy (but watch the welds).

shamski

Yes I have the factory tower aswell. I ended up taking the tower off the other day. Actually kinda like the look of it without it now. Im gonna leave it off while I look for a solution.

Absolutely love the boat otherwise.

 

[shamski]

What you could try is more weight on the tower to minimize that movement :rofl: like say a set of speakers and lights would add some weight and might help minmize the noise and movement. Then again ... it probably wont really help, but that type of argument allows you to get more cool stuff for your boat if you have a project manager (read: wife) at home that needs to be sold on these things. Notice the tubbies on top of my tower.

Let me know if you come up with any solutions and enjoy the Sportster ... it is a great boat.

shamski.