Adding a tower to a shallow hull custom ski boat

ratman69 · Newbie Joined: 01 Jul 2004 Posts: 10 City: Bakersfield

Actually, this will be an introduction as well as a question, so if you could care less about who I am, just skip down to the last two paragraphs. Smile

Last year I got to try wakeboarding for the first time. I had done a little tiny bit of waterskiing when I was younger, around 15, and I'm 24 now. Well, one day last summer, my friend called me out of the blue and asked if I wanted to go wakeboarding with him and his boss. I've always wanted to try it, so I went. Got up on my third try and I loved it. Over the couse of the day I was able to get up consistently, and I learned to edge pretty well, and was starting to jump. No w2w yet, just little jumps. I was also riding switch and doing surface 180s. My jumps were pathetic though because no one explained progressive edging or line tension to me. I was just going out to the side as far as I could, and then digging an egde in as hard as I could to send me back at the wake, provided the rope didn't rip out of my had from the slack that occured when I edged so hard and quick. Then hitting the wake at speed like a skateboard ramp.

So I tried to get people to take me out all summer. I only managed to get one more day in, and that time there were a lot of people, so I probably got all of 20 minutes behind the boat. I got better at landing the small jumps I was doing, and better control. But I could never get anyone to take me out after that.

So over the winter, I decided that I would ask my Dad if I could use his boat, since he has left it sitting for almost 9 years. Suprisingly he said yes. So I've spent the last two months going to his house (about an hour away) and working on getting the boat and trailer ready to go out again. We replaced the steering cable that had frozen, and the trailer tires. We added a trailer jack to the front of the trailer and wired up my truck for towing. The rest was just cleaning and restoring the seats and interior, and then a good wash and wax. I'm ready to take it out for its first full day on monday. We already took it out for a test launch and run, but we didn't have a third so no wakeboarding. Just a test to make sure everything worked out on the water.

Now to my question. The boat is an 89 hull made my a custom boat builder out of Newcastle, California, called Outlaw Custom Boats. Its an 18 foot v hull, with a really shallow v. When its in the water I'd say it has a freeboard of about 6 inches when not planing. Its so shallow that the bottom of the hull is the floor of the boat. It seats 6 and has a max weight limit of 1200 lbs. The motor is a 1963 Merc 1000 outboard. Old smoker engine, but it actually runs really well and is rated at 100hp. It has a three blade prop, but I don't know the pitch or size. My dad just always called it the power prop. It should have no problem pulling up a wakeboarder because it could always pull my dad up on a slalom ski, and he weighs about 260lbs. A wakeboard should be no problem because they plane a lot easier than a single ski.

Now what I'm wondering is if I could fit a tower on this boat. I know I can make it fit. I'll have to re-enforce the fiberglass at the mounts for sure, but that's not the problem. I'm worried that if I put a tower on there, that because the boat is so shallow, that a wakeboarder out on the side of the boat will want to pull the boat over on its side. I know a picture would really help here, but I'm at work and all my pics of it are at home. I can post a pic later tonight when I get home.

Has anyone ever had a tower on a really shallow hulled boat?

Thanks for the help!

Alex

ratman69 · Newbie Joined: 01 Jul 2004 Posts: 10 City: Bakersfield

I just found this pic in the general forum. I'm going to pm the guy and see how his boat handles with the tower. I'd say my boat is even more shallow than his, its hard to tell with his boat being in the water. But they are pretty close.

Fishmaster · Posted: Jul 01, 2004 11:44 am Post subject:

Check out these pictures of shallow hull boats with towers! It can be done and these will give you an idea of how they look with a tower.

http://www.monstertower.com/images/Checkmate_Jason_H.jpg

http://www.monstertower.com/images/Invader_-_Tim__John_McEachen.jpg

http://www.monstertower.com/images/Python.jpg

http://www.monstertower.com/images/Greg_Lynch_Eliminator.jpg

http://www.monstertower.com/images/KeatonMikeM.jpg

ratman69 · Newbie Joined: 01 Jul 2004 Posts: 10 City: Bakersfield

Thanks Monster! Actually, your towers were the ones I was looking at. I like how you use the heim joints to control the forces that go to the hull. And you can't beat your prices!

I'd say the Eliminator boat you posted is probably the closest to my boat. None of those guys have ever had problems with a wakeboarder pulling the boat over too much when out on the side?

I probably won't get the tower until after this season is over, cause I'm taking a mandatory 2 month vacation without pay. But I plan on buying one over the winter and fitting it to the boat.

Thanks!

Fishmaster · Posted: Jul 01, 2004 12:19 pm Post subject:

A wakeboard does not put much side pull, or at least not as much as we think unless the person is real big and real good so you should be fine.

We have a customer that has a 15' SeaDoo jet boat and I advised against the tower thinking it would pull that jet boat all over the place but he said it is no problem.

