racks on the side of the boat .... ???

Ladythump

I was out last weekend on the river, and saw a Ski Nautique (I think) and he had some wakeboard racks mounted to the side of his boat instead of on the pylon. Anyone ever heard of this and how would I do it???

Swass · Guest

http://www.wakeboarder.com/products/showproduct.php?product=910&sort=1&thecat=94

Ladythump · Posted: Sep 16, 2004 6:35 am Post subject:

Thanks Swass ... any idea how this thing hold up hull mounted? Anyone use them before?

Swass · Guest

I see them on occasion - usually on I/Os. I'm sure they hold up fine as long as you use a backing plate of some type.

lumpy · Criminal Joined: 25 Jul 2003 Posts: 99

It looks like it mounts sandwiched between a cleat and the boat.

I made some for my I/O before I got my tower. I mounted them to the hand rails. I bent two, two foot sections of 1/4" x 1" 6061 aluminum into a U (anneal the metal and it can be done), drilled a hole in the side and mounted it to some 1" brackets that are used to hold "bark busters" on the handlebars of motocross bikes. Covered them using 1" clear tube, it actually made a very nice protector. My first design had them up vertical from the rails, but that allowed too much leverage in rough water and thus stress on the hand rail. Second design mounted them down more to the side of the boat. My old boat had enough curve in it that it didn't interfere with going dock side. Very functional and actually much easier to get the boards in and out. I was going to install them on the new boat to hold my slalom, but the hand rail are further inboard than old my old boat so I need to make some kind of extension to get the U further out to the side of the boat.

Hope that makes sense.

Ladythump · Posted: Sep 16, 2004 7:38 am Post subject:

Lumpy - any pics?

wesgardner · Posted: Sep 16, 2004 8:23 am Post subject:

Hey lumpy,

Sounds like you've got an interesting idea...the pics/site that Swass, provides appears to cantilever them out over the side? Coming along side of something might just take rack and board(s) and a big hunk of deck right off the side of the boat Shocked

I've not seen them "in person" so I 'm prolly off base...

Wes

lumpy · Criminal Joined: 25 Jul 2003 Posts: 99

Wes, I haven't seen them either, but on my lake we have docks that are foot above the rub rail and some that are right on it, so I guess the danger is particular to the dock or whatever you are pulling up to (another boat).

I'll try to get some pictures, but it will likely be next week before I can post them-sorry. I don't have a digit camera so the process is a little longer to get the pics.

This was going to be the idea that provided my first million, but if 5,000 DIYers can save $200 I think that will suffice. Actually if three of you can save $100 and not tear up your boat or board in the process that will suffice. Ok, if someone will just say that is pretty cool, I can die a happy man - and my wife says I am hard to please.

lumpy · Criminal Joined: 25 Jul 2003 Posts: 99

The first pic is the first design, the board stood straight up from the hand rail. The second pic is the revised design which places the board more on the side of the boat much more stable. The U would rest against the rub rail and the pull on the hand rail hand more downward than left /right therefore there is less movement in the chop. This exact design would have to be modified for most boats as the hand rail seems far more inboard than on my old boat. The trick is getting the U to the rest against the rub rail.