Hi and a tower question

Azruial · Newbie Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 28 City: Charlestown

My family has an 18 foot Chaparral inboard-outboard. I'm not sure exactly how old it is, but I think it's an '01 or '02. My dad is a waterskier, he's been doing it since he was 10 and he taught me when I was around 10. A few years ago, I decided that I wanted to try wakeboarding, so we went out and bought the cheapest O'Brien we could find, and I started messing around. Unfortunately, we live inland in CT, so we really only get to go out every other weekend, and for a 2-week vacation in the summers, and sometimes not even that because I have so many other commitments. I wish I could live on the water and go every day so I could really get good, but that's life...
At any rate, I feel like I have improved to (and beyond) the point where the fact that the rope tow on this boat is only inches from the water is becoming an insurmountable obstacle and preventing my improvement, and I think I really need a tower on this boat. There are two problems here:
1) I have been advised that trying to mount a tower on this boat may be a bad idea (the guy says that mounting it into the fiberglass hull would just end up destroying the boat because it can't take the stress of towing a boarder, and
2) They are really expensive, and I need one that is as cheap as possible so I can convince my dad, and, it also has to fold down to allow other boating activities (e.g. fishing)

I just figured that you guys would probably be a better source of advice than that idiot they have working at our marine store, and sorry for the long-winded story Embarassed

I'd love to hear what you think about weather it is possible and if it is, where to look for an affordable tower. Thanks in advance,
Az

snooks · Soul Rider Joined: 27 Apr 2005 Posts: 313 City: Calgary

alright...whatever this dude told u about the tower is wrong! ...i would reccomend to go with a pylon instead...this will still let u do the other activities that you want...they are cheaper...and wont wreck your boat...just my .02

Azruial · Newbie Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 28 City: Charlestown

ok, Thanks, I kind of suspected that the guy didn't know what he was talking about. Do you have a reccomendation as to where I can buy a pylon that is relatively cheap, and should we install it ourselves or get a professional installation?

wakeman101 · Outlaw Joined: 06 Mar 2005 Posts: 104 City: ATL

get a monser tower 1125$ fully collapsable and strong

we had the same problem w/ our boat 98 searay 185
at anchor bay marina at lake martin alabama they insatll it and re-enforce the hull and add fiberglass to the hull witch makes it stronger

Azruial · Newbie Joined: 09 Aug 2005 Posts: 28 City: Charlestown

Sounds good, I'll look for a place that'll do that.