Take your time, we'll be here when your ready.

ratman69 · Newbie Joined: 01 Jul 2004 Posts: 10 City: Bakersfield

Cool! Thanks Again! Smile

640Pressman · Addict Joined: 14 Nov 2003 Posts: 753

Ratman, My boat handles great with the tower on it. I also had 1200 lbs of ballast in the boat at the time the pic was taken.
I can't say enough good things about the Monster Tower...I'm really happy with the tower and the service.

ratman69 · Newbie Joined: 01 Jul 2004 Posts: 10 City: Bakersfield

Thanks Walt. I don't think I have enough motor to add much ballast, but the tower will be nice. Thanks for replying.

I'm attaching a couple pics of my boat so you guys can see what I'm talking about. Smile

ratman69 · Newbie Joined: 01 Jul 2004 Posts: 10 City: Bakersfield

and a side view. See how shallow it is?

ratman69 · Newbie Joined: 01 Jul 2004 Posts: 10 City: Bakersfield

and finally, the archaic motor! Smile

GeniusBlock · Criminal Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 78

I gotta tell you man, that Outlaw is a classic custom boat, in what looks to be pretty good condition. Do a little research on it before you drill holes in it. I don't know for sure, but it could be worth more if you don't drill it. Maybe you could sell it and get a more suitable boat. Dunno. Check over at Hotboat.net, the posters on that board would know what it's worth.

GeniusBlock · Criminal Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 78

I gotta tell you man, that Outlaw is a classic custom boat, in what looks to be pretty good condition. Do a little research on it before you drill holes in it. I don't know for sure, but it could be worth more if you don't drill it. Maybe you could sell it and get a more suitable boat. Dunno. Check over at Hotboat.net, the posters on that board would know what it's worth.

Jay Dutton · Posted: Jul 02, 2004 6:33 am Post subject:

I agree w/GenuisBlock, I wouldn't put a tower on it either. I would get a tripod high pole or one that is just supported by cables. Maybe lay a fat sac in there and you'll be good for learning the basics. Eventually you'll want to upgrade to something w/a bigger wake. Some things are made to be kept original. That's a good looking boat and I think a tower would look pretty awkward on it.

Steelerguy · Addict Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 518

Of course our boat is now where near as shallow as yours... But here is a pic w/custom made tower. I would not recomend building your own tower. Couple weeks of overtime and save the dough to by a monster tower.

ratman69 · Newbie Joined: 01 Jul 2004 Posts: 10 City: Bakersfield

tball · Wakeboarder.com Freak Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 3953

I'd avoid making mods to it too. Gorgeous boat just like it is. With the minimum wake it puts out (by design) a wakeboard tower won't add much to your riding. You can get a deep v-hull boat and make a wakeboard ride out of it pretty cheap without tearing up a classic. my .02.

Fishmaster · Posted: Jul 02, 2004 11:36 am Post subject:

One thing I just throught about is that since towers are designed to be at 7' high on a boat with 24" high sides. Since your sides are much lower the tow point could be well below 6' making the tower a real headbanger. We had a customer install our tower on a flats boat and he returned it becuase the lowest point was like 5'8" high and everyone was slamming into it. Keep this in mind if you install a universal tower. If your heart is set on a tower and you want good clearance underneath you may need to make your own or have one custom made.

salmon_tacos · Posted: Jul 02, 2004 12:40 pm Post subject:

I concur with everyone who advises not to put a tower on there. Even if it were not valuable, the fact is that it won't produce a very good wake and you can't put any weight in it. You'd be much better off with a different boat.

To me, it would be worse than lowering a Hummer or putting 35" tires on a Ferrari. The Hummer will never be a good race car. The Ferrari will never be a good offroader. Similarly, that Outlaw will never be a good wakeboard boat. You have to start with the right skeleton.

ratman69 · Newbie Joined: 01 Jul 2004 Posts: 10 City: Bakersfield

Well, I think you guys have talked me out of putting a tower on it. I know that its not the best wakeboard boat, but its better than no boat at all. Smile

And it's only cost my a few hundred for parts and stuff, so its not a bad price either. Maybe in a couple years I'll be able to afford a nicer wakeboard boat. But this one will do for now. I'm still very proud of it. Smile

Jay Dutton · Posted: Jul 02, 2004 1:06 pm Post subject:

That's the right attitude. Be proud of that sucker, it's better than no boat at all and it's pretty stylin as well. Hell I was stoked to have my old POS '76 Glastron. Have fun w/it and soon enough you will meet other people who will hook you up w/pulls behind their boat. I think last year I rode more behind other people's boats than my own.

Oh yeah, pick up a service manual for that boat. My Glastron had a '76 Merc 115 hp, the thing was so old nobody would even look at the thing. I think I called close to 20 shops in the area, it may be different where you live. Needless to say I learned MacGyver like techniiques for on water repairs and could pin point any problem in a few minutes. It was pretty fun.

Have fun out there.