Watcha think rocket scientists???

[Jason B]

What's the load on a wake tower with an average man (say 175#) being pulled out of the water on a wakeboard??
I was curious because my buddy always thinks my tower is going to fall off the boat when I sit on it. I tell him there is NO chance. It's strong enough to pull the load of a skier then it's definitely strong enough to hold me at 170# just sitting there purveying the scenerey. He won't walk under it when I'm sitting up there; kinda makes me laugh.

[G-MONEY]

What's the load on a wake tower with an average man (say 175#) being pulled out of the water on a wakeboard??
I was curious because my buddy always thinks my tower is going to fall off the boat when I sit on it. I tell him there is NO chance. It's strong enough to pull the load of a skier then it's definitely strong enough to hold me at 170# just sitting there purveying the scenerey. He won't walk under it when I'm sitting up there; kinda makes me laugh.

I hang on my tower all the time and I'm 250+ it's a good stretch before and after boarding...

[mneal]

The tower can easily support you sitting on it, it is way stiff/strong in the direction compared to how it actually gets loaded with the line. Although some guys can really cut and load the tower/boat any rider can only load the tower with as much force as he can grip, that is only load path out thru handle. Tubes, that's another story.

[dogbert]

Mine will support my weight (290)

[talltigeguy]

Your tower is more than strong enough to sit on.

Most wakeboarders do not pull more than their own weight at any given time, so yes, I believe that you are putting more stress on it than boarding does. Just imagine yourself hanging from the ceiling with just your hands on a wakeboard handle...do you have to hold on that tight when boarding?

As was said above, the stress from sitting on it is actually going to be easier on the tower because the force is straight down, not back, like with a boarder.

Being tall, I wouldn't walk under your butt when you are sitting on the tower either...so maybe it is another reason he won't go under there when you are on it.

[Jason B]

[QUOTE=talltigeguy;103162]Your tower is more than strong enough to sit on.

Most wakeboarders do not pull more than their own weight at any given time, so yes, I believe that you are putting more stress on it than boarding does. Just imagine yourself hanging from the ceiling with just your hands on a wakeboard handle...do you have to hold on that tight when boarding?

QUOTE]


That's true, I never thought of that. Good point.
Is it ok to pull tubers from the tower or should I stick to the pylon? I would think the pylon is a lot stronger, but the tower gives the kids more air!

[anhaney]

[QUOTE=Jason B;103190]

Your tower is more than strong enough to sit on.

Most wakeboarders do not pull more than their own weight at any given time, so yes, I believe that you are putting more stress on it than boarding does. Just imagine yourself hanging from the ceiling with just your hands on a wakeboard handle...do you have to hold on that tight when boarding?

QUOTE]


That's true, I never thought of that. Good point.
Is it ok to pull tubers from the tower or should I stick to the pylon? I would think the pylon is a lot stronger, but the tower gives the kids more air!

I don't use the pylon for tubers. I put some big flat washers behind the fiberglass on the rear deck handle and I pull from that handle. There are four screws back there that hold that handle on. for the amount of area it has four screws is way over kill and gives it tons of strength. Plus it allows the rope to move back and forth across the boat giving the tuber a much more responsive ride.

Tubes create a lot of force on pylons.

[Jason B]

"Tubes create a lot of force on pylons."

Yeah, and I have the Super Mable that is a giant 3 person one, it weighs a TON empty. I haven't pulled 3 adults yet, we'll see how that goes

[evil0ne]

Jason B, your pylon is probably just fine. Newer pylons probably not.

[R&T Babich]

Is it ok to pull tubers from the tower or should I stick to the pylon? I would think the pylon is a lot stronger, but the tower gives the kids more air!

I would never pull a tube from the tower. When (not if) the tube submarines the force would be huge.

Your pylon is probably the same as ours and it's built like a tank. We've had 2 large tubes with a total of 7 people behind ours many times with no problems (including an occasional submarine).

[Razzman]

I've pulled from the tower since day one and there's no indication of stress what so ever, and i've looked underneath believe me. If there was anymore stress than normal i'd definately see it on the deck surfaces. Also, the chance of submarining is greatly reduced pulling from the tower as it cause the tube to ride nose up. And the rope doesn't whip the water throwing spray in the riders face(s) and the tubes seem to skim much better imo.

Of course i have a solidly built steel tower not an aluminum one which imo are more prone to flex and stress. That being said my buddy only pulls from his on his '05 Sanger w/ a ProFlight Chubby tower and has had no issues either.

I've never seen anything that says not to other than others opinions, even the tower mfgrs sites don't say it that i've ever seen. Besides what's the diff between a 275-300 lb dude boarding and 150 lbs of kids on a tube? None imo, in fact the tube and kids have the advantage

[Razzman]

Oh yeah, i'd definately trust the tower more than i would that wimpy little hook in the back. And my pylon moves btw when under stress and it's tight as it can get.

[zad0030]

There is alot of debate on pulling tubes from the tower vs pylon vs tow hook.

Personally, I dont pull from the tower or pylon. I stick with the "TOW HOOK" I believe thats why its called the tow hook and not the decorative hook or captain hook or some other thing.

[Razzman]

Hey to each his own Zad. IMO tow hooks are more prone to failure than your tower or pylon. But that's because i saw one fail and it wasn't pretty. To me they are useless leftovers fron days of old.

[Jason B]

I don't even have a tow hook. I looked at the pylon and that thing has more metal than a civil war cannon. It's also bolted in more places than I could think to count. It looks pretty beefy now that I checked it out.

Besides, who really gives a crap if the tube is more prone to submarine, that's what they get for being on a tube with ME at the wheel. They should know better!!!!