Just say NO to inflatables on your tower

A question we hear literally every single day, "is this tower okay to pull a tube with?" As a fellow water enthusiast I could say yes, but the truthful answer is no. Now, let me be a little more specific on that. We carry a lot of different towers and the towers are capable of pulling a tube, but it's not good for them. Let me tell you why.

Did you know that each rope has a breaking strength?

These strengths differ from rope to rope, but one thing that doesn't change: a tube rope is a lot stronger than a ski or wake rope. A couple examples are that a 2 person tube rope is a little over 2,000 pounds and this 4 person tube rope is over 4,000 pounds! That is a lot of weight to be transferring to the tower AND the hull of the boat!

A couple things we have noticed on some of the boats we have installed on is that even the ski eye on the back of the boat has a pull rating. Most are generally about 2,000 pounds. This area is to be used for all towables, including inflatables. 



In some cases the you have a tower that is strong enough to pull inflatables. At this point the question becomes is the hull of you boat strong enough to take the excessive amount of force. If it is not you could see some spider cracking in the gel coat, hull or worse. Most manufacturers tell you not to pull a tube from the tower. There are so many factors in pulling a tube its hard to ensure you are not going to run into issues. I know its the boring thing to do but we recommend playing it safe and continue pulling inflatables from the back of the boat. 

How to Choose a Wakeboard

Looking for a board? Don't know what to buy or how to pick? First you need to decide what style, shape, and length is right for you.

Below is a rough chart. However, each manufacturer has their own length recommendations. Please go by the manufacturer recommendations. 

   Rider Weight (lbs)             Wakeboard Length (cm)

 Under 100                            130 or Under

90 - 150                                 130 - 134

130 - 180                               135 - 139

170 - 250                               140 - 144

       200 - 275+                           144 or Greater

Construction: Some high end boards are made of wood covered in fiberglass. However, most boards are made of high density foam covered with fiberglass. The amount of fiberglass determines the amount of the flex a board has. Thus, the less thick the fiberglass is on a board the more flexible a board is. Flex in a board is good for beginners, especially in choppy water. The flex of the board helps adapt to the rough choppy water. More advanced boards are more stiff. This allow them to get more "pop" off the wake. 

A flex board is compression molded. This allows the board to be stiff in the middle and flex at the ends. Some manufacturers of these board recommend this type of board for sliders and rails.  

Shape: There are a ton of different styles and combinations of styles. Choosing a style has a lot to do with what kind of rider you are. A wide board allow you to get more "pop" off the wake but not carve well. More Narrow boards allow you to carve better but you won't get the same "pop". The tip and tail of a board have a lot to do with the way the board releases off of the water. A board with a more rounded tail and tip will release off the water slower. While a square one is more snappy. 

Rocker: 
Continuous: A Continuous Rocker has a smooth arch. This is normally found on beginner boards. You also get a smooth and consistent release off the wake and when cutting into the wake. Due to the curvature of the board it has more contact with the water. This allow smoother transition and a softer landing. 
3 Stage: A 3 Stage Rocker has 3 areas, a flat center and (2) curved edges. This board style normally for more advanced riders. This shape allows your board to stay on top of the water a little more, which in turn provides less drag and a more explosive "pop" off the wake as well allow you to keep speed. 
Hybrid: A Hybrid Rocker combines the best of both worlds. You get a fast and consistent board. 

Fins: There are different types of fins, such as deep or shallow,fat or thin, removable or molded. Deeper fins are generally for beginners.

The above explanations of each feature should help you decide what you want out of a board. 














  

How To Reinforce Your Hull With Fiberglass

Is the hull of you boat less than 3/8" thick? If so you will need to reinforce the hull of your boat before installing your tower. This is a very important step.If your hull is not thick enough, the stress from a tower can cause damage to your fiberglass over time.  In the video below, Shane from Wake Essentials shows you how to reinforce your hull using fiberglass.

 

Vulcan Vector Tower :Product Review

Vulcan Wake provide's good quality at an amazingly low price. Vulcan Wake is a long standing China based company that was not featured in the US until 2014.

Polished Aluminium
Vulcan Vector Tower

The Vulcan Vector Tower has a bottom bar that was designed to follow the windshield line of most boats. This add a little something different to this tower. Some towers that have this style with the bottom bar have to be completely straight up and down, completely level, and mounted in the exact same spot on both sides for the tower to go together properly. When it comes to the Vector those issues are not relevant and it is definitely not that complicated. Yes, some boat areas for installation may have the bottom bar mounts in the same place on both sides but they can also be tilted in if you like it better that way.



There is a lot of adjustment in this tower. The width is even adjustable too, it will fit 72"-103" wide.  It stands about 5 feet tall. Need to fit under a bridge or garage and worried your boat will be to tall with an additional 5 feet? Problem solved! The Vector is collapsible to near windshield height.

The Vector is available in 2 finishes listed below

• Polished Aluminium 
• Black Powder Coat

It is also a double bar tower, which means there are two bars at the top of the tower. Vulcan says you can pull 1-2 adult riders with this tower. 

This tower also comes with a 5 year manufacturers warranty. If you have any issues with workmanship they will take care of it. 

Overall this is a great tower. It is strong, stylish, durable and reasonably priced. What else do you really need?  

Vulcan Rack: Product Review

Vulcan Wake provide's good quality at an amazing low price. Vulcan Wake is a long standing China based company that was not featured in the US until 2014.

Wakeboard Tower Racks from Vulcan Wake

Polished Aluminium Vulcan Wake Rack 

The racks they currently offer are listed below. They are available in polished aluminium or black powder coat.

• Vulcan Wake Rack (holds 2 wakeboards) 
• Vulcan Wake Combo Rack (holds 1 wakeboard and 1 kneeboard)

These wake racks are simple, but simple is not a bad thing. These racks are very affordable while not sacrificing quality. All of the hardware is included. These racks are fully adjustable and fit 2", 2.25" and 2.5" tubing. The forks even have rubber liners to protect your boards.

Overall these are good racks at a low price. These racks are a great choice if you are on a budget. 

Customer Reviews:

Vulcan Wake Rack	April 2, 2015
Reviewer: chodge67256 from eBay

Great Item !!! Just as good as the high priced ones. NO JOKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Vulcan Wake Rack	April 2, 2015
Reviewer: sarahncurtis from eBay

It beat my expectation! these are really nice

Vulcan Wake Rack May 31, 2015 Reviewer: Stacy Williams from Earlsboro, OK United States Fantastic product

These products are available on our website. If you have any questions please contact us.