Tower for my '00 Ski 196

[engineerj13]

I am considering getting a tower for my '00 196 this off-season and am wondering what is everyone's thoughts? I am looking at the New Dimensions towers. Are there other towers out there also? Does anyone have pics of their early 2000's ski with a tower? I live in the Chicago suburbs, are there installers around here? Has anyone installed it themself?

[bscott]

RE: Tower for my

I installed a New Dimensions tower on my 2000 Sport. I think a New Dimensions tower looks best, but have you considered a Fly High Pole rather than a tower?

[engineerj13]

RE: Tower for my

I didn't consider the Fly High Pole, but what would be the benefit over the tower (other than cost I assume)?

[darrel409]

RE: Tower for my

A new dimension will be made spcifically to fit your boat, good choice. A CC flight control tower off another boat/used can be less $$ but will need to be modified to fit your 196 then you can have it powdercoated to fit your color scheme. I did option 2 and am super happy w/ results.

[harddock]

RE: Tower for my

The benefit of the Fly High will be resale value of the 196. On older (2001's) and an Sport Nautiques the towers are accepatable and welcome. 196 Ski Nautique customers are purests and don't want towers from what I've seen.

[igkya]

RE: Tower for my

I agree with Harddock. If you're serious about wake boarding, the 196 isn't your best choice. However, if you just board occasionally or want the height for foot'n, I'd go with the flyhigh pole.

[Hollywood]

RE: Tower for my

There are also a couple threads on this already.

[engineerj13]

RE: Tower for my

Thanks for the responses and opinions. I was looking at the fly high and have a couple questions. What is the difference between the "fly high extended pylon" and the "fly high x pole"? Is it just that one is stainless and the other aluminum? I also have a boom setup on my ski. Am I going to have to set that up all over when using the fly high? Does anyone have any experience with this and can give some info?

[swooddc]

RE: Tower for my

I just put a tower on my 97 closed bow (gasp!) I know that it more than makes up in function what it takes from the classic lines... my opinion. I am 90% slalom, some trick and a little wakeboard.
I love getting the skis out of the floor and got really tired of taking my fly high on and off. When I was exclusively a course skier I would not have wanted a tower. taking the family to the lake combos, knee boards and 5-6 people the tower has been a huge upgrade.

You can't slide the fly high over the pole with a boom clamp unless maybe with a bent boom.

[TRBenj]

Re: RE: Tower for my

You can't slide the fly high over the pole with a boom clamp unless maybe with a bent boom.

Wrong! I run a straight BI boom with my Fly High- though the height adjuster is a must.

Both installed:

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Re: RE: Tower for my

^^ And perfectly accessorized with a cold one. ^^

I agree about not putting towers on 196's, but to each his own...

[swooddc]

RE: Re: RE: Tower for my

on my 97, the motor box is slammed up against the pylon up about 2/3 of the way, I was assuming his 2000 model was the same, maybe not. you can't mount a clamp that far down onless you can move the box back and inch or so... anyone done this? I have thought about trying but haven't looked at the space for the pulleys to see if there is room.

I like that height adjustable clamp.

[harddock]

RE: Re: RE: Tower for my

There is a mount that clamps to the stock pylon and has a stub to fasten a high pylon or barefoot boom and still retain the stock pylon. I've seen it adverized on CCFan.

[WakeSlayer]

RE: Re: RE: Tower for my

I believe that is called a Tachyon mount.