Rack on Alpha Tower

[highrock]

The Malibu racks attach on the outside of the tower, the tige racks are mounted on the back of the tower. The only 09 I have seen in person had only one hole on each side so there is not even another spot if you wanted to add another racks. I am sure it can be done thought and redrilled.

I did think it would be close looking at it with the bimini up but I believe your right and you wont be able to swivel them with boards on the top rack. Poor engineering in my opinion.

[SPOLK69]

my 09 with the swivel works great with 4 pro 80s and bimini up. gone out 4 times this month with 4 boards on racks. i had the fixed one on since august while i was waiting for the swivel to come out, they sucked, u cant tie up with any boats with towers or big cruisers,pontoons, and docks they are to low with the alfaz

[dingleberry]

my 09 with the swivel works great with 4 pro 80s and bimini up. gone out 4 times this month with 4 boards on racks. i had the fixed one on since august while i was waiting for the swivel to come out, they sucked, u cant tie up with any boats with towers or big cruisers,pontoons, and docks they are to low with the alfaz

OK...hopefully mine will work like yours did. Only time will tell. At least I have hope, now.

[G-MONEY]

my 09 with the swivel works great with 4 pro 80s and bimini up. gone out 4 times this month with 4 boards on racks. i had the fixed one on since august while i was waiting for the swivel to come out, they sucked, u cant tie up with any boats with towers or big cruisers,pontoons, and docks they are to low with the alfaz

Can you post a pic because the one I saw at the boat show there was no way you could swivel them in.


I just could have been that boat...

[SPOLK69]

i dont have any picks. but they swivel in and down at an angle so it doesnt hit any thing,and it make it so easy to put the boards on. so much better than malibus seup

[SPOLK69]

if u wanted to add a surf rack it would be very easy

[Duncan]

My experience with an RZ2 at the StL boatshow (erm...mine) was that the racks swiveled down at an angle and did not interfere with either the bimini or the mounted Pro60s and MB-8.

The downward angle of rotation is quite drastic.

As for mounting a surf rack, I am eager to hear any ideas.

[Lucky 275]

My experience with an RZ2 at the StL boatshow (erm...mine) was that the racks swiveled down at an angle and did not interfere with either the bimini or the mounted Pro60s and MB-8.

The downward angle of rotation is quite drastic.

As for mounting a surf rack, I am eager to hear any ideas.

They'll interfere with your noggin, if you're tied up to other boats and forget that you've swivelled them inwards.

I wish they had quick release lift off racks, like the Titans for Bu towers.

http://www.wakeside.com/product/1312...n_lift_off_kit

[Duncan]

While the new racks are not one-hand quick release as shown in the above link, the new racks do come off easily by pulling just one pin.

[SPBFAN]

I don't have the current year model but I do have turnable racks and I can say that I love them. Having the ability to stay in the boat while getting my board is priceless. Without a turnable rack, you have to gunwale and risk the chance of slipping into the water.

X2

[Dale]

you must have your bimini on wrong! mine works great

[dogbert]

My neighbor has a Malibu w/ 4 Wetsounds Pro 80s and a bimini on his 23 V-Drive with an Illusion tower. He said he was getting swivel racks for his boat and indicated that he'd have to drill new holes to mount them. The Malibu tower is pretty similar to Tige's Alpha tower, so I'll keep you guys posted on what he does. Perhaps the same thing could be adapted for the Alpha tower.

[Duncan]

With the standard bimini up and a board in the top rack, the rack will swivel almost all the way in, until the innermost boot comes up to the bimini.

With the bimini extension up, there is a little less travel.

The bimini extension is also a magnet for a wakeboard tow line -- because the metal support tips protrude farther back, the rope can get hung up a little easier.

And without the swivel racks, there is no way I could fit into our slip (having once forgotten to swivel in once and trashing a slingshot board, an aluminum finger, and stripping out the tower mount hole).

[dingleberry]

With the standard bimini up and a board in the top rack, the rack will swivel almost all the way in, until the innermost boot comes up to the bimini.

With the bimini extension up, there is a little less travel.

The bimini extension is also a magnet for a wakeboard tow line -- because the metal support tips protrude farther back, the rope can get hung up a little easier.

And without the swivel racks, there is no way I could fit into our slip (having once forgotten to swivel in once and trashing a slingshot board, an aluminum finger, and stripping out the tower mount hole).

I agree on the interference with the bimini extension - the bindings on the top board will hit the bimini when swiveling inward.

But, so far I haven't had any problems with getting a rope hung up on the extension.

[Duncan]

But, so far I haven't had any problems with getting a rope hung up on the extension.

Hung up last week while I was in the water. No one in the boat noticed. I saw (and felt) it as soon as I started to get up -- dropped off immediately. Still ripped out the seam of the extension for about a foot.

The metal retention pole sticks out of both sides on both the standard and extended bimini. But the extended is another foot or two back. On a turn to pick up a rider, the rope will slide along the top of the bimini and then get hooked behind the protruding retention pole.