Rack and storage help

[Vxmime]

Ok, so this our first boat and I already have so much planned for the summer. However, when I start counting up all the toys I want to keep with me, I wonder where in the heck I'm going keep everything!

How would you rack and arrange the following? I am not a huge neat freak, but I don't want stuff all over the cabin.

Boat: 2006 24v (no ballast, so lots of room), standard monster tower racks, standard bimini

3 x wakeboards (1-child, 2 adult)
1 x surfboard (for now), maybe 2 depending on how we advance.
1 x kneeboard (maybe 2, I remember dual kneeboarding when I was a kid, it was a blast)
1 x tube

Thanks in advance!

James

[Wakeman22]

Ok, so this our first boat and I already have so much planned for the summer. However, when I start counting up all the toys I want to keep with me, I wonder where in the heck I'm going keep everything!

How would you rack and arrange the following? I am not a huge neat freak, but I don't want stuff all over the cabin.

Boat: 2006 24v (no ballast, so lots of room), standard monster tower racks, standard bimini

3 x wakeboards (1-child, 2 adult)
1 x surfboard (for now), maybe 2 depending on how we advance.
1 x kneeboard (maybe 2, I remember dual kneeboarding when I was a kid, it was a blast)
1 x tube

You will find there never is enough room. The 24v really needs ballast weight to perform well for surfing so you will soon fill up at least one side locker with a bag. However in that same locker a few life jackets will still fit.

The wakeboards fit into the racks. Surfboard, well you may need to get another rack for them. I have two sets. Some use pockets made into the bimini and some lay it up front.

May kneeboard fits in my locker. You may get both in one.

The tube, if I take one out a tie it to the ski pylon and leave it on the sun deck. You can also deflate it and stow it away and inflate it when needed.

Extra life jackets most put in the helm starage locker. The observer locker gets the most used items. Towelles, food, needed life jackets and used to store cameras, purses, beach bags and other stuff.

Thanks in advance!

James

[What she said]

I store my small surf board and wake skate in the left rear locker so i can still hang 4 boards on the board racks. My board rack can hold one large surf board and one wake board. I dont have the board problem i used to cause after 2 knee surgerys i no longer wake board. If you need more board racks on the tower just add a new one. I have also seen some really cool ones that will hold 3 boards on one rack (top=wakeboards, center=surf board, bottom=wakeboard. I have always wanter to upgrade to those!

[NICKYPOO]

Well, with no ballast, you won't need that surfboard.

[lancehon]

i keep a wakeskate,slalom ski,and a wakeboard in my starboard locker, 2 surfboards in my portside midship storage, a skyski 38le on the portside rack and 2 more wakeboards on the starboard rack and lifejackets and wet/dry suits in the starboard midship storage. and all my ropes and gloves in the transom activity center. and ballast in the rear port locker and still have plenty of room

[Vxmime]

Ouch. I was thinking that may be the case. We've never surfed before, so even beginners like us would need some sort of ballast? I was thinking about waiting until we get used to the boat and have all the "toys", then throw some sacs back there.

Thanks for all the responses.

[NICKYPOO]

If your just starting out, you're going to find it pretty difficult to let go of the rope if you have no ballast. The 24v is a big boat with lots of surface area. All that surface area equates to needing a lot of ballast to get the boat to "sink" at all. In order to get a big wave, you need to get the boat down in the water. The bigger the wave, the easier it is to surf. With no ballast in a big boat, you're not gonna have much wave.

Just trying to be real with you here. Being new to the whole thing, you're probably just going to get a basic board. Basic boards (anything made by a wakeboard company) are relatively slow. Just another factor that is going to frustrate you. Wakesurfing is about the best thing to happen to watersports in the last 10 years but, its not as simple as buy a big boat and a board and go. It takes a little doing. Once done though, its real easy to become hooked. It's just about all I do anymore and I've been behind a boat for 30+ years.

[IDBoating]

Once done though, its real easy to become hooked. It's just about all I do anymore and I've been behind a boat for 30+ years.

Agreed! We justified the purchase of our 24Ve because our son's wakeboarding was progressing past the wake our previous boat could generate. Within one season, though, we've gone to probably 95% wakesurfing.

Trust us, you'll want and need ballast. It will take up a lot of the storage space you currently enjoy. This means getting creative with carrying all your stuff. And it's all worth it.

[bigskymudflaps]

I have a similar tower on my rz2. I currently have the factory forks on one side for wakeboards and possibly water skis (never tried to see if they fit). On the other side, I purchased new forks that are much wider and accommodate 2 wake surf boards in their protective bags. I too need space for a knee board and other surfboards. I am currently fabricating a rack using 4 speaker clamps. The speaker clamps will be clamped to the top of the tower. I will mount two metal poles to the speaker clamps. Each metal pole will extend behind the tower about 30 inches and have a padded section that I can place boards, skis, kneeboards on. I will use bungee cords to secure the boards to the pads. I'll post some photos after I get it going. Very simple design and will probably cost about 160.00 in the end. I could also strap boards to the bottom of the poles if need be.

Another option is stuff from Samson. Samson can fabricate just about anything that can can mount to round tubing. If you need the forks spaced wider, they can do it. Very nice stuff.

[Joeprunc]

Can you put a third or fourth set of wakeboard/surf racks on the tower?

Oh....and leaving the tube in the truck will save a lot of room .

[bigskymudflaps]

You can put another set of racks on the tower by using something like this made by samson. http://www.samsonsports.com/wakeboar...ardracks.html#. If you want something custom, the guy I met from samson at a boat show said that they can make just about anything.

Another option is the stuff from bullet lines. Both seem to be good quality. My surfboard forks were made for bullet lines a few years ago. They bolted right into the factory racks. On my 2007 z tower on my boat, the large tubing was 2 7/8" and the smaller tubing on the top of the tower is 2 3/8".

There are a few things I really like about the older towers.
1) They are really tall. You can have a bimini, speakers, and racks without ever hitting your head or feeling cramped.
2) The round tubing is really versatile. I have a tower mounted barefoot boom on mine just the one pictured. You can also clamp other racks on the tower like the bullet lines or samson options.

[NICKYPOO]

Oh....and leaving the tube in the truck will save a lot of room .

Amen! IMO its a sin to tow a tube with such a fine wake machine. Tubes are for I/Os.

[Vxmime]

Thanks for all the information. I will probably just add another rack.

Regarding the tubes, I see a lot of those comments on this board. While I plan to wakeboard and surf most of the time, what's wrong with a little tubing once in awhile? Am I missing some unwritten boat law? It's all about having fun!

Later

James

[Ewok]

Thanks for all the information. I will probably just add another rack.

Regarding the tubes, I see a lot of those comments on this board. While I plan to wakeboard and surf most of the time, what's wrong with a little tubing once in awhile? Am I missing some unwritten boat law? It's all about having fun!

Later

James

No, the guys are just giving you a hard time. As long as you tube away from the nice smooth glassy water that people are using for wakeboarding and skiing, you are ok with me. Some purists think it's silly to buy a wake or ski boat and just pull a tube, which you can do with any I/O, but you are doing it all.

Bottom line, as long as your having fun with your family on the water, do what makes them happy.

[Vxmime]

Hah! I completely understand. I don't pull tubes near "clean" water. I grew up kneeboarding and choppy water was my enemy.

We took the boat out for the first time since purchasing it and I took all the toys. The boys knee boarded for a bit and tubed for a bit. I thought this pic was good.

I didn't get a pull since I have to train my wife to drive.

Ahem....ignore the tube....